I started my Master’s straight after graduating with a BSc in Physics. I did not feel I was quite done with the subject at the end of the three years, and Imperial was always the dream, so here we are!
The MSc in Physics is a niche course, and I wanted to take an opportunity to untangle concepts that have enthused me for years. Shoutout to particle physicists! I was confident a specialised postgraduate degree would allow me to integrate and apply my internship experiences with the theoretical knowledge I have acquired. It has been exactly that and so much more!
What stood out at Imperial College London
Imperial introduces its postgraduates to interdisciplinary laboratory technologies and novel academic methodologies. What particularly drew me to Imperial, and to the Department of Physics, was its commitment to female representation and research excellence.
The application process
The entire application process was clear and straightforward from the start, with ample instructions to accurately complete the application form and submit the required documents. Something I particularly appreciated was the prompt response I got from the Admissions team every time I had a query.
The step up to a Master’s
The past six months have been something of a learning curve. Not just in terms of the taught material, but also a lesson on fulfilling responsibility and being confident in putting my authentic self forward. There have been times when I felt I may have spread myself too thin only to be reminded that this is why I started in the first place. My course successfully reinforced my love for Physics. My modules span various computing techniques and research methodologies, and I am now extending my repertoire to a practical-based summer project. I have had a flavour of pretty much everything!
Learning from trailblazers
I am grateful that a lot of my lecturers are leading figures in their fields; I read about people like Professor Claudia de Rham and Professor Fay Dowker long before I started at Imperial. Since my primary interest lies in particle physics, I was particularly drawn to the departments' research activities spanning the discovery of new particles and alternate fundamental theories. There is a lot of variety and no obligation to pursue a certain route, so I was able to align the course exactly to my liking.
I believe my department not only promises world-class education, but also a front row seat to scientific progress and technological development. Every person in the department is celebrated for who they are, exactly the way they are.
The Institute of Physics
I have been involved with the Institute of Physics for a few years now, and this experience has been integral in honing my confidence and communication as a physicist. I have joined a global network of affiliates hailing from a variety of backgrounds, but all united in their love for physics. The London Centre for Nanotechnology was also the site of my summer internship where I worked on a vacuum chamber for ionic liquids. I have been able to apply a variety of learning techniques from my education to these experiences and have enjoyed every moment to the fullest!
Changing my career path
Getting into academia was the goal for the better part of my undergraduate degree, there was something about particle physics that fascinated me unlike anything else I had studied. But it was towards the end of those three years and during my summer internship at the London Centre for Nanotechnology that it dawned on me a more commercial role might be a better fit. I focused my interests in the consulting, data, analytics, and energy sectors, and eventually landed a graduate role at Deloitte where I’ll be starting right after graduation.
The Careers Service platform, JobsLive, has been a constant in my application journey. I was able to zone in on my interests and filter out jobs that weren’t for me. The Imperial Careers Service also offers various application support guides, including practice assessment tests and interview questions, which I found extremely useful around the time I was completing my assessment centres. The one-to-one Careers Consultant appointments helped me streamline the job search process, and I really appreciated the boost of confidence I was given every time.
There is no right time to start the hunt, so you want to make sure you get in there early. Avail yourself of the multitude of resources Imperial has to offer and take adequate time to identify the right opportunity. The most important advice I would give is to have patience. Remember it is all part of the process, and at the end of the day, that one acceptance will change the game for you.