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Surviving Your Dissertation

Written by admin - 01/08/2018

Starting your Master's is a big step and is an exciting new chapter in your life, but the work and stress that can come along with it can be demanding at times! For me, even though I am in a course-based program I am still required to write a 15,000-18,000-word dissertation now that my classes are done. I am only a few months away from submitting (yay!) and thought I would share some helpful tips that have allowed me to stay focused and on-track so far!

Start Early

I know this one has been said to you time and time again ever since you started school, but this tip is actually very important for a big piece of writing like this. This is one assignment that you cannot do at the last minute and requires a lot of planning in advance. If you don’t pick a topic early enough you won’t be able to submit ethics in time, which means you can’t start collecting data in time and then won’t have anything to write about before the submission deadline! Start early, even if this means just writing down topic ideas as they come to you and doing some research to see what’s been done already. I have classmates who have are still waiting to hear back from ethics (its mid-July currently) and may not finish in time for our submission deadline (mid-September) meaning they will have to delay their submission and therefore their graduation date, which is not fun to think about considering all the time and hard work we’ve all put in to this course!

It may seem daunting at first to pick a topic, but that’s okay. You don’t have to stick with what you decide on initially! My topic was tweaked and adjusted many times before I finally decided what to do. Try not to stress and just do the best you can at the time, I promise you can do it!

Don’t Compare Yourself to Others – Do What’s Best for You

There’s probably some people in your course who will finish their dissertation weeks or months before the due date, and others who will still be writing hours before the deadline (this is ill-advised as you need to plan for time to print your dissertation and have it bound properly). This is okay though, everyone is different. Some work better under pressure or are busy with other important commitments, and others may have what seems like all the time in the world to be able to go to the library and write. It’s important to know how you work best and stick with that. If you do your best writing at night, don’t force yourself to try and spend all day in the library. I have often spent my day doing other thing only to do my best writing after 11pm – whatever works right? Of course, it’s good to have friends to check-in with to make sure you are all making progress (whatever that means for you), but don’t let that one friend who can write 3,000 words in one sitting pressure you into feeling in-adequate. You made it this far because of your own skills, know that they can help carry you over the finish line!

Take Time for You

Some days it’s just not going to work. Know that this is okay and that if you follow the step above by starting early, taking a day off because things aren’t working is totally fine! I recently had a bit of writers block so I took a nice, short 2-night trip to Scotland to clear my mind and get away from the confines of my dorm room and the campus. Looking after yourself and making sure you are feeling good will help you prepare to face your dissertation the next day (or the day after that haha). Taking time for you can be as small of an effort as turning off all screens an hour before you sleep (which is recommended anyways for a better sleep) or binging an entire Netflix series of two! Making sure you are at your best personally will help make your work be the best it can be. Don’t try and force things if they aren’t working! Take a step back, relax, and breathe – you got this!

These are just a few tips to help you when writing your dissertation! If you are feeling up to the challenge and are considering studying abroad Across The Pond can help. Please contact one of our Advisors today for more information!

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5 Reasons You Should Study in England

Written by admin - 27/07/2018

Jul 27, 2018 9:00:00 AM

England is a fascinating place to visit and live, and there is plenty to see and do even outside London. Here, we highlight the uniqueness and quintessential Englishness that can only be found here, and give 5 reasons why studying in England will be a great opportunity!

England knows how to treat international students England is an incredibly popular choice for international students to gain their education. Generations of students worldwide have gone to England for their studies, which means British universities have decades of experience working with the international market. This means that they are knowledgeable about Canadian academic and work standards, and can give quality academic advise to Canadians, from the time you apply until you graduate. This is especially true for law students, as some universities have specifically built their law programs to cater to Canadians.
Castles and other historical landmarks Whether you’re into modern palaces, medieval cathedrals or ancient Celtic and Roman ruins, England has it all! Buckingham palace, in the heart of London, gives summer tours, giving guests a unique look at the official residence of the Royal Family, the state rooms, and the Royal Collection. The Worcester Cathedral (in Worcester, about an hour West of London), built between 1084 and 1504, is a beautiful example of medieval architecture. Interred here is King John (of Robin Hood fame), and it was the location of William Shakespeare’s wedding to Anne Hathaway.
Literature We all have a place in our hearts for a certain British author or character, whether that be the classics like Jane Austin or Charles Dickens, or more modern characters like Harry Potter and the Doctor. Conveniently, there are a number of places to visit to indulge in your favourites, such as the Sherlock Homes Museum at 221b Baker Street or Shakespeare’s Globe in London.
Unique places to grab a pint Pubs can be some of the most interesting and historical places you can visit. The Bear Inn is the oldest pub in Oxford, being around since the 13^th Apparently, it’s not the kind of place to wear a tie, as they have a vast collection of neckwear in glass cases around the room from patrons taking them off and leaving them behind, with a note and the date. There’s also the King Charles House in Worcester, where King Charles hid, and was later squirreled off to France, after losing the English Civil War. This pub has had a lot of remodelling over the years, but is now been restored to its traditional style. No matter where you go in England, there is a pub nearby with just as much history as any museum.
Weather Despite what you may have seen in the movies, London doesn’t actually get fog very often, nor is it always raining. In fact, in terms of mm of precipitation, most of England sees less rainfall per year than cities like Ottawa! However, it is overcast and dreary a lot of the time, and can start raining at any moment, so you will be well advised to always bring along your brelly. The really nice aspect of English weather is the lack of extremes that we see in Canada. In winter, the temperature may dip below zero, so you’ll see a little snow, but it typically melts away rather quickly, and you won’t need your parka or snowpants. Summertime is more temperate than in Canada, with highs that are typically in the low- to mid-20s. This means that air-conditioning is a rare, but you won’t miss it.

All in all, England is fantastic place to live and visit, with innumerable things to see and do. Extensive history can be found anywhere, and it truly is the opportunity of a lifetime to study there! If you haven’t yet enquired with us, and would like to find out more about studying in the UK and the application process, please contact one of our Advisors.

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