MSc, Environmental Management

Name: Eve Buckley

Age: 23

Primary degree: Environmental Science and Health, DCU (2009)

Postgraduate degrees: MSc Environmental Management, Queen's University Management School, Queen's University Belfast (2010)

I really enjoyed my undergraduate degree, but before I left academia behind I felt that I needed to focus on subjects that I could translate directly to the workplace. I also wanted to have the option of working in both a laboratory and an office environment. My masters degree gave me the opportunity to establish a wider knowledge and develop a deeper understanding of where environmental issues stemmed from.

The difference between my undergraduate and postgraduate studies was marked, but I was ready for the change. Undergraduate degrees tend to be focused on exams at the end of each semester, whereas my MSc was based on continuous assessment. I actually preferred this as it meant that I had lots of time to prepare the work and I wasn't frantically cramming information in before exams. It also meant that I trusted more in and further developed my own views and opinions.

On the other hand with a masters you don't get the chance to have an 'off day': all your work has to be of a consistently high standard and I found myself constantly preparing essays and working on group projects. Although it makes for an intensive year, you are never under extreme pressure at one particular time as you are on an undergraduate degree.

Bridging the gap between work and study

As part of my course I undertook a three-month consultancy module. This involved going into a company as one of a group of five students and carrying out a sustainable project on its behalf. Responsibilities were divided between the group members and my role was to investigate and deliver on energy-saving programmes and the marketing of these schemes within an energy company. We were given a project specification and aims, and we would meet with the company every month to discuss our progress. At the end of the module we delivered the project through a presentation and a report.

A great incentive

I also carried out my thesis with my local county council as an unpaid internship. Basically this meant that the council provided me with a number of possible thesis titles and projects and I chose the one that I felt was most suited to my course and career objectives. I decided to produce my dissertation in conjunction with an official organisation as I felt it would keep me on track and motivated. I met with the Energy Bureau manager every fortnight where I gathered the required information needed to form the main parts of the project and formed an idea of the type of technology and energy saving practices that the Council wanted to implement. Once I had established the necessary outcomes for the council to become carbon neutral, I then drew up a report and a strategy – borne out of my thesis – and submitted it to the council.

It can be a great incentive to undertake a project for an official body as it's a valuable addition to your CV, and the organisation can then be used as a referee. I simply made a phone call to the council asking if they would be interested in me carrying out project work. They responded with a list of projects and I selected what was most suited to me.

Next steps

Both the consultancy and council projects have greatly added to my CV and hopefully my degree as a whole will help me to get a job within consultancy or project work. I would also love to work for the Carbon Trust or any public position, but I would take any job that builds on my experience.

Top tips

It sounds obvious, but be prepared to work hard. Before starting a masters try and read up on topics that are relevant to the course so that you are as prepared as possible. Start thinking about your dissertation topic as early as you can: this will make the research process much easier.

Finally, plan your finances well and try to organise some sort of loan or other funding, as a part-time job will be difficult to maintain.