I enjoyed my masters so much primarily because I was interested in everything that I was reading about

Why did you decide to do a Masters? And why at the University of Sheffield?

I studied Geography at Sheffield, specialising in human geography and specifically political geography because I did my undergraduate dissertation on the asylum system in the UK.

From there, I decided I wanted to do an MA in Politics and potentially something to do with the EU because that’s what I was interested in at the time, so that’s why I decided to do the European and Global Affairs masters.

I knew that it was one of the highest, most prestigious politics departments in the UK and I knew that from having studied here as an undergraduate and because I heard a lot of students talking about it; it’s very well known.

I would say definitely look into subjects that you’re passionate about; I enjoyed my masters so much primarily because I was just interested in everything that I was reading about.

Ciara McQuillan Bridson

European and Global Affairs MA graduate

What advice would you give to someone thinking about doing postgraduate study?

I would say definitely look into subjects that you’re passionate about; I enjoyed my masters so much primarily because I was just interested in everything that I was reading about. I think it’s really important because I hear too many cases of students who, quite rightly, do masters but maybe for the sake of ‘doing a masters’.

That’s absolutely fine but make sure it’s in something that you’re going to enjoy because to me, obviously gaining skills for the future is really important, but at the same time, it’s another year of your life, so you want to use it and enjoy it and remember what you’ve learned.

What are your plans now that you’ve graduated?

At the moment I’m on a management graduate scheme with a technology company in London. I’m thinking of going into technology policy in the future but I have no business or technology experience.

I didn’t do any of that at university and I want another challenge as well, so I’m on this management graduate scheme for two years, and then I’ll hopefully use some contacts from that to go back into tech policy or something like that, but we’ll see where my route takes me!

What’s been the highlight of your time here as a postgraduate student?

It would have to be completing my dissertation. I did my dissertation on organ donation, which is a topic that was really close to my heart, so to do something that was of such high value and to do very well in it, I was incredibly proud of myself after that.

I think to complete the dissertation and to have evidence of something that I really love, really enjoy and that is actually practically useful in today’s world about an issue that’s really prevalent in today’s society was the highlight.