Careers Service

Making the most of your Masters

Plan ahead to make the most of your Masters. Find out about our Masters Careers programme to help you realise your ambitions

We recognise that, as a Masters student, your experience and career aspirations might be different from that of our undergraduate students and we tailor our support accordingly. Whether you’re moving into further study straight from your first degree, returning to study or looking to progress in your current role, we have the resources, people and support to help you manage and develop your career.     

Masters Careers programme 

Our Masters Careers programme covers all the career essentials, including making effective use of the Careers Service and employability support, marketing your postgraduate qualification, career planning & decision making, networking and building your professional profile, and understanding and navigating the job market.  

 Our 2023-2024 Masters Careers Semester Two sessions are as follows:

Masters Careers 2023-24: Maximising your Masters: This session explores how to use the experience from your Masters to support your career goals.

Masters Careers 2023-24: Career Planning for Career Changers: This session is for students who have worked for several years prior to returning to University and aim to use their Masters to help them change career direction. 

Masters Careers 2023-24:  Applying for senior positions: This session is for mid-career professionals who are planning to apply for senior positions following their Masters.   

Masters Careers 2023-24: Networking for career advancement: This session will support you to review the ways that you can grow your network throughout your Masters to maximise the impact of your studies on your career.

Masters Careers 2023-24: Returning home -Working outside the UK: This session offers tips and advice for students whether you plan to return home after your studies or want to establish yourself elsewhere. 

Masters Careers 2023-24: Presenting yourself for graduate roles: This session offers help with effectively presenting yourself for jobs after your Masters.

Masters Careers 2023-24: Understanding the UK graduate job market: This session will help you to navigate the UK graduate job market as a Masters student.

All sessions take place on Thursdays, 17.30-18.30, online. For a full listing of dates and details search for Masters Careers 2023-24 under ‘Events’ on MyCareerHub and book your place. 

Each session in the Masters Careers programme is supported by a recording or short video summarising the action points and the information on each session, including key resources, events,  activity and support available. Check out last semester’s sessions and look out for this semester’s recordings appearing in our Masters Careers 2023-24 video playlist:

Masters Careers 2023-24 playlist

Planning your Masters year

You’re likely to have a busy timetable during your Master’s course and the time will pass very quickly, particularly if you are a full-time student.  If you are a part-time student, adjust this time scale accordingly.

Whether you’re looking for a job for after your studies, or a place on another course, early planning will give you the best chance of success. 

Many major employers start recruiting up to one year in advance. This means you may have to start making job applications just as you begin your postgraduate degree. For further study, too, early planning and applications are essential to give you the best chance of gaining admission and obtaining any available funding. 

Start your career planning from the beginning of your course.  

Semester 1

Build experience

Investigate opportunities for gaining experience to strengthen your CV, through part-time jobs, voluntary work, or involvement in societies and committees. 

Build experience 

Discover what's out there

Graduate jobs: Meet and engage with employers to find out about what opportunities they can offer you.  Check the vacancies on MyCareerHub regularly.  Many graduate training schemes have deadlines in Semester 1 so plan ahead. If you are an international student who wants to work in the UK ensure you keep informed about your visa options.

Meet and hear from employers 

Understand the recruitment process 

Find jobs for after graduation 

Vacancies in MyCareerHub  

If you're on a Student / Tier 4 visa

Explore jobs and sectors: Make time during semester to begin your research into the options available to you.  Our sector information pages are a great place to start.

Sector information

Thinking about a PhD

If you are considering undertaking a PhD after your Masters start your research early.  Some deadlines can be as early as December.

Moving on to a PhD

Make it happen

Start preparing how you will present your experience as a Masters student in your applications.  You don't need to wait until the end of your Masters to start talking about this qualification on your CV.

How to write a CV 

Semester 2

Discover what's out there

For lots of types of graduate job this is the time to start actively looking for opportunities.  For some sectors and types of employers it is much more common for them to advertise at this time of year.  Keep checking MyCareerHub and  use our sector information pages to research recruitment timelines in the sectors which interest you.  Think about using creative job-hunting techniques including networking and speculative applications to unearth jobs which are never advertised. 

Vacancies in MyCareerHub  

Sector information

Create your own opportunity  

Make it happen

If you have interviews coming up for jobs or further study take time to prepare and practise for them.

Prepare and practise for interviews