Starting an Online Master’s
We asked Anna to share her experience of finding and starting an online Master’s degree with the University of Glasgow
Can you tell us a bit about your background and why you are returning to study?
I moved from Liverpool to Paris in 2011 when I was 18 to do a French degree which was really exciting, and I was definitely a lot braver then than I am now! However, I have been fascinated by psychology since an early age and meeting new people, learning a new language and seeing different cultures only enforced my curiosity to learn more about what makes us who we are. I had been trying to muster up the courage to return to studying when the Covid crisis hit and having a lot of time to reflect eventually pushed to get out of my comfort zone and to go for it!
How do you feel at the start of studying a psychology conversion course at Glasgow university online?
I feel very excited to be starting my psychology conversion, although I’m apprehensive too. I’m nervous to be going back to university after such a long time and definitely feel very rusty. It’s been great to virtually meet some of my peers who feel the same way, though, and it’s very reassuring that the university offer so much information and support. I’m also really enjoying the content and the flexibility of managing my time to fit studying around my schedule.
How did you research and decide on the course?
I knew I wanted to study psychology, and I knew that the University of Glasgow has an excellent reputation. I decided on the course as it offered me the flexibility I need to work and study at the same time. I also spoke a lot to my friends and family who agreed it would be a good fit for me and I knew they would be honest if they thought I was being unrealistic. I knew I wanted to do a masters, but I’ve always been very independent and the idea of returning to a classroom with set hours was not very appealing after being away from studying for several years.
Is this your first experience with online learning? How are you managing your time and fitting study in?
I’ve never studied online before and I’m actually quite a technophobe! However, the course is really well organised and I’ve quickly got the hang of it. I really enjoy the freedom online learning offers and I find I’m much more productive in a nice café with my laptop than I ever was in my school library where I would often end up chatting to friends or sunbathing out the window! It’s been quite tricky managing my time, especially as I have a full-time job, but I think that just forced me to become more organised. I’m also slightly older now and (hopefully) more self-disciplined. It’s easier to find time for studying when you’re genuinely interested in the content too. The teachers are really responsive on Teams and there’s a lot of interaction with the other students, so I find I’m actually getting more information and answers than if I was one of thousands of students on a uni campus.
From your experience so far of researching, selecting and starting online study, what advice would you give to someone at the start of the process?
My first piece of advice would be to make sure you’re studying something you’re actually interested in and not because you feel like you need to get a degree or because studying from home seems “easier”. It requires a lot of self-motivation and discipline. Look up the university and the course content and make sure you contact them with any questions first. Don’t rush into anything, there are a lot of online options out there, but definitely follow your gut if you’ve done the above and feel ready. Secondly, I would say to talk to other online students, even if it’s in a different school or course. I found that most people have the same concerns, and it’s really nice to share tips and stay connected. Just because you’re not in the classroom together doesn’t mean you’re doing it on your own.