Shaobo Xu was awarded the Anderson Prize for Best Overall Performance on the MSc Psychological Studies programme and is the joint winner of the Elizabeth Fraser Prize for Outstanding Thesis. Below, Shaobo shares some of their experiences of studying on the MSc Psychological Studues programme.
How would you describe your experience of the programme?
I would describe my experience in two main ways. First, the support was excellent. The lecturers explained the material in detail, and the course resources were extensive and easy to access. This made it comfortable both to follow the course and to do extra reading on my own. Outside of class, the coordinators provided us with a lot of support in both academic study and daily life, and the campus facilities were also very good. Overall, this strong support made my year of study and life here very happy.
Second, there were many opportunities. During the year, I had many chances to work with excellent supervisors and research groups. What surprised me most was that these opportunities were always open to all students. The experience and learning I gained from them were very rewarding. In short, the support allowed me to focus on my research, and the opportunities I could access gave me valuable experience. All of this made my year very happy and fulfilling.
How has the programme or course supported your professional development or career prospects?
The programme gave me a platform to meet excellent researchers and learn from them up close, especially Dr Joost Rommers, Dr Anastasia Klimovich-Gray, and Dr Mingyuan Chu. This gave me extensive experience and helped me improve my skills, laying the foundation for my future academic career. At the same time, talking with them and seeing their attitudes toward research and life also influenced me. It strengthened my belief in continuing to do research.
How would you describe the support you’ve received as a student?
I would describe it as very warm. I received a lot of help from coordinators in both my daily life and studies, especially Dr. Zeshu Shao. They were happy to talk with students, sincerely cared about them, and helped solve their problems. This kind of care was something I had never experienced before. In addition, the campus facilities and online platforms supported me greatly, such as a pleasant library environment, an online toolkit, various guides for students, and a well-resourced remote learning platform. All of these made my studies and daily life smooth and convenient.
The School of Psychology warmly congratulates Shaobo on their graduation and prize wins, and wishes them all the best for their future!
