Biomedical degree, Environmental masters?

[nordicfleece]

I have a biomedical BSc. I'd like to do an MSc in environmental science but I'm not sure if I'm being unrealistic. How hard is it to go from one subject to another at masters level? I'm pretty good at getting to grips with new concepts quickly but not sure if I'm kidding myself.

I went from a biological science bsc to a psychology masters. Not the same subjects obviously but it can be done

My husband's DN did a geography masters (something to do with planning) after a degree in history and sociology.

I am a STEM academic and I think this is quite feasible. You won’t be suited to every MSc in Env Sci but there should be some that work for you. Best wishes!

Thanks @PumpkinKnitter

@poetryandwine what kinds of env sci do you think would be unsuitable? I’m looking more at water and environmental management than, say, earth systems.

I’ve done a few short, undergrad level courses on environmental management to try to get an idea of areas I might struggle with and it seemed ok (had to Google a few concepts to get my head around them), and very interesting, but obviously an MSc will be in a different league.

I don’t really know a lot about how masters work in terms of how much you’re expected to already know from undergrad level. Do you just get thrown in at the deep end and it’s sink or swim?

I don’t think any particular specialisation (that I can think of) is unsuitable, OP. I think some approaches will be a better fit with your background than others. For example, I am in a Maths-heavy area of STEM so if I were doing this I would look for a programme with a quantitative approach.

I hope you can discern this by reading programme descriptions, but fundamentally you should rely on the admissions tutors only to admit qualified students.

The MSc is a big step up for everyone! Best wishes.

@nordicfleece My DN has a degree in Env Science and couldn’t get a job. Has a first. Now changing tack with Masters towards sustainable energy. Be careful about jobs. Can you realistically get what you want? Relevant work experience makes a difference I think. DN didn’t do any.

@TizerorFizz this is my worry. I have a first too and I’ve found graduate jobs in the sciences, and even relevant work experience, difficult to come by. It’s depressing and I’m feeling quite lost.

Do you mean that you've found it difficult to find graduate biomed jobs? NHS labs all over the country are advertising quite regularly. DD2 did biomed – she's changed direction slightly with her Masters but all her biomed course mates have found jobs in the field.

@thing47 I wanted to get into R&D but have been struggling to find any appropriate research assistant jobs or similar, and there aren’t any masters in my particular area of interest in my region so I feel like I’ve hit a wall. Env science was my other undergrad consideration and I struggled to choose between the two at the time. Ideally I’d combine the two and focus on health and pollution.

I’m a mature student and lack confidence. I have ADHD which makes it difficult for me to make decisions and stick to one thing. I feel like I’ve really fucked up and I’m not sure where to turn for advice at my age In hindsight I wish I’d chosen something sensible like civil engineering.

Well you might have needed different A levels for civil engineering. Unis are churning out a lot of Env Scientists now. It’s one of the lowest paid science degrees too. I do believe work experience matters so could you volunteer somewhere? Not sure about the field you want but is there a sideways move that might be a compromise.

Don't panic @nordicfleece you haven't fucked up you just need a bit of clear thinking as to your next steps.

First of all, I think you are right that you will need a Masters to get into R&D, an under-grad in biomed isn't really specialised enough. So next, what to do? You mention an interest in public health, there are lots of public health Masters at a wide range of universities (both academically and geographically). The best of the lot is the one at LSHTM – DD2 did her Masters at LSHTM (not public health) and it was unbelievably good and very academic. But not everyone wants to be in London unless you are already there.

You can also drill down into the Masters in public health courses and see which ones offer specific opportunities to focus on health and pollution so would equip you to move into your chosen field of the environment, or might spark a slightly different area of interest.

Thank you @thing47, that's really reassuring.

I did look at PH and epidemiology at LSHTM. I wouldn't be able to make it into London so it would have to be distance learning, which put me off as I struggle to motivate myself left to my own devices. I was looking into what jobs could come of it. I'd like to work for the UKHSA or ONS but again, the getting into London issue. Then I hit a brick wall.

One of the things that attracts me to an environmental career is I like to be outdoors and interacting with people. The prospect of being stuck at a desk for 40 hours a week is a horrible thought to be honest... I struggle to sit still and lose concentration. So I'm applying for two jobs at the EA - environment officer and the science grad scheme. I had a look at environment officer profiles on LinkedIn last night and found quite a few of them had bio backgrounds. The EO role is really appealing as it's so varied if a bit intimidating. So I'm feeling slightly more positive about things now, though absolutely bricking it at the thought of an interview.