1. What do you like most about your course?

As a mature student, the flexibility of being able to fit my academic timetable around my personal life is a significant bonus. The course is designed to allow students to absorb the material at a comfortable pace, and the weekly seminar discussion of set texts rapidly became the highlight of my week. There is never a feeling of too much at once, so never a risk of becoming overwhelmed - this ensures I remain engaged throughout whilst feeling capable of submitting work I am proud of. This is complimented by a diverse and vital selection of course texts which always drive lively and informed discussions in the seminars.

2. What were your lecturers like and how did they help you to succeed throughout your course?

Every lecturer I’ve had the pleasure of being taught by has been approachable, engaging and generous with their time and correspondence. They have indulged my flights of fancy in the classroom when discussing our core texts, and have been excellent sounding boards for my essay ideas. The biggest difference between undergraduate and postgraduate for me was the expectation to set my own questions and topics, so this was the area I perhaps needed the most guidance in. Every lecturer was wonderful in that regard, offering clear instructions and suggestions on how to formulate my ideas into something altogether more academic.

3. Did you attend any lectures from guest speakers?

We had the privilege of having a number of guest lectures included in our ‘Practices’ module, including esteemed speakers such as Dr Matt Reznicek of Creighton University, to speakers as far afield as Professor Karen Macfarlane of Mount Saint Vincent University in Canada. Conducted over Zoom, the guest lectures offered us an insight into the types of research being conducted by current PhD students alongside established senior scholars. As well as being a taster for how online academic delivery functions at this level, we were also able to see ideas and theses at various stages of their inception and development, illustrating various pathways open to us should we also choose to pursue our own PhD topics in the future.

4. Have you taken part in any extracurricular activities/projects alongside your studies?

A group of my peers and I formed an informal film club under the supervision of one of our lecturers. We would meet up at Sand Bar after our Thursday lectures to discuss a text that had been chosen by one of the club members and analyse its themes and merits as a work of cinema. Though not an ‘official’ society, the discussion there was often lively and an extension to what we were already having in our seminars, including questions around class, identity politics and portrayals of capitalist society. These sessions helped us to apply the critical skills we were developing inside the classroom and use them in a more informal setting.

5. What skills do you feel you have gained/developed during your studies at Manchester Met? How do you think these will help you in your future studies or career?

I feel this degree has opened my eyes fully as to what would be required should I wish to continue my academic journey and pursue a PhD at a later date. From formulating my own ideas and defining my own thesis, to research skills and time management, the course has provided me with the necessary skills to be successful as a fully autonomous scholar. This has been a rich and rewarding experience, with a wide variety of engaging and pertinent core texts. Being exposed to and challenged by opposing viewpoints has also helped me grow on a personal level.

Find out more about MA English Studies.