The next step: MSc to PhD

After working full time, Sarah Shepherd returned to university to do a BSc – she now wants to take her studies as far as she can, from her current MSc to a PhD.

I left full-time employment in 2019 to return to full-time education with the hopes of becoming a psychologist. I had previously spent most of my working life in the NHS, and a short stint in Hospitality where my interest was in training and development. I returned to university (UWS) to complete my BSc in Psychology, graduating with first-class honours in 2023.  

It was a bit of a crazy time between a global pandemic, getting married - which I did in my third year - and having my third baby just before starting my fourth year. I wrote my fourth year dissertation with a newborn on my knee! After graduating in July 2023, I went on to start my MSc in Occupational Psychology at Strathclyde Business School.  

When I decided to go back to university I knew I wanted to be an occupational psychologist, which is probably fairly unusual. I was fortunate to get one workplace psychology module in my undergraduate course which I also think is fairly unusual. At the time I was apprehensive about what was next for me as in the early years of my course there was no next step for occupational psychologists in Scotland but as soon as I saw the MSc accredited course was available, I knew that was my next step.   

By the time I got to the MSc I was thrilled to be focussing on the topic I had set out to study. The course was brilliant and academically stimulating - a great mixture of academic learning and practical application. The focus on the workplace landscape as it is today and where it is heading helps students feel what they are learning is useful to go out into the workplace.  

I loved the variety of study. Psychology itself is such a vast field of study, and the same can be said for its many disciplines. Occupational psychology is a very varied field which allows you to explore a large range of topics. I liked the teaching staff, who are not only experts in their field but are psychologists themselves whether that be that they are academics or practitioners; you feel like you are learning from people who ‘walk the walk’. The course also invites expert speakers in to talk to the students. This is brilliant as, in addition to that exchange of knowledge, it also inspires career paths and is a great chance to network with professionals in the field. 

I always wanted to push myself as far as possible in terms of academic learning, so a PhD was something I felt I wanted to do, but knowing exactly what I wanted to study was always a little blurry. During some of my modules within the MSc I felt very inspired, and passionate, about the topic I was being taught and thought this is what I want to explore. I am so grateful for the large range of topics covered in the MSc that allowed me to narrow my focus for what's next.    

When I broached the subject of further study with my lecturers, they were incredibly supportive and helped me define what my PhD might look like. The idea of a PhD is incredibly daunting, and for me, almost like a pipe dream. As cheesy as this next statement is - when you have lecturers who make you feel like you can achieve anything, it is much easier to take that leap.  

As for my PhD research, broadly I am looking to explore women in the workplace and the barriers both in entering the workplace and in the movement into leadership. I am particularly keen to explore how intersectionality plays a role in this.  My MSc dissertation was a first step in that I explored the leadership experiences of women academics in Scotland - and I’m now looking forward to taking this next step and developing my research into this area. 

About Sarah Shepherd

Sarah has completed an MSc in Occupational Psychology in the Department of Work, Employment and Organisation at Strathclyde Business School and will be undertaking her PhD studies into women in the workplace.