What do you particularly enjoy about postgraduate study in your department?

Bristol is a great place for postgraduate study as the university is right in the centre of the bustling city.

Geography itself is a very friendly department with research groups getting together regularly for seminars and socials, and the whole department coming together for biscuits in the common room on Thursdays!

Glaciology has great facilities and there is always support on-hand if you need it.

What are the staff and facilities like in your department?

Glaciology at Bristol has excellent facilities for lab-based PhDs as we have the LOWTEX facility in the department, where low-temperature experiments can be conducted in the cold rooms and there are machines for analysing samples at very low levels.

The PhD offices are spacious, with large desks and a communal area for lunch and coffee breaks. The department has its own library which has lots of quiet nooks and crannies for personal study and a good selection of books.

I have two supervisors at Bristol and one at the University of Edinburgh, all of whom have been very supportive and helpful. They also all specialise in different aspects of my work so there is always someone to go to for help with any question.

The support staff at Bristol are also very good, always happy to help out with administration matters, or in the lab.

How does postgraduate study differ from an undergraduate degree?

There is a lot more freedom in a postgraduate degree, as you are able to work the hours you choose and take the project in your own direction. However, as a result of this you have to be very motivated to get the work done, and so have to really enjoy what you are studying.

Is there anything you would want to tell a prospective postgraduate student?

Bristol has a great department, perfect for postgraduate study, with lots of opportunities for demonstrating on undergraduate courses; outreach work with local schools; exciting conferences; and a really friendly environment.

We always have a postgraduate weekend away when the new intake arrives so you get to know everyone from the word go.