Hitting the ground running - my top tips for preparing for a Master's

So you have decided to return to university. Whether you have come straight from a Bachelor’s degree, or you’re returning after years of industry experience, you’ll likely ponder over the same questions (e.g Will I find my course more difficult than my Bachelor’s degree? How much pre-reading shall I do? Will it be easy to make new friends on a Master’s course?)

Many of these questions will remain unanswered. You’ll have to find out yourself. This uncertainty is part of the excitement of starting a Master’s degree - but, there are some things you can do to feel prepared (other than buying copious amounts of new stationery).

Here are my top 5 tips for starting your Master's degree at UCL:

1. Plan out your calendar - This sounds obvious. Yet, if you’re a Masters student with multiple commitments (jobs, volunteering, family commitments) scheduling properly is especially important to ensure you can make the most of your time at UCL, but also schedule in time to relax and decompress.
2. Don’t isolate yourself - Graduate study can be a lonely business - but it doesn’t have to be. Connect with people on your course online or face-to-face if you're able to join us on campus and this is possible, or find an online study buddy. Read more about some of the best online apps you can use to connect with your course mates digitally. 
3. Attend online events and talks - Even if you're not able to physically attend talks and events, there are a whole host of these that you can access and engage with digitally. Make the most of the events and talks that interest you. You can often find these advertised online on UCL and University of London platforms, and there will be a number of online induction and welcoming sessions happening in September, so keep an eye on this website for more information nearer the time.
4. Don’t be afraid to get in touch with your teachers and researchers working in areas you are interested in - Reach out to academics in your department, or to researchers that have work that align with your interests. Thinking about your dissertation project (or modules) and developing your ideas early will help later in the year.
5. Research societies and extra-curricular activities available through UCL - Find societies from Students' Union UCL that you're interested in. This is a year to try something new and many societies will be hosting online get-togethers and digital workshops and activities to get involved in.

Last revised: 8 September 2021

Claudia Devlin, UCL Student Residence Adviser