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.
Early career and education
My name is Ali. I recently completed my MSc Environmental Health at UWE Bristol, having had extensive work experience in my field beforehand.
My career in QHSE Auditing (improving the quality, health, safety, and environmental standards of organisations) started much earlier in Pakistan, after completing a 4-year Bachelor of Science (Hons) majoring in Food Science at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad. I later secured a job placement in Dubai, where I moved and started my family life.
New frontiers and challenges
We relocated again to the UK thirteen years later (2005), for another job placement in Cardiff. Here, I realised that the differences in local laws and customs meant it was crucial to have a local education. Since I aspired to join a local authority in a department dealing with the enforcement of food standards, I would need to be accredited by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), to be recognised by the Council and other authorities as a licensed practitioner.
To enable me to progress my career and make the UK our permanent home, gaining a higher level CIEH accredited qualification was a must.
Ali
With no such courses in Wales, I found out UWE Bristol was the only university with a CIEH accredited master’s programme that was easily commutable from our place of residence, making it the natural choice. It was a one-year course starting in September 2022; I completed it in September 2023.
Right place, right time
I found UWE Bristol to be the perfect place to study with a rich multicultural community. I was greatly impressed with the course, the teaching, the kindness and generosity of the faculty, and the facilities available to me, including Halal options in the food court. I particularly enjoyed teamwork with my fellow students during laboratory work.
Professional development and exposure
The master’s course in environmental health at UWE Bristol aligned well with my previous degree and made me realise just how broad the subject is, beyond food safety. There was a good balance of learning in all areas of environmental health, including important topics I had never considered before. The course covered health and wellbeing in housing, health and safety promotion, environmental protection and sustainability, professional practice in environmental health, and more.
So, this was an education that could lead to opportunities in a variety of areas. However, since food safety was considered my forte, I became even more invested in this aspect of the course as it progressed.
The lessons and assessments gave great insight and plenty of exposure to the industry, as professionals regularly visited the campus and delivered presentations.
Ali
Career development and new skills
UWE Bristol offers study skills workshops to students, as well as assignment planning tools and feedback, which also helped me work on my critical thinking, critical writing, and communication – all important areas of focus that add value in the workplace
My career progression in the UK has definitely improved since studying at MSc level here. I saw an increase in job offers with higher salaries opening up to me, since completing the course. I currently work as a technical auditor in a certification company, a role befitting of my educational level.
Next steps
In the future, I plan to further develop my expertise in this area by completing a PhD course. I would love to give back to the UWE Bristol community by delivering presentations to new students on the master’s course.
Find out more about Postgraduate study.