Preparing for Masters Study: Top tips Dr Aisha Holloway Programme Director, MSc ANP, Nursing Studies, The University of Edinburgh

Starting point: necessary assumptions  Deserved achievement  Philosophy of postgraduate study  Partnership approach  Responsibility  Positive attitude  Not just academic development but personal, professional and career

Managing the academic element  Personal Tutor  Librarian  Terminology  Writing Skills  Reading Skills  Regulations  Personal organisation and planning

Personal Tutor  Allocated when you start the chosen programme  You will direct and lead – They will then respond accordingly  Meet regularly  Build a relationship  Maintain communication  Team effort  Vested interest in you!  You will get out what you put in

Librarian  Essential to your studies  Your new best friend!  Searching literature  Electronic databases  Forget wikipedia!  Referencing

Terminology  Don’t panic!  Critical analysis  Empirical evidence  Synthesis and evaluation  Evidence base  Literature Review  Research

Writing skills  Practice makes perfect  Expect to write at least 2 drafts of an assignment  Plan & structure  Send outlines and drafts to academic staff for comment  Mind map  Proof read and edit ALL work  Utilise study skills training available at your chosen institution

Reading skills  You can never read enough!  What should I be reading?  How should I read?  What do I do once I have read a journal article/book chapter?  Read smart  Organise your work  Reference Manager or Endnote Software  Utilise study skills available at your chosen institution

Regulations  Read the relevant Programme Handbook  Guidance on  Submissions  Extensions  Marking process  Plagiarism  Pass marks  Progression

Personal organisation and planning  From Day 1 it begins  Understand how you work  5 P’s Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance  Work/study balance  A semester at a time

Enjoy the opportunity!