Coming from Singapore, Sheffield offers a good balance of a vibrant urban environment with lush green spaces

Before starting on my Master’s, I spent nine years driving Health, Wellbeing and Safety initiatives across public and private sectors. Most recently, I served as the APAC Head of Wellbeing Operations & Delivery Strategy where I led a team of mental health experts to drive psychological health and safety initiatives for TikTok’s Trust and Safety teams across Asia-Pacific.

These experiences reminded me that decisions regarding people, performance and wellbeing have real consequences. Hence, I recognised the need to pursue a more specialised qualification to strengthen my credibility as a practitioner and better support the future organisations and communities I work with. 

Why I chose this course

I chose the Master’s in Business and Organisational Psychology because the discipline is directly relevant to my nine years of industry experience. This programme allows me to deepen my existing toolkit in workplace wellbeing while expanding into other critical domains such as selection and psychometric testing, leadership development and training. With exposure to these areas,  I can contribute more strategically to future organisations and ensure that people-related strategies and decisions are backed with data-driven, evidence-based practices.

I decided to study at Sheffield primarily because the programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society, providing a clear pathway toward becoming a Chartered Psychologist. During my research, my industry contacts recommended I explore Sheffield due to its Institute of Work Psychology and the Management School’s triple-crown accreditation.

Most importantly, I was drawn to the practical nature of the curriculum and the unique opportunity to collaborate with real organisations for my Dissertation. This practical approach is highly valuable as it allows me to further refine my professional skills as a practitioner while on a career break.

Highlights of my studies

A key highlight was gaining the direct experience of administering, interpreting and delivering to clients on their personality and ability tests, which led me to becoming a certified psychometric assessor. This is a valuable skill should I choose to broaden my career beyond workplace wellbeing into talent management.

Having completed my undergraduate studies in Singapore and Australia, the role of the Academic Representative was a new concept to me. I am glad to have stepped into this leadership role as it gave me the opportunity to gather feedback from my cohort and collaborate with faculty members to shape and improve the programme for future students.

Skills and knowledge development

Apart from becoming a certified psychometric assessor, I value the programme’s rigorous focus on evidence-based practice. Through classroom discussions, group work and assignments, I have continuously refined my ability to critically evaluate research evidence and apply these insights to organisational case studies. This is further complemented by the “Applying Psychology to Work and Organisations” module which serves as a practical toolkit for psychologists, allowing me to sharpen essential consultancy skills such as presentation, group facilitation, networking and ethical decision-making within a learning environment.

Next steps

My aspiration is to become a credible Organisational Psychologist who effectively bridges psychology and business, integrating evidence-based practice with strategic leadership and operational excellence gained from my industry experience to build healthier, more productive, and safer workplaces for all.

This accredited degree is useful in formalising my professional background and establishing a clearer identity as a qualified practitioner. It will provide future organisations, communities and clients that I work with the necessary assurance that my work meets globally recognised professional benchmarks and ethical standards.

What I've loved about Sheffield

Coming from Singapore, Sheffield offers a good balance of a vibrant urban environment with lush green spaces. While the city’s green spaces remind me of home in some ways, the close proximity to the Peak District for weekend hikes and road trips around Yorkshire provides a sense of tranquillity and nature on a different scale. Hence, the time spent here has been restorative.

Beyond nature, I enjoy Sheffield’s thriving independent scene - from the curated thrift stores and flea markets to the independent cafes and boutiques. There is a creative energy that makes the city welcoming and inspiring!

Lastly, returning to campus as a mature student can be a daunting transition but the sense of community at Sheffield made a difference. I particularly appreciated the events organised by the Student Experience, Diversity and Inclusion team (SEDI) and the Sheffield Singapore Society as they provided a welcoming space for me to connect with like-minded peers and build a supportive network here.