Welcome to our Shout Out to the Brave podcast.

Through this podcast series, we will celebrate the achievements of our students as they share the challenges of postgraduate study and the successes they have experienced as a result. We know that, in life, you have to take risks to reap the benefits. Our students share this same mindset.

It’s brave committing to postgraduate study. To focus on your ambition regardless of whatever else is going on in life – career, family, you. It’s not easy, but it pays off. Our students and graduates are proof of that. They’ve taken a risk and are achieving what they set out to do.

In this series, you’ll find out how.

The Shout Out to the Brave podcast

In this episode, hear from MSc Physician Associate Studies student Roberta. After coming to UWE Bristol via an unexpected path, she initially studied a biomedical sciences degree where she discovered that it was important to her to find a people-facing element in her daily working life. This then led her to postgraduate study. When she found the Physician Associate Studies Master’s degree at UWE Bristol, she knew it’d give her everything she wanted in a career.

She talks about the many challenges she has overcome, from alcoholism to being a single mother, and why postgraduate studies means so much to her.

“I know there are great things to come for my future career, and progression in the role I’m pursuing.” Roberta

Please be aware that this podcast episode discusses the following subjects: alcoholism, sexual assault, drug use, depression, self-harm, eating disorders. Please proceed with caution if you feel you will be affected by these topics.

Episode one – How overcoming personal challenges helped Roberta find her best self at UWE Bristol.

In this episode, hear from MSc Aerospace Engineering graduate Zoe. Zoe took a traditional pathway into higher education and studied Engineering at both undergraduate and then postgraduate level – both at UWE Bristol.  After reviewing her university options, it became apparent to her that Engineering wasn’t simply a career that fit her skills – it involved everything she loved. 

She tells us how, despite financial challenges during her postgraduate degree, she managed to fulfill her dream of working in the space industry.

“UWE Bristol has allowed me to pursue the space industry, which is what I’ve wanted to do with my life since I was four years old.” Zoe

Episode two – How working part-time helped Zoe fund her master’s and land her dream career.

In this podcast, we are joined by Lamare, an MSc Human Resource Management graduate. After studying his undergraduate degree, he realised that to really stand out in his career he needed more. 

Studying part-time around his day job was a challenge.  But he was also faced with the worry that he might not fit in. That as a black male from a non-traditional family, with little experience of higher education, there would be no one else like him on the course. Fortunately, the people at UWE Bristol were from a mix of cultures and diverse backgrounds, and he had a really positive experience here.

He talks us through the challenges he has overcome and why it was the best decision he ever made.

“I wouldn't be where I am today if I hadn’t studied my master’s at UWE Bristol.” Lamare.