My Experience as a January-Start Postgraduate Student at ARU

I’ve learned so many skills ever since I started my Masters in January, from learning how to assess a patient in different settings to providing treatment and advice, there’s been so much to learn, and I’ve loved every part of it.

Hello! My name is Ayesha and I’m studying MSc Physiotherapy (Pre-Registration).

Why I chose this course

I chose to do an MSc in Physiotherapy because it gave me the right qualifications to become a qualified physiotherapist, which was a career change for me. My previous undergraduate was in BSc Medical Sciences, which was heavily based around theory and research, and it got me interested in using everything I know to help people, which is what lead me to do Physiotherapy.

My degree is full time, which is a lot but incredibly rewarding because you know so much afterwards. Balancing my degree and my personal life can be challenging, especially when I have an exam coming up. The main thing is that a perfect balance is very difficult, but thinking of it as a seesaw really helped. Whenever I’d spend extra time studying, I’d make sure I’m also spending extra time with my friends or doing my hobbies to bring the balance back.

ARU Temps

Finances are a big one when it comes to postgraduate study. One thing I would highly recommend is working with ARU Temps, which offers work around your studies which works well for me with how intense my degree is. They also pay the living wage, which is slightly higher than minimum wage, so your time is worth it. Also, the number of skills I’ve learned and refined over the years working with ARU Temps have been incredibly invaluable. I’ve been able to work with so many different teams and various roles, like being a student ambassador for schools and colleges outreach, a career ambassador and as a clearing advisor. I got to do things I wouldn’t have done otherwise and meet so many new people.

Alumni Scholarship

Having studied my undergraduate degree at ARU, I qualified for the ARU Alumni Scholarship, which provides a 20% discount on first-year postgraduate tuition fees. This support has been a huge help while continuing my studies.

To anyone starting a postgraduate degree with ARU or anywhere, I wish you luck! Take the time to enjoy it because it goes incredibly quickly!