My time doing an MA was my favourite year of my whole time at university, and I’m so glad I followed my gut when it was telling me I wasn’t quite ready to leave academia and enter the job market straight after finishing third year. I felt a lot less pressure to get top marks during my MA and therefore had more confidence to experiment with my ideas, take risks, push the boundaries of analysis and also follow other interests alongside literary works, such as art history and theatrical performance.

After I arrived in Durham, it was quite daunting to move from the light-hearted welcoming week at my college to the serious, academic environment of the English department. As it turned out, I had no reason to worry at all - the staff were very friendly and welcoming, as were the students. Most of us were new to Durham, and a large portion of the group is international as well.

For prospective applicants to an English MA at Durham, I would advise that the degree opens a variety of exciting and thought-provoking opportunities – both within professional and personal spheres...Undertaking an MA has enabled me to seamlessly transition into a career path that I had never considered before, equipping me with the necessary skillset to succeed in a fulfilling marketing-based role.