Category Archives: Postgraduate

Mastering the student life

Posted on July 15, 2019 by Patricia Nascimento

Advice, Postgraduate lifeinlondon, Postgraduate, work life balance.

Studying a postgraduate degree related to your passions is exciting especially if you are doing it at one of the most exhilarating cities in the world, right? Well, there’s more to it.

Being a master’s student involves dedication, time management, diligence and focus. You can enjoy London to the fullest, but you must master the balance of fun and work to ensure you have that top-notch degree on your CV. Here I tell you the way’s I have managed making it through my master’s degree without stress mounting.

Create a routine

My daily life in London is intense but very exciting. I have created a routine of waking up early to prepare my coursework as soon as it has been assigned to me, this way I avoided stress when deadlines approached. To soldier through I need lots of motivation and I can only describe mine in six letters: C-O-F-F-E-E. Tip: grab your cup and head straight to uni, London is amazing for it, you can find good coffee easily and for a very good price.

Work hard, play harder

Routines aside, studying in London means you’ve got to make time to enjoy its cosmopolitan energy. After a full-day of working hard on the comfy sofas on the third floor of the library, I like to reward myself at the pub with a cider among the company of friends.

Change your environment

If I get bored of studying at the library, I pack up and go to Goswell Road and sit down with my books in a coffee shop – there are countless around campus. I do this often because it allows me to enjoy the city, an added benefit while I get my work done and ultimately avoid building anxiety from work overload.

Weekends to the rescue

Weeks of work are intense and it’s not every day that I can release stress. Sometimes I get so tired I just want my best friend – my bed. So, during busier periods, I am left with the weekends for stress relief.

A warning but sometimes you will have to work through the weekends. But as I mentioned, it’s all about time management and if you plan ahead, you can definitely crash that party on the weekend feeling no guilt at all, and your schedule intact.

If you are into partying hard there’s lots of fun places near campus in Shoreditch, but be aware, you will not be in the best shape or form to study the next day – well, at least I can’t. I am usually knocked out asleep the next day whenever I go partying into the early morning. I usually reserve these nights for when I have no lectures the next day or big assignments ahead.

Embrace your living arrangements

It may sound strange, but during the exam period, or when you are working on a big assignment, it may seem like you are living within the University – I am not joking. I even thought about bringing a tent once. Just kidding! (Am I?).

I live in student accommodation and I’ve built good friendships with my hall mates. It’s good to talk to someone while you cook your meals; you may even have an unexpected study buddy in the common room some days. Having friends to share my difficulties and overall experiences has helped me cope with all the responsibilities I carry as a master’s student.

The golden rule is balance

Don’t be too hard on yourself that you sacrifice your free time, but don’t leave your work behind either because you’re enjoying London life too much. If you want to eat at your favourite restaurant but your deadline is in four days, get it delivered to you. You can enjoy that well deserved day off, while achieving top scores in your coursework too! It’s satisfying to acquire both fun memories and academic accomplishments. So, by the end of September, you could be receiving your degree and enjoying the sentiment of “my work is done!” while having spent the year in one of the best cities in the world. Well done!

My final days at City, University of London

Posted on October 15, 2018 by Ibukunoluwa Ogundipe

London, Postgraduate, School of Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering #internationalstudent, businesssytemsanalysisanddesign, dissertation, msc, thesis.

Hi, it’s been a while! I received a few messages on LinkedIn after my last article here, and I have to say I am really excited that some of you will be starting your postgraduate studies at City this year!

Unfortunately, this will be my last post on the blog as I have come to the end of my time studying at City. I thought about how best to wrap up, so I’d like to talk briefly about my final days here at the University and my tips for writing your dissertation.

It’s been an amazing year – a year of learning, socialising, hard work, giving back, self-awareness and so much more. Most of my final days have been spent in the Tait Building. What was I doing there? Writing my final thesis! Many postgraduate courses require you to submit a dissertation at the end of the year, which is worth four times your average course unit. See below my three major tips for when the time comes to write yours (make sure you have your pen and paper ready!)

1. Start on time!

Almost everyone knows this, but I can assure you only a few people practice it. I can’t stress this point enough because I made sure to start extremely early, but still ended up working until the last day proof-reading it. Obviously, your workload might be lighter than mine, but I was able to use the spare time I saved to triple-check my work.

2. Pick a topic you’re interested in!

Some people already know the topic they’d like to research from the moment they start their course. If that’s you, great! If not, don’t be weighed down by this. During your course year, look out for the modules you find really interesting and write down areas you’d like to potentially explore. I had no topic when I started out, but discovered my area of interest during the year, which was information visualisation.

