Abstract
While there has been a wide range of studies examining the transition of undergraduate and postgraduate research students, there are few which concentrate on the experiences of postgraduate taught (PGT) students. This is unfortunate, because PGT students have pressing needs for support: since taught masters courses last for usually one academic year, postgraduate students are asked to adapt and succeed at a far faster rate than undergraduates, who take four years in Scotland to complete an honours degree. PGT students are a minority group amongst the university population, with e.g. more than three times as many undergraduates enrolled at the University of Glasgow than postgraduates. Furthermore, international students represent a high proportion of PGT students. To better understand the needs of PGT students and therefore improve the quality of their education, we need to understand their experiences and challenges as they transition through their course. This paper presents a study focused on PGT students in STEM subjects at the University of Glasgow. Feedback from students in the College of Science and Engineering was gathered using a multi-methodological approach. Surveys, one-to-one interviews and a workshop were utilised to investigate students’ perceptions of support received from staff and services. This data was linked to student academic confidence, social confidence, and overall satisfaction with their experience at the university. Data were gathered at three points in the year to evaluate whether perceptions change as students progress through their course. This data from surveys and interviews was used to direct a workshop, which discussed potential solutions to issues raised. Better online resources were identified as key to feeling prepared before the commencement of a PGT course, and better communication with lecturers and peers was important to the success and satisfaction of students, particularly after beginning PGT study.
Highlights
Postgraduate taught (PGT) students encounter challenges and difficulties, some of which are specific to these cohorts
While these difficulties will vary between individuals, it is crucial that Higher Education Providers understand the needs of their students and support them in their transition to PGT level
This topic remains relatively under-explored in comparison to the research on undergraduate student transitions
Summary
Postgraduate taught (PGT) students encounter challenges and difficulties, some of which are specific to these cohorts. While these difficulties will vary between individuals, it is crucial that Higher Education Providers understand the needs of their students and support them in their transition to PGT level. This topic remains relatively under-explored in comparison to the research on undergraduate student transitions. We aim to identify challenges faced by students in their transitions to PGT programmes offered by CoSE. By surveying PGT students across six different Schools, we cover aspects of transitions from undergraduate (UG) to PGT, from one discipline to another, from overseas to Scotland, or from one teaching style to another
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