By Nadishan, MSc Information Technology
We asked our Professional and Creative Writing students to interview Postgraduate students/graduates about their experience at UWE Bristol and ghost write a blog based on their answers.
In this blog MSc Information Technology student Nadishan tells us how Postgraduate Study helped him find his specialism and has taken his career options to the next level. Read more about his story.
Why I chose Postgraduate Study.
After five years in electrical engineering, I discovered that coding was my real passion. I set out to find a course in IT and programming that would help me get to where I wanted to be – and that brought me to UWE Bristol.
The lecturers were amazing, adjusting to student needs rather than sticking to a boring lesson plan.
Nadishan
There were flexible modules that allowed me to develop a specialised path and find my niche. Before I had worries about AI and what this might mean for my future, but my studies helped me to see that human skills – intuition and imagination – are qualities that no machine can ever replicate.
Overcoming barriers to further study.
I’d had some concerns about whether this was the right choice financially. Happily, I received a scholarship that gave me a 20% discount on my fees. Plus, the quality of the teaching quickly reassured me that postgrad study at UWE Bristol was an investment worth making. It’s given me the tools to create independently, offering many opportunities, including options for robotics.
The culture in Bristol is very open and very lively. It was a big change from Sri Lanka, which is where I’m from. I had to adjust and that opened me up to loads of new experiences.
Postgrad studies have changed the way I think about myself. I’m no longer just a worker – I’m someone who understands leadership and is prepared to take on those challenges.
Nadishan
My time at UWE Bristol has boosted my confidence: I no longer shy away from conversations; I’ve made new friends and contacts on my course and I worked with an industry professional on my dissertation. There’s always support available for people who like learning. I know now if you’re willing to jump in and be enthusiastic then people are willing to teach you a lot of things. My postgraduate studies have helped me nurture this confidence.
It’s a leap of faith, of course. But overcoming the difficulties and challenges is part of mastering something. For people like me, in STEM, I’d say don’t hesitate! There’s such valuable content. My course has taught me to approach problems differently, thinking about concepts as well as answers. Modules like ‘Project Management’ may sound unassuming but the support I was offered by my tutors was so unique and nurturing – I couldn’t have imagined it before I got here.
Next steps after graduation.
Now that I have finished my studies, I plan to apply for Machine Learning and AI positions all over the world.
With my specialism in Large Language Models and AI, I am confident that I can perform well in any role within those fields.
Find out more about Postgraduate study at UWE Bristol.