Top Up MSc Management

Kristyn Hall's Testimony

 Kristyn Hall at USW graduation ceremony

Name: Kristyn Hall

Job Title: EMEA IS Account Manager

Company: Allegis Group

Brief outline of education/qualification background:

  •   ILM, NVQ and Advanced Apprenticeship Qualifications in Leadership and Management
  •   Diploma in Psychology

 

What was your motivation for studying for a masters degree?

It had always been an ambition of mine that when the timing was right, both with work and with family, that I would cement my vocational and professional learning with an academic qualification. 

 

What attracted you to studying with MDC?

I am a mum of two young boys and I work full time, completing a full time course on campus wasn’t a viable option and so I had been looking at distance learning courses.  When I learned that I could use the experience and qualifications I already had gained and complete a top-up MSc degree through MDC it just suited my situation perfectly. The fact that it was self-paced was ideal, if work or family was too intense I could scale back my studies for a week and catch up the following week. 

 

How did you find your first residential weekend?

It was great! I had no idea what to expect but I was really excited to find out. Everyone was in the same boat starting the course, but equally there was such diversity both educationally and professionally. The pace of the weekends was fast, and you absorb a lot of information. However, the lecturers were very helpful and happy to take the time to answer questions and concerns, even when we were all sitting down to meals.

 

One of the best things I found about the weekend was I was able to meet and build a support network with other students. After meeting at the residential weekends we continued to converse regularly throughout the duration of the course, and even met up for lunch together after the graduation ceremony. They understood the pressures of balancing studying, work and family life, and we held regular conference calls to discuss our progress on the dissertation, offer advice and just talk about how things were going. Having people to share the experience with made it so much easier. 

 

What advice would you give to someone deciding between this programme, an on campus programme or a distance learning programme?

If you are looking for a flexible distance learning course that you can fit around your current commitments, but also have the support network and ‘class mates’ that you might miss out on from other distance learning courses - then this is it. As with any distance learning course you have to be quite self-motivated and disciplined to commit the time to it but if you can do this, you can work and complete a qualification at the same time without taking any time out from your career.

 

What does it mean to you to have graduated with a masters degree?

I am absolutely thrilled, especially as I passed with a Distinction. It was such a great sense of accomplishment and pride when I graduated. I feel really proud of what I achieved in those eighteen months.

 

What has the reaction (to your graduation and to your achievements) been like from your family, friends and colleagues?

Everyone has been so supportive throughout the whole process. But from travelling down to Wales with me to the graduation ceremony, to taking me out to celebrate, I felt humbled that my family and friends were so happy for me and wanted to celebrate and share my achievement.

 

Any other comments:

If I could do it all again and have the same sense of achievement at the end of it I would. The course and lecturers were challenging, but it was refreshing to be challenged in such a way.  After a day in the office and then family time you have to be really strict with yourself to get your head in the books and into dissertation writing after putting the children to bed! But I am so pleased I did it.

 

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