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:

• A minority in their own country/new country and therefore they will have to experiment and develop new strategies to engage, learn and work successfully with the rest of the class.
• A majority in a new country. In this situation the ease of communication with peers speaking the same language can make it more difficult for Masters students to improve through class discussion and group work their English skills and other means to support their language improvement need to be sought.
• A majority in their own country. In this situation it can be difficult for the home students to understand how they can effectively work with international students unless the two groups are supported in working together. Also home students might  feel like the international students are treated differently and it is important that the reason behind specific procedures applying to international students are explained.

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.