Olessia

Why did you choose to stay at Surrey for your postgraduate studies, rather than moving to another university?

I chose to stay at the University of Surrey for my postgraduate studies because I'd already experienced first-hand the level of education that is received here and knew I would not be disappointed. 

What was really great was that when I was choosing to do a masters, I went to my personal tutor, and he showed me real examples of what the lessons would be on by showcasing what he was currently teaching the postgraduate students. 

Furthermore, it meant that I was able to picture in my mind who I was writing my personal statement for, and I could receive feedback straight from the source.

How did the university support you in your transition to becoming a postgraduate student?

My transition was incredibly simple. Since the university already had all my information from my undergraduate studies, I didn't need to redo any of the administrative things; they were all already taken care of.

What have been the biggest benefits so far of continuing your studies at Surrey?

The biggest benefit has been the similar teaching styles between the undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. I was able to use my notes from my bachelors as a foundation, which made it easier to understand concepts. Furthermore, I was able to stay at the same residence as I had been in during my final year of undergraduate, which was extremely useful as I didn't have to find a place to rent only to move again the following year.

I was also able to stay close to my friend who was doing a longer degree. 

Continuing my studies at Surrey meant that I experienced a nice blend of starting my masters in an environment where I already knew some people, but also got to make incredible new friends.

What advice would you give to a current Surrey undergraduate student who is thinking of staying for a masters?

My advice would be talk to your personal tutor and discuss next steps with them. If you've already got a specific degree in mind (or at least specific area of interest), they may even be able to help you learn who teaches the modules, and you'll be able to ask those professors questions, either by email or during their office hours.

What do you plan to do after graduating and how has your masters degree supported that?

After my masters, I'm planning on finding work in Europe. Having a masters is really useful, since in many countries in Europe, especially if you're looking into finance, the minimum level of education that they require is a postgraduate degree.