Centre for Financial & Management Studies (CeFiMS) - University of London
MSc Public Policy and Management
Skills and Aptitudes (Please
read in conjunction with Study Support)
Studying for a University
of London degree on the External Programme can often be more difficult
than studying full-time at one of the University's colleges. This
is because many External students study independently. They work exclusively
with the materials provided by the University and with the books they
are recommended to read. Although the External Programme has been
specifically designed for people who wish to work in this way, the University's most successful students are those who really want to study either
for professional or personal development. If you are to succeed, you
too will need to be highly-motivated, disciplined and organised in
planning your time. Of course, at Postgraduate level you also need
to have a good standard of written English.
Look at the two lists
below to see if you are the sort of person that might do well at distance
learning study.
You are likely
to be suited if you:
- enjoy studying
- have experience of organising
your time well either at work or at home
- are open to new and different
ideas (even if you don't agree with them)
- are highly motivated and disciplined
- are willing to make short-term
sacrifices
You are probably
not best suited if you:
- get bored or distracted easily
- don't like reading
- have difficulty completing tasks
and projects
- lack patience
- already have a very busy schedule
Due to the difficulty
in sustaining their studies over a number of years, some External
students choose to complement their study by also enrolling at a local
educational institution where this is available. This provides an
opportunity for personal tuition and contact with other students.
However, it is important to understand that the University of London
has no formal relationship with these institutions and the University
recommend you find out more before enrolling.
The External Programme
also has a Student to Student Network which can put past and present
students in touch with each other.
