Master of Research

You'll hear the term PhD used a lot.

Um, but we also have, um, Masters of Research students, so research-led Masters program as opposed to, uh, for example, an MA, which is a taught Masters program.

Um, so in the Doctoral College, which is where I'm based, we, um, we work with doctoral researchers and people that are doing Masters of Research.

Um, and we have, we have lot...

We have part-time learners.

And I think that doesn't really, or at least for me, that didn't really open up until after uni.

So I was always really pushing myself into the academia route and looking to do, I did a BSc in, in biology and then in MRes, which is like a master's in research in conservation, thinking I was going to do a PhD.

But then the realities of that, it can sometimes be quite difficult, like especially in London, you'd probably have to get a second job.

The stipends are a bit lower, can't really get a mortgage off of them, things like that.

So Yeah, I was grateful to have that opportunity and I joined the team in 2022.

Since then, that initial Masters by Research project has progressed into a wider PhD where I'm exploring the wider economic consequences of elective waiting lists here in Wales, like looking at changes in employment circumstances and if there's any variations across the country.

In my

research capacity within CHEAM, I'm part of the Public Health and Prevention Economics research group, FERG, led by Professor Edwards.

They would just say, "I'm not ready for it yet." So I met, um, an amazing man called Professor, um, And- Andrew Soundy at Birmingham or University of Birmingham.

Um, and he supported me to do an MRes so that I could actually find out the, the answer.

Um, and, and it was really very, very interesting.

Um, it was to do with two things really.