Lauren Taylor

“I first started researching postgraduate study as I wanted to start a career in marketing, and I knew that having a Masters degree would make me stand out in a crowded marketplace when applying for jobs.

Through working at Edge Hill, I was already aware of the excellent reputation that Edge Hill has for both teaching and graduate prospects. When researching the course, I looked through the module list on the course page on Edge Hill’s website. This gave me a good overview of the different areas that I would be studying. I also contacted two lecturers from the department, who met with me to discuss the course content and structure. This gave me the reassurance that I was making the right decision. Their passion for the subject was evident, along with their supportive nature in answering any questions or concerns that I had.

My main question before starting the course was the time commitments of studying alongside working. As I work full-time, I decided to study on a part-time basis. I would recommend part-time study to anyone working full-time, as it ensures that you have enough time to dedicate towards studying. Edge Hill are very understanding and supportive of students working alongside their degree, and I was given two possible timetable options. This allowed me to tailor the degree to suit my own personal work circumstances.

When submitting my application, I made sure that my personal statement was thorough and covered my academic background, any relevant work experience, and the reasons why I wanted to study this degree at Edge Hill.

The beautiful campus makes studying at Edge Hill a delight. There are so many nice places to sit, my favourite being by the lake when the weather is nice. The facilities are also excellent. My usual place to study is on the top floor of the Catalyst, in the silent study section. I love all the natural light and décor in the room, and the fact that it is a silent study area makes it easier to concentrate. I have also utilised the group study areas in the Catalyst, which are useful for groupwork activities.

I have found working alongside studying a degree to be extremely rewarding. I have learned a lot of valuable time-management and self-discipline skills through balancing my work and study commitments. I have also learned about the importance of transferring theory into practice, which is taught in the Strategic Marketing Planning module. I found this module to be useful when reflecting on how I can take the knowledge and experience that I have gained from my degree and implement it in my workplace.

Studying this Masters degree has helped me to start my career in marketing. Since starting the course, I have been able to secure a position in the Portfolio Marketing team at Edge Hill. I was recently promoted to a Marketing Officer. Throughout my job application process, I was able to reflect on and use examples from my degree. I particularly enjoyed and reflected on the Strategic Brand Management module, where we discussed the importance of brand awareness and the different methods of promoting and maintaining a brand image.”