aMaking the leap from undergraduate English Literature study to postgraduate English Literature study was more challenging than I expected. It was a similar course and I opted for a taught Masters, so I anticipated a year very much like my final year.
In reality, this was not the case. There was a huge change in the nature of study and these differences were both exciting and demanding.
For starters, the standard is certainly raised. As a Masters student, there is a much higher expectancy of your performance as a student. The workload is greatly increased and I rarely have fewer than eight books in my bag!
Furthermore, the entire year is assessed by essays. This is great in one respect because it means that we have no exams and no revision. However, it requires much more independent study and vast amounts of research. This can be very lonely, especially over the summer when campus is almost empty. But these are useful skills in foreshadowing PhD study. Our essays are also scrutinised more carefully and original thinking is essential.
To balance these challenges, there are many perks. The postgraduate community is excellent and the lecturers treat you as colleagues, as opposed to just students. We interact with them in the Senior Common Room and occasionally see them at the Bratby Bar.
In addition, the study environment is very stimulating. The lecturers give us freedom to pursue areas that interest us and so we pick our own essay titles, such as my dissertation on His Dark Materials. Equally, all postgraduates have actively chosen to pursue further study, as opposed to just following the conveyor belt of education. Therefore, there is a level of enthusiasm that goes further than that found in undergraduate study and this makes for passionate seminar discussions.
Ultimately, the transition really tested me but it has been a great experience and I have obtained lots of new skills. I highly recommend taking on a Masters!
In reality, this was not the case. There was a huge change in the nature of study and these differences were both exciting and demanding.
For starters, the standard is certainly raised. As a Masters student, there is a much higher expectancy of your performance as a student. The workload is greatly increased and I rarely have fewer than eight books in my bag!
Furthermore, the entire year is assessed by essays. This is great in one respect because it means that we have no exams and no revision. However, it requires much more independent study and vast amounts of research. This can be very lonely, especially over the summer when campus is almost empty. But these are useful skills in foreshadowing PhD study. Our essays are also scrutinised more carefully and original thinking is essential.
To balance these challenges, there are many perks. The postgraduate community is excellent and the lecturers treat you as colleagues, as opposed to just students. We interact with them in the Senior Common Room and occasionally see them at the Bratby Bar.
In addition, the study environment is very stimulating. The lecturers give us freedom to pursue areas that interest us and so we pick our own essay titles, such as my dissertation on His Dark Materials. Equally, all postgraduates have actively chosen to pursue further study, as opposed to just following the conveyor belt of education. Therefore, there is a level of enthusiasm that goes further than that found in undergraduate study and this makes for passionate seminar discussions.
Ultimately, the transition really tested me but it has been a great experience and I have obtained lots of new skills. I highly recommend taking on a Masters!
a
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