How
Charlie’s
Masters
helped her
find a new
direction

She began researching a career in marketing, and decided to study the MSc in Marketing Management at Derby: “I wanted to work with people, in a fast-paced environment which challenged me creatively, logically and analytically. And I found out I’d always been interested in marketing without really realising it.” 

Transferable skills 

Initially Charlie was concerned that this change in direction might mean that she’d need to study a new undergraduate degree, “but actually a lot of the key skills from my first degree were transferable, which made me eligible for a different subject. It was challenging to learn a whole new topic, but I was never out of my depth.” 

The biggest challenge was the new style of learning and assessment, but she found plenty of support to adapt to this: “My tutors and lecturers were all fantastic, answering any questions I had, meeting with me to discuss the material and providing great feedback that enabled me to gain a Distinction. They all had experience in different areas and brought real-world examples into the material. Seeing the impact the things I was learning about had in reality piqued my curiosity and motivated me to do my best, so that one day I’d be able to make those kinds of impacts in whichever business I land in.” 

Combined advantage 

With her Masters now complete, Charlie is looking to the future: “Right now my options are wide open, which is a great feeling. I’d love to be the marketing manager for a great charity or even BBC wildlife documentaries, combining my two degree areas.” 

Her advice to anyone considering switching disciplines at postgraduate level is: “Don’t be afraid to branch out into an unfamiliar subject. It’s totally normal to want to do something different than you did at 18, and you are more than capable.”