My advice for new MSc students

04 August 2021

What advice would you give to new students joining WBS?

Have an open mind! Starting a new school, pursuing a new degree, trying to make new connections, or being exposed to new prospects might be intimidating. This experience has been made more challenging by the new virtual learning situation created by the pandemic, which has made it more difficult to interact with your cohort and truly immerse yourself in the experience, so make sure you invest time and effort into doing this and taking any opportunities that are offered to you.

To get the most out of WBS, you should first prepare for the workload by realising that a lot will be expected of you in terms of deadlines and modules. WBS has established itself as a respectable university, and the quality of work required is expected to reflect this. To meet the degree's demanding deadlines, stay open to learning more and aim to create a work plan that works best for you.

Make the most of your new network! Throughout my postgraduate degree,  I have had the opportunity to meet clever people with a variety of degrees and cultural backgrounds, either through my cohort or professors, and this has exposed me to other people's experiences and viewpoints, allowing me to learn from them. So do not be afraid to ask questions and speak as much as possible with your classmates, since you are all going through the same thing, and it is a beautiful learning curve.

What have been your most memorable moments at WBS?

I had a great time at WBS and learned a lot, but the majority of my most memorable memories were related to the possibilities and experiences I had during my MISDI programme.

To begin with, working on an assignment with my group mates while socially distanced during the first term when we were allowed on campus was intriguing. It was wonderful to meet up with my colleagues and work on the assignment after a few months of virtual learning. Working with my teammates allowed me to form bonds with them, and it was a great method to interact without the use of screens. A significant portion of my WBS experience has been spent in groups, and I have loved learning how to navigate different teams and understand the best method to move the team ahead to reach the intended objective through these various groups. Without a doubt, my WBS degree has improved my teamwork abilities and given me a better understanding of how various people operate best.

To top it off, one of the most memorable moments was participating in the Talking Tech: Girls and Women in ICT series as part of my Cybersecurity module. I have always been passionate about increased women's participation in all business sectors, so when our lecturer, Isabel Fischer, offered an opportunity to be part of this initiative, I felt it was one  I could not pass up. Ms Maria Axente, the Lead for Responsible AI at PwC UK, was a delight to speak with; we talked about the challenges of relocating across nations to start and develop new careers, and I learned a lot about what it's like to work in technology as a woman from her. It was a truly unique opportunity.

Is there anything that you would have done differently?

I would participate in more extracurricular activities if I had the chance to do it all over again or under other circumstances. I could have participated in a variety of clubs and activities at the University of Warwick to help me relax and establish a healthier work-life balance. Your degree should not be exclusively educational; you should also take advantage of other chances available to you so that you can gain a more well-rounded experience and develop relationships with people outside of your degree. I would especially like to have participated in more activities at the sports hub, especially because I have been less active this year and joining a sports club would have helped me boost my activity levels.

Discover more about life as an MSc student at Warwick Business School.