3. Set personal deadlines!

The project team will release a timetable closer to the start of your dissertation. This contains the major deadlines set by the School. I’d advise you to take a step further by setting your own deadlines. Don’t set impossible targets, your goals must be SMART. What this does is to motivate you when the going gets tough. This is because you might get to the point where you’re just really tired of staring at your laptop. Your goals will keep you going at this point.

I hope these tips will come in handy. As for my plans after finishing my postgraduate course? Consulting! I’ll be starting a job in consulting soon, where I can apply all the amazing skills I’ve learnt at City.

Please comment below if you have any questions, and I wish you all the best!

Places to visit in London

Posted on August 30, 2018 by Shivani Saboo

Cass Business School, London, Postgraduate.

London is without a doubt my favourite city in the world. Its heritage and diversity make it an amazing place for students, with so much to do and explore.

Below, I have listed some of my favourite tourist hot-spots in London!

Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace is the London residence of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The entire building is phenomenal. I highly recommend visiting the magnificent State Rooms of the palace, which are only open to the public for two months a year while the Queen is not in residence. This is usually between the end of July and late September.

Oxford Street/Bond Street
All the major brands, as well as many restaurants, are located in this area. You can stroll through the streets and spend a whole day browsing and window shopping. Bond Street differs to Oxford Street in its selection of stores, with a greater focus on high-end shopping. Indeed, it is one of the most expensive shopping streets in London! Oxford Street features most high-street brands and is known for being Europe’s busiest shopping street.

Museums and Galleries
London has many museums and art galleries, many of them offering free admission to their permanent collections. Some of my favourites are the Natural History Museum, the Tate Modern and the Science Museum. And don’t forget about the Tower of London! There is definitely something for everyone, based on wherever your interests lie.

Platform 9 ¾
If you are a Harry Potter fan, you cannot miss this! London King’s Cross Station is famous for being the station that Harry Potter and other wizards used to make their way to Hogwarts. Pose for a picture beside a luggage trolley disappearing magically into the wall and have your photo taken to commemorate your wizarding journey forever!

Harrods
Harrods is one of London’s most famous department stores, known particularly for serving the elite and the super-rich. It opened its doors in 1824 and has been privileged to receive the Royal Family as a patron. It is definitely worth visiting for a taste of indulgence!

Tips to prepare and survive through EXAMS!

Posted on August 29, 2018 by Shivani Saboo

Cass Business School, Exams, Postgraduate.

An exam is probably the most dreaded thing for students! Below, I’ve shared some of my tips for how to prepare for and survive your exams:

Plan and organise: the most important tip has to be to plan and organise your studies. Definitely make a timetable. This will help you plan your studies in such a way that you can complete the entire portion well in advance.
Start early: the biggest mistake most students make is to leave everything until the last minute. This will only add to the tension when the exam date nears. It’s always better to finish your portion well in advance, than to be struggling at the last minute.
Don’t compare: it’s nice to talk to your friends and to share your study woes. But if this talk leads to comparisons which cause you to be anxious, it’s best to avoid it. Everyone has a different study style and speed.
Don’t doubt yourself: study with full dedication and don’t second guess yourself. You are doing a great job and are performing to the best of your efforts. Stay motivated and don’t lose your focus.
Relax: don’t over-stress yourself. Relax and meditate! This will calm you down and even help you concentrate better. Eat healthy, stay well hydrated and sleep the required amount.Lastly, All the best! You’ve got this! 🙂

Job searching as a postgraduate international student

Posted on August 6, 2018 by Ibukunoluwa Ogundipe

Postgraduate, School of Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering, Undergraduate career, career opportunities, CityCareers, CV, international student, internship, interview, job.

Today I’ve decided to discuss a topic that might be on the minds of most international students. After studying, what happens? Well, I’m here to tell you that whatever you aim for is totally possible. I’ll be outlining two major routes to making this happen.

Route 1: find an internship

Some programmes at City already offer the option of an internship integrated within the course – check out the City website to find out whether your particular course of interest offers this.

If you’re interested in obtaining an internship, I would advise you to start searching for your internship position at the beginning of the academic year. This gives you an advantage over other applicants. City also has resources available to help you find an internship, such as the Careers Service and the Professional Liaison Unit (for School of Mathematics, Computer Science & Engineering students only).

