Student testimonial - Charandeep Malhi

I joined the MSc Health Professions Education (Leadership) with 30 credits having completed two 15-credit modules on the short course programme the previous academic year.

I would highly recommend the short course option for anyone (like me) who is interested in postgraduate development in education and/or leadership but is perhaps apprehensive about committing to a full MSc having not completed any previous Level 7 study.

How have you managed to fit your studies in with your working life?

Planning my time in relation to my work duties and postgraduate studies has been a key skill I’ve honed whilst undertaking an MSc and working full-time.

Helpfully, the course timetable specifies the dates and times of synchronous sessions and tutorials ahead of the academic year, allowing me to arrange study leave in advance and plan annual leave between modules.

I also think completing modules relevant to my area of work and interests has been beneficial. I have chosen to base my assignments on the issues and challenges I face in the workplace.

This has enabled me to incorporate my studies into my work life and strengthened my relationships with colleagues and key stakeholders including our Director of Education, nursing practice educators and the Head of Therapies.

How have you been supported by the team through your studies? Has it been valuable?

Meeting with my personal tutor, Miranda Kronfli, to plan my studies has been extremely helpful. Miranda was keen to understand my interests, learning needs, work role and responsibilities.

She helped me to select modules with increased insight and devise a programme that was right for me. I was keen to take the ‘leadership’ route and the optional modules I have completed complement the leadership route well.

The PGME administration team are wonderfully responsive to any questions and if they don’t know the answer, are usually able to help point you in the right direction.

At one point, I had lower confidence with my academic writing and questioned whether I was ‘good enough’ to continue to the full MSc. I would encourage anyone experiencing the same to reach out and access the support available.

I met with a tutor one-to-one and accessed the tools I needed to re-build my confidence and review my approach to academic assignments and writing. The UCL Writing Lab and free support really changed things for me. Improving my academic writing matters to me and I really appreciate the journey I’ve been on and the support I’ve been able to access.

How has your time on the programme changed how you see yourself as an educator?

I think the MSc programme facilitates and encourages us to continually reflect on our teaching and critically appraise the literature and information we use to inform our practice. The programme has enabled me to re-connect with the perspective of the learner. Learning theories were new to me.

I think understanding ‘how’ adults learn is fundamental for those involved in education and supervision. I work in the field of neuroscience - it’s been interesting to think about learning theories in relation to neuroplasticity too!

How are you going to use what you have learnt in your career?

I haven’t completed my MSc but it’s already helping me in the workplace. Improving my critical appraisal and academic writing skills has enabled me to complete investigations and reports with greater clarity and precision. I am involved with a project to devise a clinical supervision framework for Allied Health Professionals in our department.

It has also helped me to collaborate with other members of the multi-disciplinary team and I am working alongside nursing practice educators to plan and implement a two-day in-house teaching course to improve the quality of education within our organisation. I think my MSc studies have really increased my support networks and connections.

Students mention the benefits of paying by module as they register and paying this in instalments at 3 points in the academic year. How has that worked for you?

I am incredibly grateful to have had my studies funded by my organisation and two modules funded by Health Education England as part of their initiative to upskill and develop critical care Allied Health Professionals. The organisation’s funding is allocated in accordance with the financial year (April to end of March) but this has not been problematic in terms of accessing funds.