������Ƶ

The journey towards studying an MSc in Project Management doesn’t always have to be linear: Emily, who recently graduated from this programme at the ������Ƶ, shares with us how she navigated this exciting next step while working full-time – and began to reap the career benefits even before graduating:

“I did my course through distance learning, so the actual course was delivered by staff at Royal Holloway, and I chose that because I have a full-time job, so the distance learning was really flexible for me.

“I work for a charity where I deliver projects to young people in prison, so I was really looking to move on up within my organisation; and actually, whilst I was studying my masters, I was able to get promoted into a project management role. Because I'd already studied some courses by then, I was able to talk about that in my interview and really show that I was trying to develop my skills and work my way up in my chosen career.

“Studying this course has helped massively – I was really surprised by how much the course focused on sustainability, how to become a good leader, being responsible in your organisation, and more.”

Studying an MSc requires a lot of attention, organisational skills, and a strong ability to multitask, given many students like Emily work whilst studying. Having secured her promotion was a big confidence boost, especially when venturing into a competitive field. Emily also mentions the invaluable support she received whilst studying:

Despite it being through distance learning, I really enjoyed interacting with the staff and students on my course. The university put a lot of mechanisms in place where we could have weekly forum chats around different topics, and we even created a group on Facebook where we could message each other and be there for one another during exam season.

Being able to communicate and reach out to others with ease can help with feeling part of a community when navigating through higher education. It’s an effective way to network, learn from one another, and can also work as a strong avenue for recommendations when looking for career opportunities.

One of the many advantages of studying Project Management is that students are of all different ages and walks of life, and regardless of that, are united by their motivation to prosper within the working world. Having a great support system in place helps with accountability, ensuring that you remain organised in your personal life as well as your professional life, as Emily points out:

“I definitely recommend doing your research in terms of the flexibilities around studying this course, and how much time you're able to give – so be sure to check with your organisation if you're in full-time work, and figure out if it will fit around your home life."

“To finally be here today at graduation... it feels amazing. It was a lot of hard work, and it sometimes felt like it took longer than two years, but I'm so proud of myself, and my employers are also really proud of me.

I'm hoping that I can inspire other people and let them know that you shouldn't put off education, no matter how old you are or whatever career you’re in. There are so many flexible opportunities by distance learning, that you can take up with lots of organisations.