Georgia
Potter

Why NTU?

Why did you choose to study a postgraduate degree in Psychology?

"For a few reasons, I decided to pursue a postgraduate degree in psychology. First of all, I really wanted to improve my academic abilities since I love learning and hope to one day use my skills, knowledge, and experience to help others.

Second, during the completion of my undergraduate dissertation, my supervisor strongly encouraged me to pursue further education because he thought I had what it took to succeed as an academic.

Finally, I was encouraged to think about applying for the MSc Psychology postgraduate degree after receiving comments on a psychology assignment during my undergraduate studies. So, my passion for learning and helping others, as well as people's faith in my abilities, motivated me to pursue a postgraduate degree."

Why did you choose your course at NTU?

"I selected the MSc postgraduate psychology course at NTU for a variety of reasons. Firstly, the course gives students the chance to develop a variety of abilities that are crucial for future employment in the field of psychology.

Another reason that I chose this course is because according to previous students, the course team goes above and beyond to encourage their students and recognise that they have lives outside of university and that these lives can occasionally get in the way of their academic tasks.

Furthermore, the course's utilisation of the multidisciplinary team within the psychology department, as well as their research interests and expertise, makes it very interesting for another reason. This course is perfect for students aspiring to work in psychology-related fields because students on this course are supported by specialists in a multitude of psychology-related disciplines."

What’s your experience been like of your course so far?

"So far, the course has me feeling like I am on a rollercoaster because it is quite rigorous in that you are always acquiring new information and abilities. As a student, you must constantly remind yourself that effort and hard work are rewarded and that the time you spent on each assignment was worthwhile because the course is BPS accredited.

One of the highlights of the course for me was the statistics phase test. I felt inspired to revise for the test due to the lecturers' support and the library skills team's encouragement, and I unexpectedly received full marks on the exam, achieving an exceptional distinction. This is among my favourite recollections from the course thus far since it made me realise that, despite the fact that some of the requirements of the course are challenging and outside of my comfort zone, they are still attainable with effort.

Additionally, one of the course's other major highlights occurred during tutoring, when some students discussed how to balance their studies and their personal lives. They mentioned that they occasionally feel guilty for not studying when they don't feel like it. My tutor kindly reminded us all that it's okay to prioritise our well-being over work, putting in only 40% rather than 100% some days. This, in my opinion, is a highlight of the course because it amply demonstrates the course team's care for the students' mental health and well-being.

Another memorable moment for me occurred in a supervision meeting when I confided in my supervisor my concerns about learning R studio and Bayesian statistics for my research project.  My supervisor gave me what he called a "little motivating speech," emphasising that the skills we learn in the course are almost like a starting point and that we shouldn't stop there because there are always opportunities to further our learning."

Have you been involved in any projects or extra-curricular activities that have supplemented your studies run through NTU?

"I used to attend external seminars wherein guest lecturers delivered a topic based on their research interests. In particular, an external seminar, where a guest speaker called Ben Hines delivered a talk on parental alienation stood out to me. His talk motivated me to learn more about parental alienation and its impact on people’s lives. This motivated me to study the impact of parental alienation on the mental health of alienated parents for my research project which led to my collaboration with Ben Hines and mental health charities which support alienated parents. This is a good illustration of the relationships and alliances NTU has with businesses, and charities, which greatly facilitates students' contact with organisations outside of NTU."

What does Social Sciences mean to you?

"To me, social sciences represent a collection of academic fields that focus on investigating how people behave, particularly how they interact with their ecological systems, with the goal of improving people's lives."

Support

What do you think of the support available from tutors and staff at NTU?

"The faculty and staff at NTU offer amazing support; they genuinely care about the health and well-being of their students and go above and beyond to help them. The faculty is dedicated to making the students feel welcomed, happy, and motivated to learn. In addition to providing support and advice to all students, the tutors and staff at NTU are always happy to chat with students about their anxieties and worries."

Outside of the Lecture Theatre

Did you find it easy to make friends and settle in at NTU?

"The NTU student experience is fantastic. With their global lounge, cafes, SU, events, and societies, NTU offers so many possibilities for settling in and making friends."

The Next Steps

What’s next for you after NTU?

"When my time at NTU is over, I hope to publish my research project on the mental health of parentally alienated fathers. Then, I would like to find valuable work experience that can give me useful experience that I can utilise to make myself stand out as a candidate for psychology-related jobs in the future. Afterwards, I plan to apply for a PhD."

How is NTU helping you to achieve your career goals?

"NTU is assisting me in achieving my career objectives since it is helping me to develop my interpersonal communication skills, which are important in employment related to psychology where a positive working relationship with clients is required. NTU has also improved my ability to work in a team and stay calm under pressure. In addition to teaching me the value of respect for others, NTU also taught me the value of being able to be self-reflective and how to write and speak effectively and clearly. My ability to plan ahead and manage my time has also enhanced since studying at NTU, which is a useful skill to have in any career."

Has the employability team helped you plan for life beyond NTU as a postgraduate student?

"The employability team has helped me in numerous ways as I prepared for life beyond NTU. The employability team is really helpful since you may schedule a one-on-one meeting with a staff member to ask questions and get as much advice as you can. They are incredibly helpful if you don't know where to look for work outside of NTU, want to learn more about a specific job, or want to pursue additional education. The employability team also provided me with support with writing my CV, and cover letters so that I could stand out as a possible job applicant.

As I was unsure what to plan for life beyond NTU, the employability team spoke with me about my alternatives, including pursuing a PhD or looking for a career in the field of psychology. They also spoke to me about the qualifications, the abilities needed and the prerequisites of various occupations. This was useful because, as a student, it can be easy to read job-related information passively while worrying about forthcoming assignments. Also, it is easy for students to put off thinking about their lives beyond NTU because thinking about a significant life change can be frightening. However, the employability team answered all of my queries and signposted me to helpful information resources, like the prospect’s website, which encouraged me to take time to plan my life after NTU."