Jessica Card

What were you doing before applying for a postgraduate degree?

My first degree was in Psychology. Following graduation I got a job working in a special needs school. I mainly worked with children with complex health needs and profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD).

This was challenging at times but overall very rewarding and fulfilling. Whilst working at the school, I encountered a number of aspects of Speech and Language Therapy which helped me pursue my goals of becoming a Speech and Language Therapist.

Why did you choose City St George's?

I chose City St George's because of the way that the university treated me from the very beginning. I was made to feel at ease with the application process as I was kept well informed of every stage and any questions I had were answered quickly and thoroughly.

The staff during my interview were very welcoming and enabled me to perform well. The location of City St George's was also attractive to me. I am from a rural town in Wales so coming to London has provided me with many opportunities and experiences.

How are you funding your studies – did you secure any financial support such as a scholarship or bursary?

I receive a student loan from the Student Loans Company as well as the NHS Learning Support Fund. This is offered to all students who study Speech and Language Therapy as well as many other healthcare courses.

What does a typical week at university look like for you?

A typical week during my first year of MSc Speech and Language Therapy is as follows:

Monday: Mondays are my longest day at City St George's. I usually get in early to get some of my lecture prep for the week done so that I have the rest of the week to focus on other things. My lectures run from 9am to 6pm with an hour break for lunch. I also meet with my clinical tutorial group or placement group on alternating weeks.

Tuesday: I am on my clinical placement on Tuesdays. My day starts at 9:15am and finishes at 5pm. I am placed in a mainstream college working within the additional learning support team providing 1:1 and group therapy to students with addition learning needs.

Wednesday: I also attend my placement on Wednesdays. Most students only do one day a week (either Tuesdays or Wednesdays) but I opted to complete two days a weekto complete my expected days earlier so that I would have more time to focus on my deadlines at the end of term. Usually the day that students are not in placement is used for independent study.

Thursday: I am back at City St George's on Thursdays but the day is a lot lighter than Monday. In between lectures I meet with my friends on the course to study or relax depending on how we are feeling. Some days we go to the pub for lunch.

Friday: I work from home on Fridays. I usually have a few online lectures to attend but the majority of my day is used for independent studying. I usually use the time to work on any coursework or prepare for my placement the following week if there are any resources I need to create for my sessions.

Saturday: I don't usually do any university work on Saturdays, I try to keep them as free as possible so I have the opportunity to relax and meet up with friends.

Sunday: My Sundays are pretty relaxed. I usually do my food shop and watch movies. In the evenings, I usually do some university work to prepare for the week ahead. I also have a part time work with the university as a Student Ambassador. The shifts vary each week and include answering student questions on Unibuddy, or attending open day events. I also try to go to the gym regularly and meet with friends.

What knowledge and skills has your course helped you develop?

I feel that I have developed a number of skills whilst on this course. The intensity of the course has allowed me to refine my time management and organisational skills as well as my ability to ask for help and express how I am feeling.

It is easy to feel that you are the only one who is struggling or finding things overwhelming at times but through talking to other students and university staff I have been able to work through any thoughts or feelings I have been having which has resulted in positive outcomes.

I have also developed my clinical and academic writing skills. As the MSc course is intensive, I feel I have gained a lot of knowledge in a relatively short period of time about a wide range of topics.

This includes the anatomy of the head and neck, the involvement of Speech and Language Therapists with a range of clients including people with degenerative conditions or dysphagia, and how speech and language develops in children.

More broadly, I have developed knowledge of how to respond in difficult situations and how to interact with people of all ages.

What opportunities and experiences has City St George's offered you so far?

At City St George's, there have been many experienced offered to me. In particular, I was offered to attend free weekly BSL courses at the university which would be very beneficial in my chosen career.

I have also been offered work with the university as a brand, events and Unibuddy ambassador. This work is flexible and allows me to earn extra money without it interfering with my studies.

On my course, I will attend a number of different clinical placements in order to complete my clinical hours required to qualify as a Speech and Language Therapist.

These placements may be in a variety of settings from working with neonates (premature babies) in hospitals to end of life care in a number of settings.