Matt (International Relations, MA)
As my responsibility progressed in the military, my International Relations MA studies helped me gain a better context to my day-to-day work and significantly improved my understanding of the international engagement tasks I was employed on.
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What programme(s) did you study at Queen Mary?
I studied BSc Business Management in 2006 and then did my MA in International Relations (distance learning part-time) in 2018.
What attracted you to studying at Queen Mary?
As an undergraduate, I wanted to study business in London. That was where most of the business in the UK was happening, and the big decisions were made, so why go elsewhere?! Queen Mary, being a campus-based university, made it feel more like a community in a big city too.
Later, for postgraduate study, I wanted the flexibility of a distance learning part-time course whilst I was routinely away in flying roles – and I knew I would have the quality of a Queen Mary course.
What aspects of your degree did you find most enjoyable?
It was excellent to be able to relate business case studies to real-time trends in London, along with a chance to be part of many of the university-backed entrepreneurial opportunities.
As an MA International Relations student, the chance to discuss remotely with other students and actively relate the concepts to the current military roles I was working in was very useful.
What is your current job role?
I'm a Pilot, with the Royal Air Force.
Can you describe your career path and how your studies helped you get where you are in your career?
My career path has been mixed! On graduation I worked to establish myself in business and sales, as I lacked money for entrepreneurial options I’d considered elsewhere. I later joined the Royal Navy as a Warfare Officer. While that may not seem a logical step from a Business Management degree, I found the management aspect really helped me in the demanding leadership roles I worked in worldwide.
As my responsibility progressed in the military, my International Relations studies helped me gain a better context to my day-to-day work and significantly improved my understanding of the international engagement tasks I was employed on.
What was special about your time at Queen Mary?
I worked at Queen Mary for a research project in my second year, when the 2005 London Olympics bid was successful. There was a great atmosphere across the East End then, as it opened sports, investment, regeneration, and business opportunities. Little did I know then that I would be planning and operating as a part of the maritime military security team for the 2012 London Olympics itself!
For my International Relations course, the graduation was special – as it was the only time I physically went to Queen Mary again (over a decade after first graduating), and was a chance to meet my coursemates in real life. After a demanding time on the course, and in my career and personal life, it was a nice opportunity to celebrate!
Do you have any advice for anyone interested in studying at Queen Mary?
For both Business and International Relations, you can really enjoy being able to relate your studies to current events and developments as you learn. I took a Business module in ‘Social Networks’ – before the widespread use of Facebook, let alone anything else! To consider studying marketing now without it would be unthinkable. Similarly, studying International Relations during the first Inauguration of President Trump gave cause for much discussion on the course.
Things may not necessarily turn out as you expect after graduation, and it can be a tricky time establishing yourself professionally, whilst paying the bills. Even if you don’t immediately find yourself in the role you expected, you’re likely to put the knowledge and skills developed in your degree to good use at some point.
Distance learning part-time alongside a professional career and a personal/family life is demanding. There will be tough workloads and deadlines to meet. Discuss those challenges with family, friends, and your employer early, and you’ll be surprised how much you can achieve in a relatively short time!