Postgraduate Study guest post by University of Manchester Alumnus Andreea Chirvase University of Manchester Careers Blog

Postgraduate Study guest post by University of Manchester Alumnus Andreea Chirvase University of Manchester Careers Blog Let’s start from the beginning. I started my BA in Criminology in 2012 and graduated in 2015. The idea was to do a master’s straightaway, but things did not go according to plan. Unfortunately, I did not get funding to continue my studies and I found myself in a rather odd and confusing situation, not really knowing where to go from there. I had not been applying for jobs and had no back-up plan. I ended up taking on an admin role for a year, thinking that any job is better than no job. Two things that I learnt in that year: any job is not better than no job and Criminology is something I will always want to know more about. In September 2016, I started my master’s degree â€" again, in Criminology. The application process was quite straightforward. The University of Manchester has a fast track system for alumni who decide to pursue further study, which saves you a lot of time and effort. If I was ever sure of anything, it was my degree choice. So, to me, further study somehow seemed a natural step to take. Clichéd as it may sound, it was â€" and still is â€" a genuine interest in understanding criminal behaviour and why people act the way they act. But apart from that, what’s great about Criminology is its openness. There is this freedom to think critically and not take things at face value you learn how to think, not what to think. It’s a continuous learning process, which I personally think is an essential factor to take into account when considering further education. A postgraduate degree is not just the piece of paper that differentiates you from the crowd. A postgraduate degree is also about your personal development. People choose to go into further study for various reasons, from having another year to figure out what they’re doing with their life to getting that promotion. Whatever reason that may be, a postgraduate degree will definitely help you improve and maybe even figure out a few things. It was during my master’s that I realised I want to do a PhD and hopefully, one day, have a career in academia. Why? I enjoy learning and I want to help others learn too. Considering Postgraduate Study as an option after you graduate? Head along to The Postgraduate Study Fair Wednesday 15th November, 11:00am 3.30pm, Manchester Central. All