Research the course and determine whether it fits with your interests.

It’s important to look at all the options you have and assess what each course has to offer before making your choice.

In my case, I was interested in international affairs, so I researched the course to find who some of the academics were, and they are thought leaders in their area. People such as Dr. Huw Davies who was the course lead at the time – he’s a very well-known historian and someone I often cited in my research – or Dr. Michele Groppi who heads an international research centre. I also found out that many of the most influential researchers in the field, like Dr. Huw Bennett and Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman, have all taught at King’s College London. So, a lot of what we were going to learn was grounded in their theories.

What was also key for me is that the academics on the course only teach modules they are experts in. Each of them has their own specialism and they don’t cross between them very often.

Pinpoint what exactly you want to get out of the course and be prepared to work for it.

Before committing to the course, think about what it is that you really want to get out of your studies. The more you put in, the more you’re going to get out of it at the end.
If you’re looking to expand your career in international affairs, there are so many opportunities that the course can create for you – through the skills you learn, the people you meet, and the networks you form.

The same is true if you’re hoping to progress in your current field. But in either case, you need to assess if that’s really a step you want to take, because you are committing to two years of real work to get where you want to be.

Once you know what that end goal is, don’t put it off indefinitely. I thought about doing this course for a year and a half, and I didn’t do it. And then it was a year and a half later in my life and I realised I probably could have actually found the time to study if I had just pushed myself to do so.

Start the course with a clear calendar.

When you first start the course, it’s important to free up your diary as much as possible and give yourself time to get into the course. Very early on in the course, I found out that most learners have something they feel self-conscious about. Mine was subject knowledge in practically every module! I had to do a lot of reading just to get to a level where some of the other people already were.

Also, talk to others who are already ahead in their degree. Everybody thinks it’s very difficult at first but once you get through the first couple of modules, you start to feel a lot more confident. This is where the peer-to-peer interaction plays a key role. Students will help each other one on one and reassure each other. People did that for me, and I did that for others.

Use the online learning platform (KEATS) to carefully plan your journey into each module

Modules are broken down into six weeks of study and one week for assessment. KEATS allows you to see the cadence of what’s expected from you at each point and track when your assessments are due. This is a great way to understand whether you are ahead or behind in your studies.

It also provides all the core and recommended reading which helps you focus your learning on the topics you’re most interested in.

As for the webinars and forum discussions, similarly the platform breaks down all the preparatory reading and discussion points, as well as what you’re expected to contribute.

Work to improve your essay writing skills.

I didn’t access the online learning support, so I learned the hard way that there’s a specific way to answer questions at a master’s level. I got a low mark on my first academic essay on the course because I didn’t know how to structure it properly. Although there are some online resources, they’re not great and it can be hard to find the right ones. While my content was good, my essay was all over the place. But I learned a valuable lesson and applied it in my next essay resulting in a much higher mark.

Learn to manage your time effectively.

When balancing a full-time job with studying a master’s, you have to be very efficient at managing your time. Don’t just focus on being busy or studying for 10 hours a day, but make sure you’re being productive and actually working towards your goals. Plan out your day and prioritise tasks to make the most out of your time.

As you progress through the course, you may also have other commitments such as social events or family gatherings, so it’s important to ensure that every minute counts.

Learning how to manage your time effectively will not only help you succeed in your studies but also in your professional life.

Actively seek out networking opportunities.

When you join a King’s College London course, you meet lots of very successful people from different industries. They can open doors for you, or give you practical advice if you actively engage with them.

For example, I spoke to a few people that worked in various civil services around the world and got a good sense of the skills and qualifications I needed to demonstrate to get into that field after completing my master’s. I also discovered a myriad of opportunities that didn’t require huge amounts of experience to get into such as freelance journalism and research.

Eventually, I took up a freelance position that was offered to me through a contact I made on the course.

Take advantage of an award-winning career centre.

I met with the career service about six months after starting the course, and they helped me a lot in my journey of discovering new career opportunities. They gave me different options for job postings and events related to my desired career path, and I attended some online events that were really interesting and helpful.