Category: Postgraduate study

How the Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship helped me fund postgraduate study

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By Hanna, MSc Physician Associate Studies

In this blog, Hanna shares how receiving the Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship made postgraduate study possible and opened the door to training as a physician associate. She offers practical tips for scholarship applications and reflects on the skills, experiences and career ambitions she has developed along the way. Read more.

“Without this scholarship, doing a master’s simply wouldn’t have been possible. I’ve always loved learning and was proud to be the first in my family to finish university, but postgraduate study felt out of reach. As the eldest in an immigrant family, I’ve seen how education can open doors, but the financial reality was a huge barrier.”

One of my teachers once told me that only 8% of Black students go on to complete a master’s. That statistic stuck with me, but it still felt unrealistic. I didn’t even have a course in mind, and the cost alone put me off. During my undergraduate degree, several lecturers encouraged me to consider a master’s, and when I found out about this scholarship, it felt like a door opening.

I came across the scholarship while researching ways to help fund my tuition. Once I found it, I reached out to get more information and was sent the application form. The process from there was really straightforward.

My top 3 tips for scholarship applications

  1. Be authentic. I remember thinking I hadn’t done anything groundbreaking, but I focused on what I had done and why I was passionate about my subject. Your real experiences are enough.
  2. Start early. The word count was small, so every sentence had to work hard. I went through several drafts. Starting early gave me time to re-read and edit  without feeling rushed.
  3. Stick to the brief. This scholarship is about how you align with the university’s values. I kept going back to the criteria and ticking them off to make sure I covered everything.

Life as a postgraduate student

I’m studying to become a physician associate. I love learning about different medical conditions and applying that knowledge in real-life settings. I enjoy the flexibility the role offers as it allows you to move between specialities and develop a broad base of medical knowledge.

“What I enjoy most is interacting with patients.  Every conversation is unique, and knowing I’m making a difference is really motivating.”

Skills I’m developing

This course is intense and demands a lot of independent study. I’ve had to develop strong time management and resilience to keep up. Communication has also been a key skill. Explaining complex conditions in simple terms has made me think more carefully about how I speak. I’ve also grown in confidence working in teams, both with peers in simulated consultations and with professionals during placements. I’ve learned to be adaptable and contribute effectively.

Looking ahead

I hope this course leads to a fulfilling career where I can make a real difference. I want to deliver person-centred care and be someone patients trust. I’m currently interested in emergency medicine, though I’m open to exploring other specialities as I gain more experience. One day, I’d love to teach and support future Physician Associate students.

Find out more about the Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship and Physician Associate Studies.

How the Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship made postgrad study a reality

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By Leila, MSc Public Health

In this blog, Leila explains how the Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship has made her experience of postgraduate study so positive. She shares her tips for other students thinking of applying for the scholarship. Read more.

Starting postgraduate study at UWE Bristol had been a long-term goal for me, but affording it was a different story. That’s where the Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship came in.

“Receiving the scholarship made a huge difference. It meant I could stretch my maintenance loan further and focus less on finances and more on my studies. It’s not just the financial help, being awarded the scholarship felt like a real privilege. I’m proud to say I’m here because of it.”

Building on my undergraduate skills

One of the best parts of postgraduate study has been putting what I learned during my BSc (Hons) Biomedical Sciences  into practice. I’ve been able to apply those skills to my current course, and that’s helped build my confidence massively. Assignments feel less intimidating now; I plan better, I think more critically, and I’m getting more out of the experience.

The course itself has been packed with opportunities to grow. From leadership in the first semester to project management and research in the second, every stage has pushed me forward.

“I’ve developed time management, writing skills, and a real sense of direction for where I want to go next.”

And speaking of what’s next, I’ve got my eye on a PhD. I’d love to work in infectious disease management, ideally with the UK Health Security Agency. Between my undergrad and this master’s, I genuinely feel prepared to take that next step.

Applying for the Scholarship

Since I’d done my BSc at UWE, I already knew about the opportunity. You apply for your course first, and once you’ve got an offer, you can apply for the scholarship. I will say, I wish I’d known earlier exactly when the scholarship application would open. I ended up emailing to check, which added a bit of stress during my final undergrad year. But because I’d been tracking my achievements (volunteering, awards, work experience, even sports) for years, I was able to pull together a strong application.

My top tips for future applicants

If you’re thinking about PG study or a scholarship, here are my top tips:

For postgrad study:

  • Speak to your programme lead, they’ll give you a clearer picture of the course.
  • Look into the modules. Talk to current students if you can.
  • Pick something you genuinely care about. Passion matters.

For applying for a scholarship:

  • Brag. Seriously. Every bit of experience counts.
  • Highlight your transferrable skills.
  • Show how the course ties into your future goals, and how you’ll give back to the UWE community.

Postgrad life isn’t always easy, but with the right support and a bit of self-belief,  it’s absolutely worth it.

Find out more about the Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship and  postgraduate study.

How I balanced parenthood with postgraduate study and boosted my career.

