Now you have got your offer to do a Masters degree at the University of York, what can you look forward to? You might be finishing your undergraduate degree, or coming back to academia after a break of however many years. Whatever the case, there are lots of things you can look forward to about starting a Masters at York.
Here are three things in particular that you’ll experience.
1. The academic environment
When studying for a Masters at York you can look forward to great teaching and excellent research.
In 2018, the University was awarded the Gold Teaching Excellence Framework. Far from being just an award, this is something you will experience in your every day life at the University. Whether in lectures, seminars or labs, you will find the staff to be engaged, enthusiastic, and ready to help you succeed.
To help with your degree, York provides extra resources which are accessible by any student regardless of subject area. One example of this is the Maths Skills Centre which can advise you on a range of maths related queries – from brushing up on integration to figuring out statistics.
The bedrock of the teaching is, of course, the research. At York there is a wide range of cutting edge research being produced, which you might contribute to with your Masters project. Expect everything from 3D audio that is used by YouTube, to treating Parkinson’s by analysing the movement of fish, to the hair grooming habits of Vikings.
Regardless of your discipline, as a Masters student you will find yourself engaged with new and exciting projects relating to the large breadth of research conducted at the University.
2. The postgraduate community
A big part of the University experience is the people you meet while you’re there.
You can look forward to meeting a lively community of postgraduate students when you start studying at York. Especially so since the university boasts one of the only graduate student unions in the country.
The GSA (graduate students association) works year round to provide the best possible support for graduate students at the University. They provide a range of services to help students during their time at York.
This comes in the form of welfare, events & activities, and a means to communicate with the University on important issues.
This has been important for students recently, with the GSA advocating for a postgraduate safety net during the COVID-19 crisis. It was granted thanks in part to their hard work.
In addition, you can find community through the large range of student groups and societies to join – all welcome postgraduates. You might even make friends for life.
3. Becoming a Master
When doing a Masters at York, you will grow academically, professionally, and personally.
Through the course of your study, you’ll acquire the skills and knowledge to become an expert in your field. While not immediately gained – this is something you can look forward to in the long run.
During your Masters you will start to apply your knowledge more and more to real world situations. In this way, you will become more equipped to tackle the world of work, or take on further academic study.
You can also look forward to personal growth. By the end of your degree – you will have changed as a person, hopefully for the better, and that is something to look forward to in itself.
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