The MSc reignited Ross' enthusiasm for learning and enabled him to find a career path to pursue, which has helped with his drive, confidence and peace of mind.
How has your career developed since graduating from the University of Birmingham?
Success in my MSc was instrumental in my promotion to a senior role in a national NHS body. The MSc provided great practical training and gave me a defined career path to follow.
What is the best thing about the job you are doing now?
Working in a high profile and internationally respected organisation. The job involves a high level of technical knowledge, working alongside some of the best people in the county and directly impacts the quality of care received by NHS patients nationwide.
Why did you originally apply to do your chosen course at Birmingham?
Because I was being sponsored through the MSc by my previous employer I needed a timetable that fitted with my job, which this course had – 1 full week of lectures every 2 months allowed me to better plan my professional and academic workload. Birmingham is also a respected university and has great sports facilities.
What did you think were the best points of the course and the University?
The practical sessions were extremely useful professionally and I really enjoyed the lively debate between the students (most of whom were mid-career) and the lecturers. I made numerous friends and contacts on the course and the lecturers really bent over backwards to be helpful and friendly throughout my time as a student there so I always felt supported. I was able to join a university sports team and access free coaching.
What advice would you give to current students studying on the course?
If you are interested in studying health economics this is a fantastic course. The teaching is high quality and the classes are interesting and thought provoking. The essays do take up quite a lot of time but there are long breaks over the summer. Having strong quantitative skills is a definite advantage but don’t be put off if you haven’t yet developed in this area – you soon will! One skill that was a huge help for me in essay writing was learning how to do a proper literature search (try using NHS Evidence as well as the Uni library!).
How did you grow as a person by studying at University?
The MSc reignited my enthusiasm for learning and enabled me to find a career path to pursue, which has helped with my drive, confidence and peace of mind. I am proud of my job and proud of my achievements at the University of Birmingham, which were so important in getting me here.