{"id":8476,"date":"2025-03-27T11:30:18","date_gmt":"2025-03-27T11:30:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/humanities-blog\/?p=8476"},"modified":"2025-03-27T11:36:38","modified_gmt":"2025-03-27T11:36:38","slug":"the-jump-from-ug-to-pg-study-how-has-my-approach-to-studying-changed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/humanities-blog\/2025\/03\/27\/the-jump-from-ug-to-pg-study-how-has-my-approach-to-studying-changed\/","title":{"rendered":"The Jump from UG to PG study – how has my approach to studying changed?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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I initially studied Spanish and Portuguese and am currently undertaking a PGCE Primary course. I\u2019ve thoroughly enjoyed both of the courses I\u2019ve done at Manchester, though they\u2019re worlds apart. The three main differences I\u2019ve noticed are the approach to writing, shifting from an academic to a professional mindset, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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The first major change I encountered was in how I write essays. During my undergraduate degree, everything was strictly academic, and I always aimed for an impersonal tone. Since I did an arts degree, my essays were usually centred around a specific text or film. In my postgraduate studies, this has completely flipped. Now, most of my assignments are written in the first person, and instead of analysing a set text, I\u2019m reflecting on my own experiences. It took a while to get used to this more personal, reflective style, and it\u2019s definitely changed how I use academic sources\u2014they\u2019ve gone from being the focus of my writing to supporting my reflections.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Another key shift is how you approach the course itself. A postgraduate course feels a lot more like a full-time job than a traditional degree. Attendance is taken seriously, and the workload is much heavier. I have to keep an extensive portfolio, stay on top of regular audits, and plan lessons constantly. If you let daily tasks pile up or miss sessions, it\u2019s very easy to feel overwhelmed. I think this is one of the main reasons postgrad courses tend to have higher dropout rates than undergrad ones. That said, if you treat it like a 9\u20135 and keep up with your responsibilities, it\u2019s manageable.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Outside of the academic side, the intensity of postgraduate study means you won\u2019t be going out as much as you did during undergrad. In some ways, that\u2019s a good thing\u2014but it also makes it even more important to carve out time for yourself and your social life. You\u2019ll likely be more tired than you were as an undergrad and might not always feel like meeting up with friends, but it helps to build routines that keep you connected and engaged. For example, even when I\u2019m exhausted, I make time to paint every evening. I also play snooker on Mondays and go to \u201cacoustic circle\u201d on Tuesdays. These small routines\u2014though tough to stick to sometimes\u2014really help me avoid burnout.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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In conclusion, my three pieces of advice would be: don\u2019t stress about changing your writing style\u2014you\u2019ll get the hang of it, and your tutors will support you. Stay on top of small tasks before they pile up. And finally, make time for yourself and for socialising\u2014otherwise, it\u2019s easy to burn out.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Written by Ben, current PGCE Primary Student<\/strong><\/p>\n

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