Hi everyone, I’m Lou. I’m a postgraduate student at York. I’m going to tell you what I learned studying MA Applied Ethics and Data Privacy.
Coming to York
As a student coming fresh out of a creative writing degree at a post-90s university, the prospect of joining such an esteemed department as Philosophy at York was fairly daunting. I had not studied philosophy or ethics since A-Level, and I had a lot of doubts about my capabilities! On top of this, I faced many difficulties during my studies and had to pause my education partway. The faculty really stepped up to support me and help me make the best decisions for myself both personally and academically. I am immensely grateful for their support and guidance over the past two years, and can safely say that despite the ups and downs, I have enjoyed every minute of my studies!
What my course made me realise
Perhaps unsurprisingly, I was the only art student in my cohort, but this did not turn out to be the barrier to success I had anticipated. If you are also considering a 180 in academic discipline through this course or department, it is absolutely doable. I received the best piece of encouragement from the Applied Ethics and Data Privacy course leader: that my less conventional academic background brought a unique perspective to the course. This is an extremely collaborative course, so unique perspectives are exactly what is needed for growth and advancement in ideas.
In particular, the data governance and privacy modules have been the highlight of my entire education so far. Having the opportunity to manage research projects and hone my time management, communication, and teamwork skills has been exciting and massively rewarding. I now feel much more prepared for the next steps in my career.
I was originally set on pursuing a career in publishing. The research skills I learned completely changed my perspective of myself and my goals for the future. These modules will be challenging, but the development you will go through alongside your fellow students is worth the hard work. Learn to navigate new working styles is an unavoidable aspect of the modern workplace.
Collaborative working
The camaraderie created in the research groups I was part of was also a highlight. Adapting to each other’s schedules and unique needs is an essential part of balance in any team. The immense relief and subsequent celebrations when an assignment had finally been submitted felt like a much-needed appreciation of myself and my hard work, and a celebration of my other group members for their contributions. We all listened to and learned from each other, improving pre-existing skills and learning new ones. The guidance from Tom Stoneham was also brilliant!
Commuting to York
As a commuter student, most of my academic research and writing took place on trains and in cafes. The 4 am (or, on treat days, 5 am) starts weren’t easy, but I came to enjoy my commute. I found the transitional space of trains between home and the university instrumental in my mental preparation for classes.
It is no secret that the cost of living in the UK is tough on young people. With a railcard, the cost of my train tickets saved me some money. York is really accessible from so many parts of the UK, so commuting was fairly stress-free. The university bus line is super easy to use and understand. I never had any hiccups and saved myself a lot of money in an expensive period, which is always a bonus!
Final thoughts
Lastly, the staff in the Department of Philosophy were so supportive. I was open with lecturers when I needed extra support on a concept or weekly reading. All of the required readings for each of my modules were accompanied by optional wider reading, which painted a clearer picture of the context surrounding the specific ethical, philosophical, or technological debate. The Topics in the Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence module in particular is fantastic for this. The key to my positive experience on this course was having the courage to speak up when I needed that support. The kindest thing you can do for yourself is be radically honest and accept all the help you need.
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