I studied both of my degrees at Loughborough, completing an undergraduate degree in Psychology before progressing to the master’s in Work Psychology (now known as MSc Work and Organisational Psychology). Looking back, choosing Loughborough for both degrees was an easy decision. After such a positive undergraduate experience, staying on for my master's felt like a natural next step. Not many universities offered the specialist course I wanted to study and I already knew the quality of teaching at Loughborough.
When I first visited the University, the campus just made sense to me. I'd looked at other universities, but I couldn't really picture myself there. At Loughborough, everything felt close together, there was a real sense of community, and the campus was modern, welcoming and well maintained. I could immediately see myself being happy there.
My interest in work psychology actually started long before university. While I was in sixth form, I completed some work experience with an organisational psychology consultancy. Up until then, I thought psychology was mainly focused on mental health and clinical practice. Discovering organisational psychology completely changed my perspective. I realised that by working with organisations, you can create positive change for huge numbers of people. Most people spend a large proportion of their lives at work, so improving workplace experiences can have a significant impact.
Although I originally thought I might move straight into employment after my undergraduate degree, I soon realised how valuable a master's qualification would be. As I started exploring graduate opportunities in organisational psychology, it became clear that many of the roles I was interested in required a specialist master's degree. Applying for the course was one of the best decisions I could have made.
One of the things I loved most about the programme was how different it felt from my undergraduate studies. My psychology cohort as an undergraduate was quite large, whereas the master's programme had around 15 to 20 students. We spent whole days learning together in an interactive environment and often joked that it felt a bit like going back to school. The smaller class sizes meant we could really engage meaningfully with the material and actively contribute to discussions.
The academics on the course were a real highlight of the programme. It was incredibly inspiring to be taught by people who are recognised experts in their field, whose names appeared on the textbooks and research we were studying. At the same time, they were approachable, supportive and genuinely invested in helping students succeed.
The support extended far beyond the classroom. During my master's year I experienced some personal challenges and accessed the University's student support services. I genuinely cannot speak highly enough of the help I received. I worked with both counselling services and study support through Disabled Students' Allowance, and that support was invaluable in helping me manage a difficult period while completing my degree. Having someone to talk to regularly and help me stay on track academically made a huge difference, and it is something I will always be grateful for.
As someone with ADHD, I particularly appreciated the support available throughout the programme. The staff were very understanding and made sure I had access to the resources and accommodations I needed. Receiving materials in advance, having a clear structure to sessions and knowing there was flexibility available when required made a huge difference to my experience.
I also benefited from the support of my personal tutor when applying for jobs. Before one of my assessment centres, I was able to practise a presentation and receive detailed feedback on how to strengthen it. That advice helped me refine my approach and gave me additional confidence during the recruitment process.
The course content is both really interesting and practically applicable, the things I learned in class are directly relevant to the work I was doing once I entered employment. I now work as a Consultant in the Assessment Solutions team at Aon, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much of my university learning I use every day. The programme provided a strong grounding in psychometrics, evidence-based practice and organisational psychology, all of which are directly relevant to my role.
Today, my role combines consultancy and commercial responsibilities. I work with clients to understand their needs, implement assessment solutions and provide ongoing advice and support. More recently, I've become increasingly involved in account management and strategic client relationships, helping organisations think about how they can use assessments and talent solutions more effectively. It's a much broader and more varied role than I originally expected, which has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my career so far.
When I reflect on my time at Loughborough, what stands out most is the combination of expert teaching, practical learning and genuine support. The course gave me the knowledge, confidence and experience I needed to begin my career in organisational psychology, while the people around me helped me grow both professionally and personally. I left Loughborough with a qualification that directly supported my career ambitions and an experience that I'm incredibly grateful for.