Study at Master's Level: A Qualitative Study Exploring the Experience of Students

Abstract

The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the experience of students engaged in Master's level study. Six students who had completed the taught component of their degree programme before embarking on their dissertation took part in a focus group. The themes that emerged included the costs involved, perceived benefits, impact on practice and course-specific comments. The costs were seen in terms of stress related to course work and a lack of support. The perceived benefits included an increase in personal and professional confidence and growth, the development of critical and analytical skills, more career options and enthusiasm for practice. The impact on practice involved changes in relationships within the workplace, expectations of others and workload responsibilities. The findings could enable future students to make an informed choice in their decision to embark on study at Master's level and could further inform managers of services and educators involved in programme development and delivery.