undergraduate to postgraduate study

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

Student Views | 17 June 2025

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.

Why I chose to stay at UWE Bristol for postgraduate study

Student Views | 19 December 202312 February 2024

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!”

How progressing to postgraduate study at UWE Bristol helped Ruth to find career success.

Student Views | 30 August 202230 August 2022

By Ruth, BSc(Hons) Accounting and Finance and MSc Accounting and Finance alum.

Our alum, Ruth, tells us her reasons behind studying her master’s degree and why she decided to stay at UWE Bristol to continue her studies. She shares how progressing to postgraduate study helped her to gain confidence when job hunting and how her master’s has supported her career so far. Keep reading to find out more about Ruth’s story.

Ruth’s story

Hi, I’m Ruth. I completed my undergraduate degree in Accounting and Finance at UWE Bristol, where I later returned to study a postgraduate degree in Accounting and Finance too.

How I decided postgraduate study was right for me

I believe it’s so important to stay in education and reach the greatest academic level you can. It can be really intimidating heading into the working world, and having a master’s gives you that extra bit of confidence you need.

I’d always known I wanted to do a master’s. After finishing my undergraduate degree, I decided to start working in the field for a while. This experience helped me to find my best fit and showed me finance was the right career path for me.

“I wanted to find a role where I could progress and reach my full potential. The best way to get there was to return to education to build on my undergraduate knowledge to progress my career in finance.”

Why I chose to continue my studies at UWE Bristol

It was a complete no-brainer to go back to UWE Bristol for my postgraduate studies. I’d built great relationships with my tutors during my undergraduate course. As I’d need to work alongside my studies, I knew my tutors would accommodate my situation, as they had done during my first degree.

The tutors genuinely wanted the best for us, and they were completely understanding of my circumstances. My tutors and lecturers offered extra support and would check in on me in a way that showed they genuinely cared. They didn’t only care about our success on the course, but our general wellbeing and future careers too.

Another benefit was the 15% alumni discount, which allowed me to balance my work and my studies. This financial support meant I only needed to work part-time for most of my course. The Business School is accessible 24 hours a day too, so I could go in whenever I could to study flexibly around my work.

How UWE Bristol has supported my career

Completing my postgraduate degree at UWE Bristol didn’t just give me the technical knowledge I’d need for my career. It also helped me to re-learn how to learn, by getting my head back into studying. I’m now studying for professional qualifications around my work, which has become second nature to me thanks to my master’s.

The classes were much smaller for postgraduate study, which helped me to come out of my shell and build confidence in sharing ideas and bouncing off others. This changed the way I looked at finding jobs afterwards too. Job hunting wasn’t only about me wanting to find work, but it was also about companies having the chance to recruit me too.

“I had so much more confidence after postgraduate study, and I found the pay I was offered was substantially more than before gaining my master’s degree.”

Final thoughts

I’m so pleased I did my master’s degree at UWE Bristol. I now work for a great company, which is helping me progress my career by supporting me to become a qualified paraplanner. Paraplanners work with financial planners, completing research and helping make financial recommendations for clients.

The knowledge I gained has given me all that I need to complete my professional qualifications. I’ve also learned how to manage my time efficiently, develop logical exam technique and balance my working life alongside my studies. I’m looking forward to progressing my career in the future, with a huge thanks to UWE Bristol for making this possible.

Find out more about postgraduate study at UWE Bristol.

How progressing to postgraduate study is helping Laura to invest in her future.

Student Views | 9 June 202215 June 2022

By Laura, BSc(Hons) Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Science and MSc Science Communication student.

Our student, Laura, tells us why she decided to stay at UWE Bristol to study for a master’s after graduating from her undergraduate degree. She shares the benefits of postgraduate study and how UWE Bristol is preparing her for a career in science communication. Keep reading to find out more about Laura’s story.