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The University of Southampton
Transition Project

International and EU students make up almost 60% of the postgraduate taught population in the University. Across degree subjects the student body composition can vary significantly, making “Masters” students a complex group to define.

There are however specific issues that characterise the Masters student transition into the University. The short length of Masters programmes in the UK, is a particular challenge for students, having to adapt to a more demanding programme of study very quickly. Also, due to the fact that students from particular countries are usually attracted to well-defined discipline areas, the student composition in programmes of study is sometimes skewed, with either a high majority of international students from a particular country or home students if the subject area is not currently actively recruiting international students.

The impact that this has on Masters student transition is that Masters students will generally find themselves in one of the two critical situations where they are either:

Another specific transitional challenge that Masters students face is the fact that they do not have the opportunity, as Undergraduate students have, to benefit from the informal or formal connection with senior students in their programme of study (through a mentoring scheme, buddy scheme etc.) which can help students to get to know the University system quicker, develop better coping strategies and help them to set their objectives.

To find out more about two Masters Peer Advisor schemes set up by the Transition Project to support the Management and Electronics and Computer Science Students, go to Past Projects and Current Projects .

International students

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