#Welcome #Welcome 2022

Advice for Starting at Leeds as a Postgraduate

Hello! My name is Beth and I’m a postgraduate researcher. I was fortunate enough to have been awarded an NIHR PhD scholarship here in the Faculty of Medicine and Health.

The aim of this article is to hopefully offer some pointers about LUU and how it can help you as a new postgraduate student. You really have joined an amazing community of people who are passionate about their subject and are ready to work hard – but be sure to take breaks and be kind to yourself too.

Check out our Welcome 2022 page

What advice would you give to other postgraduates to get the most out of their university experience?

I’ve found that navigating through everything and striking a healthy work-life balance is so important, but it takes time. From getting adjusted to a new course, getting familiarised with new classmates to academic writing, and even worries about the future, starting a new course can be tricky, and it’s okay not to have an immediate long-term plan.

The Skills@Library service offers one-to-one support on topics including academic writing, finding information, and referencing. The University of Leeds Careers Centre is another excellent service that helps with employability skills and exploring career options (to help you with that plan!). They’re very accessible, and you can book an appointment online.

LUU also offers the Student Counselling and Wellbeing service, which provides disability support, student counselling, and help from a dedicated mental health team. From here, you can access a range of free, confidential support suited to your personal and academic needs. My advice is to never be afraid to ask for help – there’s always a solution.

Tell us your favourite thing that LUU offers, and how LUU has impacted your postgraduate experience.

My favourite thing that LUU offers is a social outlet for student engagement and the sheer number of societies that LUU offers (over 300!). Don’t worry if you don’t immediately make friends on your course, as there are lots of people out there who share the same interests as you.

In my experience, clubs and societies are also great at organising social events and weekends away. Societies really defined my master’s year, so I’d definitely suggest finding one you’d like to be a part of and getting involved.

Whilst the postgrad experience can get tough, you will get there. Don’t be afraid to ask for help – there’s always someone to give you support if you need it (we’re all in the same boat!), and there are no stupid questions. I’m also a Y1 PGR rep, so if you have any questions/concerns related to your department, feel free to contact me as well. Good luck with everything, I wish you all the best with your postgraduate studies and beyond.