I struggled finding my feet early on, being a direct entrant going into 2nd year, good grades were not arriving after hours of hard work simply trying to learn “how to Uni”. My advice would be don't let a few setbacks or low grades discourage you early on. It's all about perseverance. Keep on pushing, working hard, and embracing the journey of continuous improvement. Success might not happen overnight, but with time and effort, you'll soar higher than you ever imagined. I was so close to giving up many times, but I am so glad I didn’t. I tried to never put too much pressure on myself, I just wanted to improve, and I strongly believe this attitude enabled me to achieve far more than I thought I was capable of. Talk is cheap, many people who talk about how amazing they are and what amazing grades they expect to get tend to be the ones that don’t graduate. Keep your head down, enjoy the process and don’t panic” – Andrew Hughes
I would advise future QMU fourth years to pick a topic for their dissertation which they really enjoy, and to try to think of themes and areas of interest before that last year starts as the dissertation and research proposal process starts quite quickly. Also, it’s good to remember that your dissertation will change quite a bit throughout the year so it’s okay not to have the most perfect plan and all your sources ready before you start to write the content, because you will get more ideas on how to do your research as you write. Ask your supervisor, other teachers and friends for advice or at least talk about your worries or ideas. Even though you might not get straight answers to these, putting your thoughts out there can help to sort them out. Lastly, it’s important to properly take some time off from your dissertation and schoolwork daily. You’ll think more clearly and feel better! Good luck!” - Pinja Lähdesmäki
I always liked to have a busy schedule, because in my opinion I could only benefit from it. In the same way, I have been working full time next to my studies throughout college and uni. It was only during the last semester when I realised, I need to prioritise, in fact, maximise the time I spend on my dissertation work to finish with the grades I wanted. As soon as I quit other things my grades improved significantly, and I felt I am more in control my life. I also had more time to study with my classmates and attend PALS sessions. My advice is: if it is possible for you not to work and minimise any duties out of university at least during your last year (at least) you will not regret it!” - Kincsö Kovács