Route 2: find a graduate job

If you decide not to take the internship route, the second option will be applying for full-time graduate roles. I must state here that the mistake most students make is not applying on time. When is on time? In my opinion this would be in September/October. Now remember this is just the start of the semester. To stand out, you’ll need to connect with City’s Careers Services (as mentioned above). They’re amazing when it comes to the events they organise, such as career fairs, networking sessions, a CV surgery and other free consultations. As a City student you will have access to all of this, so why waste it?

I would also advise practising psychometric and aptitude tests, especially if you’ve been out of school for awhile before undertaking your postgraduate degree. It’s a lot of practice but it’s worth it in the end.

I hope this is helpful, I’ll be talking about preparing for interviews and assessment centres in my next post. In the meantime, let me know about any questions you might have!

My top 5 ways to explore London culture

Posted on August 6, 2018 by Monica Foss

Explore London, MSc Food Policy, Postgraduate, School of Arts and Social Sciences lifeinlondon, london.

London’s attractions are the best in the world. That is not my opinion, that is fact! So, while you’re studying in the UK, this is how you can immerse yourself in the diversity of cultures that reside in this global metropolis.

1. Museums (all of them)

One of the best parts of living in London is that learning and artistic appreciation can be done for little to no cost. Nearly all the museums in London are free, meaning that this broke student has been to quite a few! The Museum of London is a journey through the 2,000 years of human history along the Thames, and I learn something new each time I visit. The Victoria and Albert Museum showcases artistic history from across the world in a beautiful Victorian building, as does the British Museum. Check out the Rosetta Stone and the Elgin Marbles, then move on to the mummies, the Assyrian lion hunt sculptures and the clock room (yes, clocks, it’s cooler than it sounds!). For a slightly more niche and eerie visit, try out The Old Operating Theatre. It’s a glimpse into the beginnings of surgery, where the scalpels look the same but anaesthesia was yet to be invented.

2. Food markets

London is a market town, and that means if you love food you will find no shortage of ways to discover the city through your stomach. Borough Market is the oldest, most well-known and one of my favourite places on earth, but there’s plenty more to discover. Broadway Market in Hackney is home to a variety of local food artisans as well as a vegan-only offshoot. KERB markets are all over the city but my favourite is at Camden, offering the tastiest selection of foods next to the canal. Pop Brixton and the Brixton Village Market display hipster excellence at the former and a staple tradition at the latter. Or find yourself a pop-up shop, like those in Old Street station, for an example of the ever-changing innovation of the city. Also – Chinatown. No explanation necessary.

3. Really old places

Seeing as people have been living in London for over 2,000 years (which you will have learned from your visit to the Museum of London), there’s a lot of history built in the fabric of the city. You’d be remiss to not see Buckingham Palace and wave hello to the Queen, admiring the parks that surround her home. Same goes with the plethora of Victorian gardens around the city, which began as private retreats for the wealthy but now provide peace and serenity for all of us. Holland Park in West London is one of my favourites, as are the more well-known parks like Hyde Park and Hampstead Heath. The Tower of London is another cultural “must-do”. A Norman castle with genuine Beefeaters to guide you around and terrifying ravens to remind you of the true nature of the place. What’s not to love?

4. Pubs

If you’re going to have a true cultural experience you must visit at least one, if not ten, pubs. They’re on every corner in every neighborhood and all have a welcoming vibe for those feeling thirsty or peckish. Get a pint on draught, order a classic pub meal (or a gastropub’s reinvention of the pub meal), and settle into the comforts of pub life. Chances are you’ll meet someone new, be it a local or fellow tourist. Or come especially for a game of rugby or football, the energy is unforgettable.

5. Street art

The skies may be grey but the energy on London’s streets is always in full force. In the city centre you will find a multitude of performers vying for tourists’ smiles, laughs and dimes. The acts vary from comedy to magic and acrobatics to singing. Slow down and appreciate a busker, as they are called, but make sure you tip them for your welcomed entertainment. Finally, keep your eyes peeled for street art. East London is the hub, but a beautiful mosaic or mural can be found wherever you are as long as you’re looking!

There’s no wrong way to enjoy London and as long as you get out of your flat or hotel, you’re bound to stumble on something interesting and learn a thing or two. Find your top five and let me know what they are!

How to prepare for exams as a postgraduate student

Posted on July 2, 2018 by Ibukunoluwa Ogundipe

Postgraduate, School of Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering examanxiety, exampreparation, exams, examtips, Postgraduate, Postgraduateexams.

Hi!

I’ve discovered how tough preparing for exams can be, the mere thought of it brings its own stress! Hold your fears, as I’ll be sharing with you some practical tips and methods that have seen me through. As it is my usual style, I’ll be breaking this down into different categories to drive the message succinctly.

