The Life of a Postgraduate

Ali Ghahremanlou - Postgraduate President

When I started the journey of higher degree research in Tasmania I didn’t know what to expect. I arrived from overseas after studying economics for seven years as part of my university degrees in a country that was far from home. Life in another country taught me about different cultures and languages and forced me to adjust to a new and different lifestyle. I made many lifelong friends, and had experiences that shaped me into the person I am today.

Moving to Australia meant I had to start all over again. I was welcomed to Tasmania by a UTAS member who took me to my accommodation and the next day I met my new family — a supervisory team who embraced me into this new way of life. I was expected to feel lonely and isolated because I didn’t know a single person, but the welcome I received gave me an immediate sense of belonging and a great way of starting my new research life. What made the transition into a postgraduate degree easier for me was I did some research before I arrived and read a lot on what to expect from being a postgrad student in Australia.

Postgraduate life is incredibly rewarding, but you have to be patient. There are many students who walk straight into a postgraduate degree without knowing what awaits them. This can lead to some awkward situations.

It’s hard to maintain a social life as a postgraduate student, particularly if you are a master by research or a PhD student. You’re expected to work independently

and sometimes to come up with bright and unique research ideas. Obviously, to achieve this you’ll need to invest many hours into researching and you might miss out on some of the social aspects of your previous, undergrad life. Postgraduate studies can be isolating because they encourage a greater autonomy.

Now, how to get around this con?

Plan your studies in advance — set aside specific time during your day to just study. If you have coursework then make sure to go through your notes after each lecture to brush up what you learnt. Never procrastinate, otherwise your studies and your assignments will build up like an avalanche. If you are a researcher then make sure to keep your supervisors updated about your progress so they can hold you accountable about your study plan and keep you on the right track.

Join a club or a society — take advantage of all available resources before you. No matter what club or society you join, there will be the opportunity to socialise and usually the club events planned to accommodate student life and the semester time-frame.

Chances are there will be many instances where you feel discombobulated by postgrad life. Never hesitate to get in touch with me or the postgraduate advocate for support and advice.