Before starting my masters degree, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I didn't know how much the difficulty would compare to undergraduate, I didn't know if the workload would be the same, and if they would grade it the same. I had so many questions as it was fairly daunting to wonder what I was signing myself up for.

I had managed to survive undergraduate but how would I manage getting a second degree?

I am half way through my second trimester of Masters therefore, I feel like I can now share my experience to provide some idea of the differences between masters and undergraduate degrees.


How does the workload compare?

This was something I was incredibly worried about and it was a very justified worry. Although we no longer have any exams (which is great!), our coursework has doubled (or maybe tripled). I have been used to doing one piece of coursework per module however, at masters we're doing 2-3 pieces instead. To add to this, the word limits have increased dramatically too, as most of the assignments are portfolios rather than just essays.

On top of this, we have our dissertation to work on too, but coming straight from 3rd year meant I was used to this balance.


How does the grading compare?

Our work is graded more harshly but this was expected. We were given a new grading scheme and there has been changes in terms of which percentage fits what grade, meaning achieving a 2:1 or a 1st will take a bit more work.

The aspect that I still struggled to understand though was what was expected of my work and writing style. I was incredibly nervous when writing my first piece of coursework as I felt like I was still producing something similar to undergrad level and I was worried it wouldn't be enough. However, at the same time I wasn't sure how I could improve it.

Although I did struggle with this, when getting the grade back I had managed to get a 1st, so I must have done something right. That did make me relax a little and feel as though in terms of writing style, they were not asking for much more, as the actual work has become more challenging. However, I am still a little nervous that the work I am producing isn't quite enough.


How does the difficulty compare to undergraduate?

To sum it up - I have found every piece of coursework we have done so far incredibly difficult and at times, really lost any belief in my capabilities in studying this degree. I did find our undergraduate work difficult but now looking back, I realise how much of a step up Masters is.

Of course I expected this and I didn't think it would be easy but it really has been a challenge. I have experienced huge amounts of stress and it's most definitely been the most difficult semesters I have had since starting university. If you're planning to do a Masters degree, just be prepared for this!


What are the modules like?

I have absolutely loved the modules we have studied at Masters (besides statistics but that's another point). Undergrad is very broad and we tended to study a range of different topics, many of which I wasn't interested in. However, it's now amazing to just focus on the ones that really hold my interest (clinical psychology) and to gain knowledge of them at a much deeper level.


What don't you like about studying a Masters in Psychology?

Statistics is the simple answer. As part of undergrad Psychology you have to study research methods and statistics, and the same applies for Masters... you can't escape it! We have a module of statistics each semester and it has been a huge challenge. It's not something that comes naturally to me however, I am trying my hardest in hope of it not dragging my grade down.


Is it best to take a year out before starting a Masters?

If you're finishing undergraduate feeling a little overwhelmed, it may be useful to take a year out before starting a Masters. It will be an incredibly intense year and that may not be what you need. Part of me wishes I had taken a year out and done some travelling or something fun before jumping straight in, however at the same time I love studying so much that it just felt natural to go straight into it. I have also found it super useful coming straight from undergrad as I have all the knowledge pretty fresh in my mind (that's been even more useful with statistics). I worried that if I waited a year, I may struggle a little more when I did finally go back.


Overall... what can you expect when studying a Masters degree in Psychology?

Lots and lots of work... but I'm sure that's already assumed. Masters most definitely is not easy, it has been a challenge but it is so much fun too! I love learning and I have loved all of my lectures (besides statistics). I can't pinpoint a single one that has lost my interest. It's amazing to finally focus on one topic within Psychology which I absolutely love and gain a more in depth knowledge of it too.


Having a Masters degree will be incredibly beneficial, not only as it's another qualification but because of the extra knowledge I have gained from it too.

Rewind a few years ago, I never thought that the day would come where I would be finishing my undergraduate degree, let alone starting a Masters. The past few years have been a complete whirlwind, with every plan that I've made regarding my future, falling apart when something else comes up instead.

Although I am the type of person who loves to plan and has some sort of idea what the future may hold, I've enjoyed the unexpectedness of how each year has played out for me. It has made me realise that sometimes it's better to take a step back from trying to control every aspect of your life and let fate take the lead. It has ended up allowing me to take up some of the most amazing opportunities and experiences of my life.

It can be incredibly daunting to be a 3rd year student going into the final semester. I remember feeling exactly like that last year when I wasn't sure what I wanted to do once I had finished university. I knew that I wasn't ready to leave it behind and I still had so much more to learn, but I still didn't have the faintest clue of what to do next.

It can be incredibly tempting to spend your final semester planning every aspect of your life for once you graduate, but this can be unhealthy. It can make your final few months pass so quickly without giving you chance to fully appreciate them. Although some degree of planning is needed, as you may have to send off applications or figure out what kind of career you want, you must not let it consume your final semester.

It doesn't matter if you don't have your whole life planned out. It doesn't matter if you don't know what kind of job you want or whether you want to extend your education for a little bit longer. Nobody expects you to come out of university and suddenly achieve every dream that you had originally set out to accomplish, so you shouldn't put that pressure on yourself either.

Finishing university can feel like you're finally stepping into the huge and scary adult world, where you suddenly need to grow up and get a lifetime career. Although a lot of people do jump into careers they have been working so hard for, this doesn't have to be the case for everyone.

Leaving university doesn't have to be a scary time: it can be exciting too! It's down to you to make it that way.

There is no rule book that signifies that you have to leave university and immediately start working towards your long-term career goals. Instead it can be a chance to do everything you never had the chance to do before you headed off to university. Perhaps you always wanted to take a gap year and go travelling but had never had the confidence before. Now is your time to try it! Maybe you just want to get a short-term job and experience living in another city for a year. Now is your time to try it! Or maybe you want to further your education and get a Masters in the topics that interest you most. Now is, also, the time to try it!

Whatever it is that you really want to do, you should give yourself the chance to finally experience that, completely guilt-free. Graduating from university doesn't have to be the start of that mature adult life, where you feel like you need to suddenly grow up. Instead, it can be a continuation of how you've spent your past three years at university - a time to have some fun and find out who you are as a person.

Don't let the end of university be consumed with fear and pressures to suddenly pursue the career you've been working towards. Let it be a celebration of what you have achieved and take the next few years to do the things you've always wanted to do!