How did you find the transition from undergraduate to postgraduate study?

The transition between undergraduate study and postgraduate study I think was easier for me as I completed my undergraduate degree at Edge Hill too. I was already familiar with the campus, facilities, and the lecturers so I could focus completely on the academic transition.

The main difference was that the Nineteenth Century Studies course only had on-campus sessions one day a week, as opposed to my undergraduate History course which had multiple sessions throughout the week. For postgraduate I was in classes less frequently, however there was more prep work each week to ensure I could meaningfully contribute to the seminars. Some weeks we would need to read full novels or long poems, in addition to academic articles. Therefore I was still working and studying despite not being on campus for classes. The course relies on independent research and preparation to ensure the seminars are as productive as possible.

Postgraduate study is also more independent in terms of assessments too. For my course in undergrad we were given a list of essay questions to choose from to answer. At postgraduate you design all your own research questions and pick the topic of your assignments (with lecturers approval). This allowed us to really tailor the degree to our own individual research interests, and it also gave us the opportunity in seminars to discuss each others' work and share ideas.

I would say the main transition is an increased level of independence and the expectation you are well prepared for all your sessions, and you will meaningfully contribute to the discussion in all your sessions. But the lecturers were incredibly supportive and helped us adjust to these new expectations. There is a whole module called Research Skills on my Nineteenth Century Studies MA which is designed to transition everyone to the postgraduate level of academic work expected from us. It was a step up in terms of expectations, but it is completely manageable and you are well supported.

I found the transition to be much much easier and smoother than I ever imagined! The university was so incredibly supportive, and having done an education based course before furthering my studies into postgraduate education studies, connections with staff were able to be made before starting in the September, so I was able to gain some deeper understanding of what to expect and get to know some of my current lecturers. There was also an amazing online presence that built up which allowed us students to create a group messenger account letting us become familiar with each other and begin friendships. The university also held a pre course day which I would highly recommend to any postgraduate students to attend if given the opportunity. It was that day which led me to finding my current 5 best friends, as well as really solidifying my motivation that this was the course for me!