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by Abimbola, MBA

Graduate Abimbola, shares how returning to postgraduate study boosted her career opportunities.  She tells us why she chose UWE Bristol and how the support she received helped her balance studying alongside parenthood. Keep reading to find out more about Abimbola’s story.

Continue reading “How I balanced parenthood with postgraduate study and boosted my career.”

Taking things slow – why a part-time Postgraduate course might work best for you.

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By Alex, MSc Sustainable Development in Practice.

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 Sustainable Development in Practice student Alex tells us how the flexibility to study part-time helped him manage his studies and finances.  Read more about his story.

Continue reading “Taking things slow – why a part-time Postgraduate course might work best for you.”

Finding my specialism through Postgraduate study at UWE Bristol.

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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.

Continue reading “Finding my specialism through Postgraduate study at UWE Bristol.”

How Postgraduate study helped me change my career, from Teaching to Environmental Health.

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by Matt, MSc Environmental Health.

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 Environmental Health graduate Matt tells us how Postgraduate Study as a mature student gave him the skills required to change his career path, from Teaching to Environmental Health. Read more about his story.

Continue reading “How Postgraduate study helped me change my career, from Teaching to Environmental Health.”

How I took my auditing career to the next level with postgraduate study at UWE Bristol.

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By Ali, MSc Environmental Health

We asked our 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 Environmental Health graduate Ali tells us how postgraduate study has helped him take his career to the next level. Read more about his story.

Continue reading “How I took my auditing career to the next level with postgraduate study at UWE Bristol.”

How UWE Bristol’s services helped me complete my master’s degree.

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By Uswatta, MSc Advanced Wildlife Conservation in Practice

We asked our 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 Uswatta shares her experience of postgraduate study at UWE Bristol. She talks about the support she received and how the knowledge she’s gained will help her take the next step in her career. Read more about her story.

Continue reading “How UWE Bristol’s services helped me complete my master’s degree.”

Why I chose to stay at UWE Bristol for postgraduate study

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By Hannah, UWE Bristol graduate

Hannah joined UWE Bristol in 2019 to study BA(Hons) English Language and Linguistics, graduating in 2022. Here she shares why she decided on UWE Bristol for her Master’s in Digital Marketing and why it made sense for her to stay here for postgraduate study.

Choosing postgrad study to support my career direction

“By the end of my undergraduate course, I’d become interested in a career in marketing, so I started considering marketing courses at postgraduate level. I talked to academic staff for advice on which course would suit my career aims best. They were so helpful in my decision making and soon after I applied to study a Master’s in Digital Marketing at UWE Bristol.

I wanted to go straight from my undergraduate to my postgraduate degree without time out because I knew which career I was aiming for and wanted to move towards this. Also, I felt it might be harder to come back to study if I started working first, so I was keen to stay in the studying mindset for another year.

My dream career

My dream career is to work in marketing in the exciting, fast-paced world of F1. I’m super motivated by my goal as I love everything about F1. The marketing is so rich considering all the sponsors, car design, race suits, the special liveries. It would also be a dream to travel around the world following race cars during the season. F1 is a spectacle so marketing plays a huge role and it’s something I can’t wait to get involved in.

How my master’s will support me to get into my dream career

As an incredibly competitive, male-dominated industry, I knew it would be tough to break into F1, so I realised a master’s would give me the edge. Having now completed my course, I’m confident it has. I have all the skills I need to step into a high-pressure marketing role in F1.

With the sport having a high reliance on technology, I think the digital focus of my qualification will add value to my CV. I’ve also gained useful skills such as Photoshop, web design, and search engine optimisation tactics.

Plus, I created a marketing portfolio to showcase my best work, which is something I can take to interviews to show employers what I can achieve. I’m confident all that I’ve learnt will stand me in good stead when applying for F1 jobs.

“As an incredibly competitive, male-dominated industry, I knew it would be tough to break into F1, so I realised a master’s would give me the edge.”

Why go anywhere else?

When I was thinking about where to study at postgrad level, I realised I felt happy and settled in Bristol already. I’d fallen in love with the city; I had an amazing group of friends; a lovely place to live. I’d created this great student life that I loved. So, when I found the right postgrad course for me at UWE Bristol, the question dawned on me, ‘why go anywhere else?’

Everything I needed was here and by staying at UWE Bristol I could move seamlessly into postgrad study. That really appealed to me, and I know now that I made the right decision as it helped me to excel at my course.

“I’d created this great student life that I loved. So, when I found the right postgrad course for me at UWE Bristol, the question dawned on me ‘why go anywhere else?’ “

What studying at master’s level has given me

While I enjoyed my undergrad, I would say I loved my postgrad. In your undergrad you learn great skills, but a master’s takes you to the next level and prepares you for your career. I felt really connected to my course and I’ve learned even more at master’s level. A master’s can really set you apart from the competition too, giving you the edge so you stand out from others.

What’s next for me?

Now that I’ve finished my master’s, I’m looking to get work experience with a reputable brand in F1. I can’t wait to break into the industry. I look forward to updating you in the future on my progress. Watch this space!”

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