How to prepare for life as a postgraduate student

Now is the time of year when many final year undergraduates will be weighing up their options and deciding whether applying for postgraduate study is right for them.

A year ago, University of Lincoln student Anna Infante was one of them, trying to decide whether to take a master’s in 21st-century literature. Here she shares her experiences of being a postgraduate, and the things she wished she’d known to help her prepare for the year ahead.

Ensure you have applied to the right course

This may seem obvious, but I applied for two courses just in case I didn’t get onto one and ended up receiving offers for both. I had a really difficult decision in deciding which one I was going to do as I was passionate about both. In the end, it came down to career prospects.

You also need to make sure that you absolutely love what you’re applying for. Many people apply to undergraduate courses simply because they have the best success statistics, but you’re doing a master’s because you are passionate about your chosen field. If you can’t imagine yourself being happy every day doing what you have applied for, rethink your decision. It may not be right for you.

Finding somewhere to live

Deciding where to live is a lot harder in postgraduate study. I debated living on my own for a long time and it’s definitely something everyone should consider. I truly believed that this year would just be a continuation of my undergraduate studies – that I could get away with going out two or three times a week, having late nights and a messy house – but it doesn’t work like that. You need a lot of your own space during a master’s to do your own work. For people who are new to the area they’ll be studying in, my advice would be to stay away from halls. They are amazing for undergraduates, but as a postgraduate you really need your sleep!

Preparing mentally

If you can, get a breakdown of your reading list in advance and make use of the summer to get ahead with the set reading. Settling in a new city (or coming back in my case) takes a while, and it’s difficult to get into a routine at the beginning of the year as you’re not quite sure what to expect. Getting ahead with reading took a lot of pressure off as I was attempting to adjust to postgraduate life. You also have to be a lot more prepared for your seminars than in undergraduate study. They move so quickly and are really intellectually engaging so you cannot afford to just sit back and watch. You need to make sure you’re prepared to put yourself out there and not worry about being wrong.

Think seriously about your financial situation

The loan from the government is great, but having to pay rent alongside course fees meant that my loan was soon gone and I had to fund myself through work. The University of Lincoln advises you not to work more than 10 hours a week while completing a full-time course, and I completely agree with this – I made the mistake of taking on too much work at the beginning of the year as I was worried about my finances, but now I work in a bar two nights a week and appreciate the time away from my studies. Paid work is definitely a good thing – in moderation.

Don’t panic about your interview

It might not be the same for every application, but the interview helps both you and the tutors be sure that you have thought the course through. You just have to be prepared to explain what excites you about the course, and where you hope to go with it. It was a good test for me because it encouraged me to challenge myself and think about what I really wanted to gain from taking the course. You can’t be shy about speaking up in a master’s, so it’s really good practice to put yourself through that before you even start.

Overall, I have learned so much about myself during this year, and have become more confident as a person, as well as in my own academic ability. My main advice to those signing up to a postgraduate course is to try to contain your excitement, as it will be amazing.