Blog: Settling into postgrad life

My name is Yael, and I’m studying for a master’s in International Relations here at the University of Birmingham. The jump from undergrad to postgrad might have seemed daunting to me at first, but almost a year on, I’ve never been happier I took the leap! 

As I come to the end of my time here, I thought I’d share how I found settling into the postgrad lifestyle at UoB.  

Expectations

I attended UoB for my undergraduate degree, studying French and German. After completing a politics dissertation, I was inspired to continue my studies and do a master’s degree, and staying in Birmingham was a no-brainer. I knew the campus well, knew all the best study spots, and knew where to go for support if needed. Luckily, I was able to look at all the modules my course offered before I made my decision, so I could make sure the content interested me before I started.  

Even though I was continuing at UoB, that’s not to say I wasn’t nervous about the prospect of starting a postgraduate degree. Going from Modern Languages and the College of Arts and Law to International Relations and the College of Social Sciences seemed daunting. While I had done some politics modules in my undergraduate degree, I was worried I would struggle to learn a new subject at postgrad level. I also didn’t know anyone else on my master’s and was concerned it might be hard to meet and form friendships with my course mates.  

Reality

I can now safely say that I had nothing to worry about. My lecturers and professors knew that many of us had never studied International Relations before, explaining everything clearly and checking we understood what we’d learnt. Although I was worried about the jump from undergrad to postgrad, I hardly noticed a difference thanks to the support I received. 

As for meeting new people, I quickly realised most of my course mates were in the exact same situation as me and were eager to meet new people! My department even ensured we were able to meet and get to know each other before lectures began, which helped alleviate my worries a lot. Having done my undergraduate at UoB, many of my course mates were eager to hear about my experiences, and I made many new friendships showing them around the best study spots (Café 1902, and the Bramall Music building quickly became firm favourites).  

That’s not to say this master’s has been easy. My first few months studying I did struggle to adapt to the workload, as my postgrad degree required me to complete assignments alongside lecture and seminar preparation. This was a big adjustment for me as I hadn’t experienced that in my undergraduate degree. Luckily, all my lecturers offered support with assignments during their office hours, and when I really struggled to balance it all I was able to get extensions on assignments. This support definitely helped me in my first few months and ensured my work was the best it could be.  

Looking back...

As I look back on the last year of my postgraduate degree and my time at Birmingham, I realise postgraduate life is nowhere near as daunting as it first seemed. While it was an adjustment and a new experience, it has improved my life for the better. It has allowed me to gain valuable skills for my CV and also meet new people and make life-long connections.

 My top tips for new postgraduates

• Be open-minded: Postgraduate degrees are an opportunity to challenge yourself and learn new things! 

• Attend Welcome events: Welcome Week at UoB is a great way to make new friends.  

• Take advantage of any support offered to you: From mental health services to drop-in wellbeing activities, the support is there for you to use. 

• Take time out for yourself: While a postgraduate degree can be a lot of work, it’s still important to make time for yourself. Whether that’s taking a break to socialise with friends or exploring the city.  

Good luck and I hope you enjoy your time at UoB as much as I did!