Making the most of your Masters

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 

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