Amr

Why did you choose to study your course at Surrey?

I chose to 'stay Surrey' to study Organisational and Occupational Psychology MSc as I love the campus and community here. I knew I wanted to study organisational psychology, and the choice to stay was easy. There are many reasons to study postgrad here; how well-regarded my chosen course is being the main reason. Beyond this however, the countless friends I have made here and how easy it is to work part-time in Guildford were the final factors for me. Guildford is genuinely a great place to live, in my opinion, second to none in terms of UK universities.

What are the best things about Surrey and your course?

My undergraduate and postgraduate course at Surrey have taught me a great deal about my chosen subject, and readied me for a career involving psychology. I have met incredibly smart, personable, and passionate people during my time on both courses. The lecturers all share the same passion for the subject matter and are always readily available to discuss ideas. Involvement in an environment like this has made me confident I will do well in the future. My current course has been both challenging and intellectually stimulating, and has taught me plenty about applied psychology in the workplace in all aspects. 

The best thing about my course, however, is the emphasis put on employability throughout, woven into the course content. This has paid off immensely and I could not be more happy with my decision to stay at Surrey for a further year and study Organisational Psychology.

What are the best things about life here as a postgraduate student?

Everything clicks in postgraduate study. By now you have a much better idea about what interests you, and what career you would like to pursue. I have enjoyed all the modules involved in the course and felt they were all relevant to my career aspirations. The main thing that benefited me in staying here to study further was that I knew where I fitted in already and my place as a student within the community. That left me more time to focus on myself and produce my best work. 

There are many other perks that I associate with the University of Surrey. Situated at the heart of Guildford, this great town quickly became my home over the past four years. It is convenient to pop into London and visit my family, or explore the beauty Surrey has to offer on hikes. 

Secondly, the facilities on offer at the University are great, with the amazing campus library being a spot I frequent heavily during my studies. There are tons of events available regularly for you to socialise, meet people, and stay engaged on campus. 

Additionally, Surrey Sports Park is home to some of the best clubs and societies to join and meet life-long friends. The Surrey Stingers American Football Club was a big part of my time at Surrey and I would recommend joining them for a session to experience it too!

What are your career plans?

I am very excited to now exercise my passion for psychology and apply my knowledge in an organisational context. I am pleased to have accepted a role as a sales associate with Thomas International which I look forward to starting soon. I am very fortunate to have learned about this great company through the work they have done in collaboration with the university. One of our excellent module leaders and my dissertation supervisor, Professor Stephen Woods, invited them in for an inspiring careers lecture. This led me to apply and receive an offer to start after my course finishes! I now look forward to applying the strong skills I have developed during my modules and part-time work, opportunities which I doubt I would have found anywhere else.

What advice do you have for students thinking of doing this course?

For those already studying psychology or a related undergraduate degree, this course acts as a perfect way to hone your skills and ensure you are readily employable. You will learn so much about the way psychology is applied to business and how you can make a difference and tackle modern day challenges. Additionally, you will be afforded the opportunity to network easily, and have a state of the art BPS accredited careers coach in Angie Ingman to help guide you. 

The course is modern, intellectually stimulating, and exciting, and you get to immerse yourself in a one-of-a-kind community and enjoy the numerous other benefits the university has to offer. I could not recommend this course more!