Helen Yates - Masters by Negotiated Study

I chose the Masters by Negotiated Study because it gave me the flexibility to study my own topic of interest, the Irish Famine of 1849-52, and specifically the role of the Irish Landlords during this period. It also allowed me to study from home which saved me a daily five-hour commute and allowed me to devote more time to the course.

I initially studied an undergraduate degree in International History at Staffordshire before moving onto the Masters by Negotiated Study. I originally the Staffordshire unitially because I liked the cosy, comfortable feel of the campus and the friendliness of the staff and students on the open day.

The staff who taught me at undergraduate level were amazing, one of them, Tony Craig, became my Masters supervisor, and later my Doctoral supervisor, while Lou Reynolds was equally supportive. The Alumni discount also helped!

I really enjoyed designing my own programme of study and taking ownership of my own focused project. I just love research! Having the freedom eto follow my own interests within a structure academic framework suited me personally.

Rather than one particular memory, the highlight for me was having the freedom and space to become completely absorbed in my research. I studied largely from home and really enjoyed the independence this gave me. There was something enormously satisfying about developing an idea of my own and watching it gradually become a substantial piece of research.

I loved the final Masters Project, The Famine Landlords of Ireland, from the initial concept and design right through to the writing process. I also really enjoyed the Reflective Learning Report, which was part of the first compulsory module.

This surprised me, but the reflective process helped me to identify personal strengths and weaknesses. This helped me to understand both what the Masters journey would require from me, and where I might need support.

My path since completing the Masters has been primarily academic, culminating in my Doctorate. I have also been working part-time as a tutor at the University of Staffordshire for the last three years, including tutoring Masters students. The course taught me practical skills in managing my own workload and a substantial independent project, but it has also given me a much better understanding of my own students Masters journey and the concerns and challenges they experienence.

As an independent humanities researcher, this worked a little differently for me. I spent time researching at Gladstone’s Library and the British Library and attended numerous webinars on Irish history, which alloed me to engage with specialist resources and the wider research community. It was through one of these webinars where I made first contact with the Irish historian who would become my external examiner when I was interviewed for my Viva.

What excites me most about historical research is the possibility of asking new questions of familiar subjects and sources, and challenging established interpretations. The negotiated nature of the course gave me the freedom to follow where my research led rather than working within a prescriptive programme, which allowed my ideas and research questions to develop organically.

Regular meetings with my supervisor were invaluable. He was always supportive and positive, while providing guidance and moral support where required. Importantly, I was given the freedom to develop my own ideas while knowing that support was there whenever I needed it.

The positive feedback from my supervisor, and my undergraduate lecturers really helped to build my academic, and personal, confidence, something I had already strugged with. That confidence grew at each level of study and allowed me to believe I was capable of moving onto the next one. When I started at Staffordshire in 2018 I thought I would be grateful to come out with a 2:1. Instead I achieved a First at undergraduate level, a Distinction at Masters level, and now I have a doctorate. I still find that unbelieveable!

My experience was perhaps a little different from that of many postgraduate students because I chose to study predominantly from home due to the lengthy commute, mobility issues and the need to access specialist research material elsewhere. As a result, I didn't engage extensively with the postgraduate community on campus. However, my experience of Staffordshire more broadly was extremely positive. As an undergraduate I loved coming onto campus, engaging with my lecturers and simply soaking up the university environment. I always found it safe, friendly and welcoming.

I am currently decompressing after graduating with a PhD and beginning to look for work. The Master's was indispensable in preparing me for doctoral research. Because the course allowed me to negotiate my own programme of study and design my own research project, it gave me invaluable experience of independent learning, critical thinking and managing a substantial piece of research. In many ways, it felt like a miniature doctorate, and I don't think I fully appreciated at the time just how well it was preparing me for what came next.

The early stages of my Master's research were quite messy. I had lots of ideas but didn't really know to organise them or where the research was going. Gradually, those ideas developed into a much more focused research journey. Having already experienced that process on a smaller scale meant that when I began my doctorate, I understood that the uncertainty at the beginning was simply part of the research process. I spent much less time second-guessing myself and was able to find my direction much more quickly. As a result, my doctoral research journey was considerably smoother.

What I gained from the programme was far more than a qualification. It gave me the confidence and skills to undertake independent doctoral research and the freedom to discover what kind of researcher I was. Looking back, I can see that it laid the foundations for everything that followed, and I will always be grateful for the part it played in enabling me to complete my doctorate.

Do it! The university is small enough for the lecturers to really care about their students and to get to know them personally. I came to Staffordshire as a mature student at 54, and I have enough life experience to recognise when people are really invested in helping you do the best you can, rather than simply going through the motions because that is what is expectedof them. That was my experience at Staffordshire, I cant thank them enough. The campus felt safe and friendly and I enjoyed being there. I don’t regret a single moment.