Scholarship Winner: Helen Irvine

I was awarded the Mary Lil Scholarship, which has offered me the benefit of not needing to maintain a part-time job alongside my MA course in order to fund my studies. I’m thoroughly appreciative of how receiving the scholarship removed this pressure and allowed me to focus on my studies. The staff in the music department have all been so welcoming and supportive, and it’s been a pleasure to work with and learn from them.

Studying on the Psychology of Music MA course has provided me with insight across various the areas of music psychology, all of which have been fascinating to learn more about. I’ve particularly enjoyed learning about how music can affect emotions and wellbeing, and about music in education. These areas are pertinent to my main areas of interest, and to the field of work I would like go into on completion of my MA course.

How did you first hear about your scholarship?

I found the scholarship through the university website when I was looking at the online prospectus for Postgraduate study. Having decided the Psychology of Music MA course would be a useful step towards the kind of work I hope to do in the future, I started looking at funding options. The student finance loans available for MA students don’t really cover the cost of course fees as well as living costs for the duration of the course, and managing a part time job alongside a Masters seemed prohibitive for me personally, so I started looking for alternative options.

How did you feel when you heard that you were successful in being awarded the
scholarship?

It felt very surreal! I applied for the scholarship only hoping there was a chance that it would be offered to me, so I was ecstatic to find I had been successful. Maintaining the level of study required for my Masters alongside a part-time job would have been a huge workload to manage, and I’m thoroughly appreciative of how receiving this scholarship allowed me to remove this pressure and focus on my studies.

What made you choose to study at Sheffield and your course?

I grew up in Sheffield and really love the city, so it was great to find the Psychology of Music MA course as it is suited to my interests, and run by such a highly regarded department. I knew a few music undergraduate students who all spoke positively about the department, which definitely influenced my decision too. Choosing the Psychology of Music MA was a bit of a departure from my undergraduate studies in Early Years and Primary Teaching. I was looking for strategies that promote children’s confidence, resilience, and holistic development alongside their regular schooling.

My musical education and involvement in musical ensembles have provided extensive opportunities for my own musical and personal development. Recognising this, I began to consider how I could use music to support and promote children’s wellbeing and success.

The Psychology of Music MA course allows me to better understand how we all respond to music at a fundamental level, and I hope to use this understanding in the future to work with children who experience emotional and behavioural difficulties to minimise these barriers to success.

Helen Irvine

How did you research the University to find out about studying in Sheffield?

I looked through the online prospectus for Postgraduate study to find courses related to my interests. The Psychology of Music MA stood out as it aligned with my interests and future goals. Having decided the course would be a good fit for me, I looked into the areas of research the academic staff leading the course had been involved with and were currently involved with. Seeing that members of the department had interest in work to do with Wellbeing and Education was great to see, as this gives me access to specialist support in areas pertinent to my interests. I already knew about the huge number of societies and sports teams available to join through the Student’s Union, but it’s worth mentioning that this is something I would have researched had I not known about it. It’s a secondary consideration to the course itself, but still an important part of life while you’re studying after all! I’ve actually been involved with a number of societies over the last few years (as non-students can get involved too), and they have all been full of wonderful, welcoming people and fun activities (even though this year they’ve been happening over zoom!).

What was your initial impression of Sheffield and the University when you first
arrived?

Intro week was a bit of a blur, with lots of new faces and new things to think about. It was a bit daunting, but the department were very reassuring, and everything fell into place pretty quickly once the course started up. Working out where I needed to be on campus for face- to-face teaching was a little confusing to begin with, but after the first week I knew my way around the places I needed to know. I really enjoyed meeting the people on my course too. It’s always good to meet like-minded people, and having the shared interests from our course was a fantastic starting point for conversation. I grew up in Sheffield, so I don’t really remember my first impression of the city! But I do think Sheffield is a great place to live. Assuming that we aren’t operating within the rules of lockdown, there are always things to do in Sheffield. Within walking distance of the Student’s Union are multiple pubs, clubs, cinemas, theatres, coffee shops, restaurants, libraries, escape rooms, and multiple outdoor green spaces. The public transport links around the city are good too if you’d rather avoid walking up all the hills! You’d think having so much going on could be overwhelming, but Sheffield doesn’t feel too chaotic. People are generally friendly and quite laid-back, so for me it hits a happy medium between busy, city life and living in a quieter town.

What are the highlights of your experience in Sheffield so far?

Our course director has been organising weekly online meet-ups as we can’t meet in person during lockdown. It’s been lovely to take a break from our studies, and to get to know the staff and members of my course better. Getting to know people informally really helped to build comradery with my course mates, which has been really useful given that a lot of our modules include group work. Speaking of group work, one of my highlights is actually working on a group assignment over video call. It was a challenge, but not a chore. I’m still really proud of how we worked together, and I’ve become good friends with the people I worked with which is a lovely
bonus!

Another highlight has been attending weekly online socials with the Brass Band and Symphony Orchestra societies. It’s as close as you can get to a post-rehearsal trip to the pub during a pandemic! Both ensembles are full of wonderful, friendly people. While we aren’t able to make music together at the moment, the friends I’ve made through the societies have honestly been a huge part of keeping me grounded through a first semester in lockdown.

What would you say to a student considering studying at The University of Sheffield?

If you’re interested in one of the courses, then absolutely go for it! Sheffield is a great place to be, and there’s a lot of good times to be had and interesting people to meet. Personally, I’m really grateful to be able to studying under such established individuals in a field I’m really passionate about. That said, studying at university is a lot of hard work, and it can be tricky to keep yourself organised and on top of everything. Pretty much every student I know, regardless of their area of study, feels that way at least some of the time… but it’s also incredibly fulfilling, so don’t let the hard work put you off! The University of Sheffield has so many things in place for academic and pastoral support, and it’s all easily accessible online or through the Student’s Union. In my experience, staff have always been more than happy to help with any concerns I’ve had, so even when things have been difficult I’ve not
felt out of my depth.