Yulieth – MSc Applied Environmental Geology

School of Earth and Ocean Sciences

Why did you choose to study a postgraduate degree at Cardiff University?

After finishing my BSc in Environmental Geoscience here at Cardiff University, I realised that I needed to undertake a Master’s degree to be able to secure a graduate job, as nowadays having a BSc is not enough and there is a lot of competition out there. I made a decision to stay with Cardiff University to study a masters in Applied Environmental Geology because the course offered exceptional experience to advance my studies and develop new skills. The course also offered a 5-month professional placement, which helped me enhance my employability and secure a graduate job.

How was your experience as a postgraduate at Cardiff University, in terms of the programme?

My course has been a challenging journey but has definitely been worth it. There is a lot more one-to-one from your lecturers than at BSc level, and they are always pushing you to do your best. The course itself is really well structured, providing you with modules that come in handy when going into the industry. There are a lot of learning resources available, and every now and then professionals from environmental consultancies would come in and teach – this is not only a great way to learn but also provides us with valuable insight of the professional world.

How was your experience of living in Cardiff, in terms of the city, social life and accommodation, again specifically as a postgraduate student?

Cardiff has so much to offer. The city is unique in that everyone in Cardiff is always very welcoming and warm. It was easy to adapt and make new friends. There is always something to do around the city and the city centre is easily accessible.
Accommodation is particularly cheap, I cannot think of any other cities where you can find rent as low as you do here. Cardiff is a capital city and therefore has everything you need in one place, and easy to walk anywhere, so generally, you don’t have to spend much on transport.

What was different about your postgraduate experience at Cardiff University compared to your previous degree?

A challenging, yet rewarding journey. It was a huge step from an undergraduate degree, there are more contact hours and in-depth learning compared to most undergraduate degrees. You also become closer to people in your year, as teamwork plays an important role for the duration of the course. This also helped me develop time management skills as you would be completing reports and fieldwork as a team.

How did you fund your postgraduate degree?

Cardiff University’s Jobshop has given me the opportunity to work part time since my first year of university. I have worked in different sectors such as bar tending, university open days, clearing call agent, steward, and my favourite one as an Ambassador for Cardiff University. Part-time jobs gave me necessary skills which have made my CV stand out from others.

How do you think that your postgraduate degree is helping prepare you for the future – job aspirations, career development, future study etc?

My master’s degree has opened many doors. I was overwhelmed with the number of interviews I got and acquired a lot of life skills from this. My course has an excellent reputation in the geo-environmental industry and I cannot stress enough how worth it this was. I am now preparing to start employment with a geotechnical company once I complete my master’s thesis.