Postgraduate study offers you more freedom

What influenced your decision to pursue postgraduate study?

When I decided upon a career in librarianship, I knew I would need to pursue postgraduate study and gain a masters qualification. In the library and information profession, the formal postgraduate qualification improves employability, but it also provides a great, wider introduction into the profession.

Why Sheffield?

Choosing to study in Sheffield was both a practical and personal choice for me.

Practically, there are very few universities in the country that offered librarianship postgraduate studies. The MA Librarianship course in Sheffield really appealed to me as the modules offered lots of opportunities, I knew the University and Information School were highly regarded, and the course is also accredited by CILIP, the library and information professional body.

I’m also originally from Yorkshire, so studying in Sheffield suited me personally as I would be close to family and friends.

What does your postgraduate study give/offer you that your undergraduate didn’t?

I feel that postgraduate study offers you more freedom and independence in regards to what you study, allowing you to pursue your own interests. I also feel that with my course, postgraduate study is providing me the necessary skills and knowledge to move into the profession and establish a career.

Postgraduate study offers you more freedom and independence, allowing you to pursue your own interests. It is providing me the skills and knowledge to move into the profession and establish a career

Chloe Beswick

MA Librarianship

What do you particularly enjoy about postgraduate study in your department/subject area?

The Information School feels like a community. This year, the MA librarianship course is a relatively small group (around 28 people) but because of this we have got to know each other really well within our classes and group work. It’s great to work with people who share similar interests, and all want to go into the same profession.

How are you funding your study and living costs?

To fund my studies, I took a postgraduate student loan. The student loan covers the cost of my studies and some of my accommodation costs. I worked last year and the money I saved, I use for my remaining living costs.

If you are in university accommodation, what has your experience been like and do you access any facilities, societies, for example, as part of the residence life?

I didn’t know anyone in Sheffield before I moved here, so I chose to live in University accommodation as I thought it would be a great way to meet other students and make friends (which I have!)

As I live in University accommodation, I have access to all the activities provided as part of residence life. I regularly attend the residence life sports classes. The fitness classes are free and fit perfectly around my schedule and timetable as they are designed and planned for students.

I’ve met new people who I would probably have never met otherwise, as we all live in different accommodation and are on different courses.

What one piece of advice would you give to someone thinking of studying postgraduate at Sheffield?

Postgraduate study is hard and time consuming but very rewarding. I would encourage anyone to really think about what they want to study and make sure they pick the right course for them.