Hi! I am Thomas and I started studying at AMBS in September, taking an MSc in Business Analysis and Strategic Management (BASM). My undergraduate background was in Management, which I spent 4 years (including a placement year) studying at a well-known university in the midlands.

Moving to Manchester was an easy decision but a big step for my academic journey. I think it is important to note that postgraduate study requires a lot more time commitment and hence the standard required is of a higher expectation. However, there are multiple benefits to postgraduate study compared to undergraduate study which I will lay out below.

1) Your cohort

Competition for places on a postgraduate course is much higher, so if you are fortunate enough to earn yourself a spot then you can be safe in the knowledge that you will be surrounded by like-minded individuals who are all keen to produce the best possible piece of work. This is particularly important considering group work occurs a lot more frequently at postgraduate level, so having confidence in your peers is key for your personal journey. At undergraduate level, I found group work tricky to navigate due to a larger cohort resulting in knowing less people on a personal level. So far at AMBS, I have enjoyed taking the opportunity to get to know and work with my peers in diverse groups and learning from them as well as with them.

2) The Work Itself

So far, I have found my postgraduate degree to be far more interesting in terms of how and what we are assessed on. So yes, I have spent far more time working on various coursework and exam preparation than I would in a usual semester at undergraduate level, however because I have a real interest in it and the nature of the assignments it feels far easier to motivate myself to work through them. I have found that my work has had far greater real life application so far, and the use of seminars in small classes for each module has sparked bright discussion which I never really got the chance to receive from my undergraduate degree.

3) The AMBS Support Network

I have had far more interaction with lecturers and the further support network than I ever had at an undergraduate level which I am extremely grateful for. Every individual is assigned a personal tutor, usually one of their heads of course. It is vital to make the most of this connection. They can help you with academic issues, wellbeing issues, or maybe you just want to run some bright ideas past them! As well as this, the careers network offers exceptional service for helping you find the best graduate job you can. They often run alumni events, CV workshops, give job hunting advice and more. This wasn’t something I found to be readily available at undergraduate level, so I have made sure to make the most of it now and I am very glad to have the opportunity to do so.

Overall, I have really enjoyed my first semester of postgraduate study, and I am very pleased with my decision to come to AMBS. As semester 1 wraps up, I am looking forward to getting some more choice over modules before taking on a project in semester 3, again something I wouldn’t have had the opportunity for in my undergrad!

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