A few weeks before the exam

It’s three weeks before your major examinations and you’ve seen your timetable. Anxiety sets in, as the timetable is a testament to the fact that this exam is really going to happen. The first thing I’m going to tell you is to BREATHE. You’ve been attending classes regularly and you still have enough time to get that “A”, so just stay calm.

Secondly, break down the topics into days, giving you a clear goal of what you want to achieve. I’d advise you to tackle the tough topics first, followed by the easier ones you easily understood during lectures, then the past questions last. When you’re trying out the past questions, be strict and sincere with yourself and don’t keep looking at the answers when you’re still attempting the questions. Also, put yourself under similar exam conditions that you’re going to face, especially when it comes to timing.

Thirdly, make use of mobile apps like Quizlet. Using the flashcard method, it helps you remember terms and definitions.

Lastly, I would advise you to have a reading buddy or even organise mock exams with colleagues on your course. There is an exception to this, as some people will prefer to study alone rather than with others.

The day before the exam

It’s the night before the exam and you’ve put a lot so far into this paper you’ll be writing tomorrow. Again, the first thing is to BREATHE. Yes, you’ll need to remain calm despite the uncertainty surrounding tomorrow’s exam, so make a list detailing the tasks you still need to accomplish and set realistic time restrictions. You have to give yourself a good night’s rest. Don’t even think of pulling an all-nighter, I’ve had a number of experiences of how this goes and none of them ended well.

On the day of the exam

Depending on the time of your paper, wake up early and leave early. Read just your summary notes on your way – no point reading through the lecture notes at this point unless necessary. You’ll need to look through the key points you’ve listed to be sure you’re not missing out on anything important.

After the exam

This section is almost as important as before the exam, as it mostly affects the state of your mind and how miserable or not you’ll be until you see your results. Don’t discuss with friends asking what they wrote and try comparing it to what you wrote in yours. If you choose to discuss, it shouldn’t be more than 30 minutes. There’s also a tendency to keep checking your notes to make sure you got every word right. Don’t do it as this could set you in an anxious mood.

Remember you still have other papers left and you need to give it your best, do yourself a favor and relax. You most likely would have made mistakes when preparing during your last paper (mostly due to habits), this is an opportunity to improve in those areas and give yourself another shot so don’t waste it. I wish you success!

My guide to keeping your sanity at the end of term

Posted on June 29, 2018 by Monica Foss

MSc Food Policy, Postgraduate, School of Arts and Social Sciences.

End of term has come and gone and I’m still in a state of mild frenzy! I was blessed to have no exams, but I did have two long final papers and a dissertation proposal to put together in a relatively short amount of time. While I’m still working on the dissertation itself, I can look back and offer some insights on the end-of-term madness that all students will ultimately find ourselves in. These are my top tips on survival:

Be organised. That elusive concept we all wish we were better at! I’m slowly learning it’s a skill just like any other that needs constant practice to improve. Setting yourself goals for when you want a certain number of words written by, or a minimum of papers studied, is the first step. Don’t be afraid to be both realistic and totally unrealistic with yourself. My planner is full of dates where I over-scheduled myself, or dates where I thought better than to set five tasks along with a full day of work or school. In the end, your ambitions tend to even out and what you missed one day can be made up on a day where you gave yourself leeway. The important thing is that you wrote it down, planned it out and dedicated yourself to finishing it…at some point!
Start early. This goes along with organisation, but if you know you can finish a paper in a week, start three weeks early. Even if you only write one paragraph or an outline and then leave it to gather dust, you’ll still have something to come back to, to re-focus your thoughts and re-define your trajectory based on the nonsense you coughed up two weeks ago. I find the earlier I start, the more my thoughts develop into the paper I truly want to turn in, instead of the one I’m forced to submit because I’ve run up against a deadline.
Reach out. While most of us think we are good enough on our own, the truth is we all have capacity for improvement. The tricky thing is that it’s tough to see how to improve by yourself. That’s where City comes in! They have an awesome array of resources to use. So far I have utilised:
1. The librarian assigned to my course, who is my saving grace when it comes to odd referencing questions!
2. The City Students’ Union, who hosted a Study Well campaign which featured a petting zoo on campus…how can you feel stressed while petting a mini horse?
3. Workshops from the Learning Enhancement and Development (LEaD) department, which refreshed me on the nuances of academic writing – basically, write nothing like I’m doing now and you’ll sound incredibly smart.
Relax. The brain is a tricky beast. It needs rest, even if we think it doesn’t. I’m sure you’ve realised this at some point, say when you’ve been writing or studying non-stop and then come back to your work after a nap or a night of sleep to wonder what lunatic was writing on your computer. Brains don’t function properly when they do one thing for too long. It’s finally dawned on me that there’s no use in forcing it; I might as well schedule in those breaks – a walk by the canal, a meal with friends, or Netflix for 12 hours. Your brain, your sanity and your grades will thank you.

