From full-time work to full-time research 

I came to Bristol after completing my undergraduate degree at Exeter University followed by a period of full-time work. I’m happy I took this route – it gave me a great sense of perspective on what I really wanted to do. 

The Cabot Institute really stood out for me because of its morals and values, and I was attracted to the multi-disciplinary and conservation-minded approach of the MScR. I also really appreciated the prompt, friendly and positive response I got when I first enquired about the programme. I came to the MScR from full-time employment, which was a big decision to make, but I felt really supported and reassured in my choice. 

I want to pursue a career in the field of marine biology, and identified an opportunity for experimental ecology in this area. It’s quite a niche field, but it has broad applications, so the MScR provided the perfect opportunity for me to explore this. I enjoyed doing my dissertation at undergraduate level – I liked taking responsibility for my own work, so I knew it would be a good fit. I also had a great conversation with my supervisor prior to my application where we discussed our research and interests, so I felt confident the MScR was right for me. 

Unlimited opportunities  

Even though it’s a research-based programme, there’s lots of support throughout. The modelling and results stage of my work involved lots of coding and programming that I hadn't done before, so I’ve been able to boost my skills in a variety of areas. The programme cohort is made up of people from a huge range of backgrounds and we’re always learning something new from each other. I’ll be in the lab working alongside Geography researchers, for example, and I can’t comprehend what they’re talking about, but then they say the same thing about my work! It’s great to have so much exposure to new ideas. 

There are loads of opportunities to make connections and further your work. I took my ideas to the British Ecological Society conference and won a prize, which was great, and the University offers a paid placement scheme, which I’ll definitely be looking into. When I was researching the programme I knew the MScR would open up a lot of opportunities for me, but now I’m actually in it it’s much clearer just how many possibilities lie ahead.