In this student blog we spoke to Pascaline Francelle from France. Pascaline joined Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) in 2017 and is currently undertaking an MSc in Freshwater and Marine Ecology at the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS).
Pascaline Francelle (left) with peers on a field trip
Why did you decide to come to QMUL?
I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do a Masters after my undergraduate study but then I came across the Freshwater and Marine Ecology MSc at QMUL and it seemed perfect because I wanted to work in Ecology, but I’m also obsessed with oceans and marine life. I started to scuba dive when I was 12 so I have always loved the ocean and anything to do with water. I also have a few friends who went to QMUL before and they said they had the best time here.
What do you enjoy about life at QMUL?
Everything really. I’ve found that I’ve learnt more in a few months on my Masters course at QMUL than I learnt in my whole undergraduate degree at my previous university. The course is really well organised so we have one module every three weeks so we can really dive into one subject and perfect it. The teachers are much more available and interesting, you can tell they love what they’re doing. Everything being in the same place gives you a real feeling of a campus life.
What are you plans for the future?
This course has confirmed the fact that I would like to work in research and go on to do a PhD in the same field.
What do you enjoy outside of your study?
I do pottery. I just wanted to try something new and have found doing pottery very meditating and really cool. I go there about twice a week and it’s a nice change from studying.
Any advice to those thinking of studying a Masters at university?
Do it, knowledge is key. The skills I’ve learnt this year, they are going to be very useful and I will be able to get much better jobs now. If I had to give one tip, I would say, for shy students, make sure you go out and speak to other students. It’s really helpful to speak to people on your course and build a circle of friends. You can help each other learn and progress together, which helps reduce stress.
To learn more about the Freshwater and Marine Ecology MSc at SBCS, visit the course page.