Most of all, remember you had the ambition, confidence, and smarts to get into this school, you’ll have improved on all three and secured yourself a new degree by the time the frenzy ceases.

Life in London (on a BUDGET!)

Posted on June 8, 2018 by Shivani Saboo

Cass Business School, Postgraduate budget, expensive, free, lifeinlondon, london, things to do.

London is assumed to be the most expensive city in the UK. Although I can’t deny that it can be expensive, the limit to which you spend entirely depends on you. I was very worried about not being able to control my expenses, but now after spending a year in London I can safely say it is possible and quite simple.

Here are a few tips and suggestions to help control your expenditure!

Student Oyster Card
If you need to use the tube or bus every single day, definitely get one of the student plans. For me, my accommodation is within walking distance of the university, therefore the “pay-as-you-go” option works out to be cheaper for me. Work out which works better for you. If you opt for a Travelcard, as a student you can get a 30% discount off adult rates. You can find more information here on the Transport for London website!
16 – 25 Rail Card
If you plan to visit different places within the UK, this card is a real boon. It gives you 1/3 off of rail fares. I would totally recommend this for an international student intending to visit the various treasures of this country! Please find more information here.
Linking of the above-mentioned cards
Sadly, I did not know about this feature until last month. Linking the student Oyster card and rail card can lead to further discounted rates. You can take your cards to any main station and ask at the desk to get the cards linked. It only takes about a minute!
UNiDAYS student discount
Who doesn’t love to shop and eat good food? Since you are a student, you are eligible for a UNiDAYS student discount on items ranging from fashion, beauty, food and technology. Just register and then enjoy the many discounts on offer! Please find more information here.
Sky Garden
London can safely boast of having one of the best skylines in the world! It has many iconic structures, like Tower Bridge, the Gherkin, BT Tower and The Shard to name just a few! The Sky Garden is one such structure from where you can see the entire London skyline for FREE! No, I am not kidding! I absolutely love going there. Plan your visit in advance and book yourself a slot since it tends to be all booked out quite quickly. You can book using this link.

If you end up using any of these suggestions, let me know by commenting below!

London: a culinary heaven (vegetarian edition)

Posted on June 4, 2018 by Shivani Saboo

Cass Business School, Postgraduate.

“First, we eat, then we do everything else.” – M.F.K. Fisher

London can be a true delight for food lovers! Whatever cuisine you may like, it has just about everything on offer. From street vendors to fast-food restaurants to fine dining restaurants, it has everything in store!

Below, I have compiled a list of restaurants featuring vegetarian options which are my personal “must-visits” in London:

Wahaca
Cuisine: Mexican
Location: Leicester Square, Oxford Circus, St. Paul’s (and many more)
Definitely try: corn and black bean tostada; sweet potato and feta tacquito; black bean and cheese quesadilla; guacamole
Hoppers
Cuisine: Sri Lankan
Location: St. Christopher’s Place, Soho
Definitely try: hopper; podi dosa; idli sambhar; aubergine curry; cutlet; kathu roti
Pizzeria & Canti Prosecco Bar
Cuisine: Italian
Location: Inside Harrods department store (Knightsbridge)
Definitely try: vegetariana pizza; truffled macaroni cheese; minestrone soup
Busaba Eathai
Cuisine: Thai
Location: Oxford Circus, Soho, Shoreditch (and many more)
Definitely try: Pad Thai jay; green curry jay; edamame; spring rolls
Sarvanna Bhavan
Cuisine: South Indian
Location: Leceister Square, Wembley (and many more)
Definitely try: mysore masala dosa; paneer chilli; mini idlis
Dim T
Cuisine: Chinese, Asian
Location: Tower Bridge
Definitely try: spring rolls; spinach and mixed vegetable dim sum; Pad Thai; jasmine fried rice; chocolate bento box
Chipotle
Cuisine: Mexican fast food
Location: Charing Cross, Baker Street, Wardour Street (and many more)
Definitely try: burrito bowl with guacamole

I hope you enjoy you vegetarian culinary tour of London!