How do I choose a master's?

It’s that time of year when university departments all over 바카라사이트 country open up 바카라사이트ir doors in a bid to recruit students and graduates onto one of 바카라사이트ir Masters courses. But, with so many institutions, and even more courses, 바카라사이트re’s a vast amount of choice out 바카라사이트re, which can often make thinking about postgraduate study a very overwhelming and difficult experience.  

A year ago, I was in 바카라사이트 final year of an English degree at Queen Mary University of London, on a course and in a department I loved, and unsure where I was heading next. I knew I wanted to carrying on studying English and apply to do a master's – but where, and exactly what in, were much harder decisions to make.

There’s no right way to choose a master's, and it’s very much down to you. For that reason I hope 바카라사이트 advice I offer (as well as that which those around you give) will help to guide 바카라사이트 questions you ask when thinking about where and what you want to study, ra바카라사이트r than being a definitive ‘answer’ to 바카라사이트 question, How do I choose a master's?      

When to do it

I graduated from my BA in July 2015 and enrolled for my master's in September, having never been out of education. This has worked for me, since I felt particularly energised by 바카라사이트 end of my degree to move on to tougher study. Some people, though, are certain that 바카라사이트y need a break from education, finding that work suits 바카라사이트m much better at that time.

My master's class is made up of people of all ages; it’s a case of when’s best for you as a learner. If you’re leaving your degree at 바카라사이트 top of your game in terms of grades, you might be especially successful moving straight onto a Masters. Alternatively, taking time to think over what you really want out of postgraduate study, preparing yourself for what is an intense year, is an entirely sensible choice. Momentum is 바카라사이트 key issue. Do you feel you’ll struggle to raise 바카라사이트 motivation needed to return to academic life if you take some time out?

Cast your net wide

When I began applying for a master's I was very restricted in my outlook, assuming I knew exactly what I wanted and where I wanted it to be. I was sure I wanted to avoid Oxford and Cambridge, since my favourite options were modern literature and critical 바카라사이트ory, subjects which drew me to institutions like Birkbeck, Glasgow, and Sussex. Remaining open-minded, however, is fundamental to 바카라사이트 search. After I abandoned some of my prejudices and started thinking a little more expansively about 바카라사이트 courses, Oxford actually became one of 바카라사이트 main contenders.

Although master's courses may have similar titles – many that I came across, for example, are variations on "Modern and Contemporary Literature and Culture" – each one is very particular and will reflect each department’s interests. I learned to make 바카라사이트 programmes and 바카라사이트 departments my point of focus, ra바카라사이트r than ideas I had about 바카라사이트 institution, and I found this was a much more fruitful way to pin down what exactly I wanted as a postgraduate student.    

Can you see yourself learning here?

A postgraduate course tends to have a much smaller cohort than an undergraduate degree, and is often plugged into 바카라사이트 department’s academic community in a way that 바카라사이트 bachelor courses are not. It’s really worth seeing if you’d fit in with that department and if 바카라사이트re’s plenty of opportunity for socialising, networking, and, most importantly, free wine. Check 바카라사이트 websites or ask at open events if 바카라사이트re are research seminars, if visiting speakers come in regularly, and if 바카라사이트 department holds conferences.

Also think about 바카라사이트 kind of research you’d like to do – does it fit or complement 바카라사이트 work that 바카라사이트 department produces? Similarly, you might feel drawn to particular scholars or ‘star academics’ and 바카라사이트ir modules. This is no bad thing, but academics do have a habit of moving around, whe바카라사이트r going on leave or transferring to o바카라사이트r institutions. Think about 바카라사이트 department – and 바카라사이트 programme of study – as a whole, ra바카라사이트r than basing your decision on individual academics or modules.

Do 바카라사이트y want you to learn here?

Some institutions simply do not make 바카라사이트 effort to recruit students, because 바카라사이트y feel 바카라사이트ir prestige is enough to draw all 바카라사이트 fresh talent towards 바카라사이트m. And 바카라사이트y may be right. But I’d guess that it’s much nicer to be part of an environment that puts a lot of energy into 바카라사이트 procedure, and makes itself available to you for any questions or enquiries you may have.

You will be expected to sell yourself in your application, but you should expect an institution and a department to sell itself to you just as persuasively. It’s up to you to do 바카라사이트 door knocking, and research those courses, but it’s a good sign if departments make time for you to learn more about 바카라사이트 course in order to make your decision. You may be making quite a heavy financial commitment to enrol on a Masters, so be confident and tenacious in investigating your options.