Applying for a Masters at Warwick

Recently, the job market’s competitiveness has escalated and requirements for applying seem to be multiplying each day; thus, many have considered a Master’s as an appropriate step in allowing them to gain further skills and qualifications for the next step of their academic career. Recently, I have submitted my application for MA in Politics and Legal Studies and have decided to write a blog to outline the process of submission, the requirements, and why I am considering a Master’s as my next step. It is worth noting that at Warwick, you can complete a Master’s as a full-time (which will require one year), or as a part-time (which will require two years). The decision to complete it part-time is highly attractive to many as it provides an opportunity for working alongside the degree. Specifically, I have applied for the MA as a full-time student, and here is my application journey so far:

A few months ago, I emailed Justin Greaves (PAIS Director of Student Experience and Progression) asking him if it was possible for me to apply for a Master’s. Prior to this email, I had never really considered applying and never attended any workshops for applicants – therefore, I was initially really reluctant to apply as I already felt behind in comparison to others. Justin briefed me on the requirements for applying and I soon realized the process itself was rather simple, especially because I am already a Warwick student via the online platforms. I began by drafting a personal statement for my application, depending on your department, the Warwick Master’s word count sits between 500-1000 words. It is critical that in your personal statement you outline 1. Your attraction to the course 2. Your academic and work experiences that can apply to course 3. Your future career plans and how the course will help 4. Why Warwick. Accordingly, I structured my paragraphs in relation to these points. Once, the statement has been written you will need to submit it via this link: https://warwick.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/apply/taught/submit_application (Note that this is for the taught application, however, if you want to do a research application that is also feasible via another link). You can then track your application via the applicant portal. All the specific instructions on referees and deadlines will vary from course to course but it is naturally quite straightforward as outlined on the website.

So, now I will outline why I choose to apply for a Master’s. Essentially, I choose Warwick because of its campus life and environment which I have honestly become rather attached to. The areas of Leamington and Coventry have become like a second home to me and I enjoy the University experience as a whole. I am also greatly interested in the course of Politics and Legal Studies and love how it combines Politics, Law, and Philosophy through a normative analytical lens. But, not to make this too social sciency (as I have the tendency to do in most of my blogs), I will go through some general reasons for why a Master’s is a great investment:

1. Data shows that you are likely to earn more money with a Master’s: yes, funding a Master’s can be rather expensive, but in the long run, it can prove highly worth it as you are able to earn more starting income with your Master’s qualification.
2. Make connections that count: From career fairs to internal workshops, and research opportunities, your Master’s degree can present you with an opportunity to grow the connections that will help you in your future career. Your classrooms will have people who vary from age to background and experience, providing a creative academic space.
3. Specialize or Change academic focuses: it is never too late to study something new!