The benefits of a postgraduate degree

There are several benefits to completing a postgraduate degree. On a personal level, it's an opportunity to significantly accelerate your growth rate by enhancing your critical thinking, research skills, and independence.

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A postgraduate degree also helps further develop technical skills and allows you to dive deeper into the work area you're most passionate about. It provides an avenue to gain in-depth specialised knowledge and can serve as a direct ticket to move on to higher positions through conducting more specialised research, such as a PhD. Consequently, this improves your career prospects, especially in a market now filled with intense competition and the rise of AI replacing human tasks.

Additionally, it can raise your income as you spend more time honing your expertise. Lastly, nothing is as rewarding as finding a network of like-minded, high-calibre individuals who may become great business partners or lifelong connections.

Why I decided to pursue PG study

I decided to pursue an MSc to uplift my academic and work profile and connect with people who would inspire me to better myself and keep growing. As an aspiring clinical psychologist, I needed to complete a master's degree before being able to get my training as an intern in Lebanon and before becoming a licensed and certified clinical psychologist. Therefore, it was a win-win situation as I would be acquiring the research and therapeutic skills needed for my continuation.

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This degree also provided me with excellent research skills, which makes me more eligible to apply for a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. I am very grateful for this, as I have the opportunity to specialise further in clinical psychology, my main career goal. I'm not sure about my commitment to academia for three to four years at the moment, but at least this postgraduate degree is providing me with silver-lining opportunities.

How my degree has shaped me

Studying for a master's degree in clinical health psychology has opened my eyes to a more specific realm of health psychology—an area of psychology I hadn't previously explored in depth. This experience made me realise how important it is to care for overlooked or often marginalised populations. As a result, my perspective on my career has shifted, making me want to work with cancer patients and those with chronic illnesses.

On the other hand, I realised that despite my passion for healthcare and medicine, I am not ready to take on the heavy emotional burden such patients carry at the moment, but that's not to say I've cancelled this from my agenda. It's definitely not for the faint of heart, but I am sure that with more training and proper guidance, I will acquire skills that will help my well-being as a therapist if I stick to this domain.

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Away from my original career plan of becoming a clinical psychologist, stepping out of my comfort zone and challenging myself as a global student ambassador and content creator has broadened my horizons, presenting me with a broader range of career paths. If I want to, I am confident that I have the creative skills to create content, network and be a positive asset to those around me.

Nevertheless, with all the options available, I still find myself somewhat lost regarding the direction my career is meant to go in. To any undergraduate or postgraduate student, you are not alone. Take it easy on yourself and trust the process. It will all work out eventually. I would have never thought I would find myself in Belfast doing a postgraduate degree, but here I am, and I'm forever grateful for how it worked out. Don't lose hope—keep up your hard work and be open to new opportunities.

Find out more

Postgraduate Study at Queen's

Blog series: Why Queen's for Postgraduate Study

Lebanon Admissions Guide

Ghada Al Fakih Clinical Health Psychology | Postgraduate Student | Beirut, Lebanon Ghada Al Fakih is a passionate, hard-working, and selfless individual, devoted to helping others grow, while elevating surrounding vibrations with harmony and positivity. She is a well-rounded and accomplished individual with a strong passion for helping others. She is a valuable asset to any team and is sure to make a positive impact on the world. Ghada is pursuing her Master of Science in Clinical Health Psychology at Queen's University Belfast. She has a strong background in psychology and public health. She is a certified Emotional Liberation Breathing Practitioner and has completed a clinical psychology rotation at the American University of Beirut Medical Center.