I always had a keen interest in the environment and climate change, which is what led me to choose a master’s at the University of Galway. It was a comprehensive and interesting course with a wide range of modules focusing on improving leadership skills, environmental knowledge and problem-solving. It supplemented my undergraduate degree in Earth and Ocean Science very well. The lecturers were very passionate about their topic areas and the lectures were always highly engaging, with the small class sizes allowing us to participate in some meaningful group discussions. I felt this master’s degree prepared me for a career in the environmental sector, covering a wide range of environmental topics such as environmental impact assessment, project management, ecological skills and ESG.  I am grateful for all the skills and knowledge I gained from this master’s during my time at the University of Galway. 

After studying a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Galway, I decided to go into a career in technology but I really felt I did not have the strong technical background to make an impact when I actually went into the working world. I decided to opt for this master’s course, as it was more conversion in nature, so if you do not have a technical background, it really can empower you to learn different technologies and skills. I would recommend the programme to anyone looking to specialise in Information Science and Technology. Coming from a Bachelor of Commerce background, I really believe that this course has enabled me to be more focused on technology and information systems.

The best aspect of this course is the practical work experience you get with RTÉ. I spent a month in the second semester working in Donnybrook, and this experience really helped me to get work in the industry afterwards. I was in the Irish language programmes department, and got a full practical insight into how programmes such as ‘Scannal’ and ‘Aistear an Amhráin’ are produced. As well as that, I got some experience in the Sports department, which ultimately led to me getting a job with them a few months later when I had finished the MA. All of the lecturers on the course are extremely passionate, and always happy to help the students at any time and in any way that they can.

I would highly recommend the MSc Clinical Neuroscience course. I felt the modules allowed those coming in from both a science or psychology background. I found it to be a good blend of neuroscience knowledge and ways of applying this in clinical settings. I used this degree with my undergraduate degree to pursue Assistant Psychologist roles and a career within clinical psychology. I have used several topics and skills in my current role, such as an ability to use cognitive assessments and unique insights to adopt a biopsychosocial approach. I found the MSc has given me a competitive advantage within my field by having an interdisciplinary degree as it allows me to pursue specialist roles within clinical psychology.