Hi, I’m Amy. I’m 32 and I recently graduated in MSc Digital Marketing.
My journey to postgraduate study began in 2020, I’d worked in accountancy for almost ten years but had become unfulfilled in my role. The pandemic hit and like many others I was placed on furlough, living in a time of endless banana bread, daily solo walks, my only social interactions being over zoom and missing my loved ones. The pandemic taught me that life is too precious to stay in a job which made living feel monotonous and unfulfilling. I made the decision not to return to my role and instead pursue a career teaching a subject I had always been passionate about- history.
In all honesty, Teesside wasn’t my first choice of university, but lockdown restrictions made it difficult to move away from home. I decided I would complete a BA History degree here before enrolling onto a PGCE course at an alternative university once I had graduated. I soon realised that I’d underestimated what Teesside University had to offer and how it would change my life, leading me to stay for postgraduate study.
I loved studying my undergraduate degree at Teesside. I was taught by lecturers who had achieved PhD’s from prestigious universities such as Oxford, St Andrews and Queen’s University, Belfast. They had achieved worldwide recognition as leaders in their fields and provided students with access to their wealth of knowledge as well as their network of industry contacts. My dissertation mentor was a specialist in my topic which enriched my experience of conducting research on a subject I felt passionate about.
I also had the opportunity to take part in a summer abroad. The trip focused on completing a course in environmental, economic, and political globalisation with a focus on welfare. The content was inspirational and mind-opening which shaped my dissertation research in my undergraduate and master’s degrees. I got to experience new things such as sports games, whale watching, paddle boarding, mountain hiking and much more. During my trip I lived with a host family who I could not praise anymore for their kindness, my experience wouldn’t have been as life changing as it was without them. Three years later, they remain a big part of my life and I am returning to visit them this summer.
As part of my degree, I also had the opportunity to do a work placement. I was placed in the history department at a local secondary school and I quickly realised that the school environment wasn’t for me. It was disappointing but I was grateful I had the opportunity to access work experience before committing to completing a PGCE. It gave me the time to explore other career options while finishing my undergraduate degree.
Why I chose to continue to postgraduate study
After realising teaching wasn’t for me, I was considering what I would do next. I knew I wanted to make a difference to the lives of young people, and I considered how Teesside University had changed my life, but how I had initially underestimated them as a university. Researching these topics led me to digital marketing and the strategies behind raising awareness of life changing opportunities for young people. That’s when I discovered the MSc Digital Marketing course at Teesside University. Teesside International Business School has global industry links and networking opportunities with the option to participate in live business projects and field trips. The mix of extra curricula networking opportunities and real-world application of taught theory immediately appealed to me.
Through my experience as an undergraduate student, I reached a level of academic and personal growth far beyond what I had envisioned when deciding to change career in 2020. Teesside gave me the confidence to take risks and push myself out of my comfort zone. My experience as an undergraduate student mixed with the offering of postgraduate study on the MSc Digital Marketing made Teesside the perfect place to continue my education.
During my course, I explored my strengths and areas for growth learning the foundations of entrepreneurial skills. I had the opportunity to learn how to develop an app, and to create an app as a digital solution to a live brief. I gained knowledge of various marketing techniques and models which enabled me to develop a seasonal marketing strategy for worldwide organisation including the creation of gamification. I gained a foundational knowledge of the data science behind marketing, and I carried out primary qualitative research in a topic I felt passionate about. Through the varied content I was able to gain a thorough understanding across all aspects of digital marketing which provides a good foundation for my future career.
I also had the opportunity to take part in industry trips. I attended a two-day, over-night trip to the World Travel Market in London, which was a fantastic opportunity to see how global travel companies approach marketing their brand and offerings. They had several guest speaker stages discussing various topics including marketing and stalls specifically for marketing technology. I also had the opportunity to attend Edinburgh airport to complete a marketing task before regrouping to discuss our results and ideas with the head of marketing. The visit provided insight into the marketing processes of an airport which operates globally. The travel sector is a key interest of mine as I run a small independent travel business on the side and these trips allowed me to educate myself, network, and gain hands on task experience across my two passions.
Teesside University also boasts fantastic facilities, including The Buttery, a designated study space for postgraduate students. The building has a mix of private study rooms, private group study rooms, general study rooms, communal areas, and a small kitchen. All the spaces are fresh and modern which makes it a nice environment to work in.
Since completing my course, Teesside has continued to support my development by giving me the opportunity to work as a graduate marketing intern within the university’s marketing department. This role has allowed me to build on the skills I developed during my course, gain hands-on experience in a professional setting, and contribute to campaigns that promote the university. It’s been a valuable stepping stone in my career, giving me insight into higher education marketing while helping me grow in confidence and capability.
My postgraduate journey has been about more than just academic learning. It’s been about transformation, taking opportunities and pushing myself to grow. Looking back, I can confidently say that choosing to study at Teesside University was one of the best decisions I have ever made.
