Tell us a little bit about your background...
I’m from a city in India called Pune and I completed my bachelors in psychology at the University of Pune. I interned with a government hospital and a psychiatrist before applying for my masters. I also worked as a research assistant on a qualitative research based study on cultural identity and its implications. I have since then worked with Tata Institute of Social sciences and as an educator for IB schools.

What inspired you to study your course?
Strathclyde gave me the opportunity to explore different aspects within psychology including health, clinical and neuropsychology. This was important for me as I didn't want to have tunnel vision and was keen to keep my options open. The placement program that they had was also something that interested me as it allowed me to undertake training and working with groups. There was also space for me to learn counselling techniques which are essential when starting your career.

Why did you choose to continue studying for your MSc in Clinical Health Psychology at the University of Strathclyde?
The University of Strathclyde was growing when I applied and the course was fresh, the professors were very impressive and came with backgrounds that inspired me. It was also offering me a scholarship and that was very helpful for my career and education.

What were the main challenges of studying your MSc?
Some of the major challenges would be around the concept of learning. The university comes with a very supportive view of learning and promotes self-learning and independent work. This was quite new for me coming from India. Getting used to doing assignments by myself and being confident about it was something I learnt on the way.

What was the best part of studying your programme?
Group work was the best for me. I work well in groups, so working with my classmates on research work and coming up with ideas was quite fun for me.

What specialist knowledge/professional skills did you develop whilst studying the course?
The course gave a very good understanding of research and how to go about it. It also helped with having a good base in statistics which can be very helpful academically. Along with that the counselling skills that were taught came in very handy.

What have you been doing since graduating?
After graduating I worked with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences as a Psychologist and provided early interventions for a suicide prevention helpline. I also worked for the institute as a Psychologist for staff and students on campus. I now work as an International Baccalaureate Diploma level educator at Ecole Mondiale World School in Mumbai.

What would be your advice for people considering applying for this course next year?
Make sure you have your basics in place and don’t be too scared. Reach out for help whenever you need to and the university will have something for you.

What do you think of the support available?
In terms of the course, the faculty is very helpful and supportive. Your classmates and the locals are also very warm. You do get a lot of help from the International Student centers as well.

What are your career hopes for the future?
I wish to continue working as a Psychologist and Educator. There are also hopes to do a Doctoral program at some point.

How did Strathclyde help you towards achieving your goals?
Strathclyde gave me an understanding of the subject and how vast it can be. It opened doors I never thought existed.