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 that's why 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 2025-2026 Masters Careers semester one sessions are as follows: Masters Careers 2025-2026: Planning your Masters year - This session is for current Masters students and will enable you to understand how to use Careers Service support to realise your career ambitions.Masters Careers 2025-2026: Understanding UK graduate training schemes - Interested in UK graduate training schemes? This session will help you navigate what's on offer and what's right for you. Masters Careers 2025-2026: UK graduate training scheme selection processes - This session will help you understand and navigate selection processes to increase your chances of success in securing a place on a programmeMasters Careers 2025-2026: Moving on to a PhD - This session is to help Masters navigate the process of applying for a PhDMasters Careers 2025-2026: Getting started with LinkedIn - This session is aimed at Masters students who are just beginning to use LinkedIn and will help you maximise your use of the platform. Masters Careers 2025-2026: UK visa options for international students - This session, led by a member of staff from the Student Immigration Service, will cover the key visa options for international Masters students who want to work in the UK. Semester two:Masters Careers 2025-26: Maximising your Masters - This session will help you reflect on your Masters experience so far, discover what’s out there and understand how to use Careers Service support to realise your career ambitions. Masters Careers 2025-26: Career Planning for Career Changers - Join this session to discuss how your Masters can help you to change career. We will help you to reflect on how your prior experience can be useful for a new career direction, to consider how you can get the most from your Masters to help position yourself for a new career, and to think about how else you can progress your career during your postgraduate study.Masters Careers 2025-26: Applying for senior positions - This session is aimed for mid-career professionals who are using their Masters study to help progress their careers and seek development within their wider professional areas. We will discuss taking stock of your current position, identifying opportunities, positioning yourself for career advancement and preparing for the selection process.Masters Careers 2025-26: Networking for career advancement - Join this session and consider the purpose of networking, where to find people who can help, and how to tell the story of your studies to explore and open up options for your next steps. This session will also include ideas for using LinkedIn to increase your visibility, along with a chance to connect with other Masters Students. Masters Careers 2025-26: Presenting yourself for graduate roles - This session will help you to effectively present your Masters experience in CVs and applications and at interview, particularly in the UK graduate market.Masters Careers 2025-26 Returning home – Working outside the UK - Join this session to understand where to look for international jobs. We will cover general tips, advice, and practicalities and specifically look at finding work in China, the USA, and India.Masters Careers 2025-26: Understanding the UK graduate job market - This session will help Masters students understand the UK graduate job market; identify opportunities events, and activity; and develop your job search strategy. All sessions take place on Thursdays, 17.30-18.30 (UK time), online. For a full listing of dates and details search for Masters Careers 2025-26 under ‘Events’ on MyCareerHub and book your place. MyCareerHub Events (University of Edinburgh login required)Summary recordings of the events are available on our Media Hopper channel. If the playlist does not open, please login to Media Hopper using the user menu icon in the top right corner.Masters Careers recordings (University of Edinburgh login required) 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 experienceInvestigate 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 thereGraduate 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.What's On Understanding the UK recruitment process Finding graduate jobs Vacancies in MyCareerHub (University of Edinburgh login required)Visas and immigration after studiesExplore 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.Finding out about different careersThinking about a PhDIf 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 PhDMake it happenStart 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.CVs and applications Semester 2 Discover what's out thereFor lots of types of graduate jobs 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 (University of Edinburgh login required)Finding out about different careersCreating your own opportunity Make it happenIf you have interviews coming up for jobs or further study, take time to prepare and practise for them.Interviews and assessment centres This article was published on 2024-05-14
