As cliché as it sounds one unit and one lecturer completely changed my life, in that, until I began my forensic unit I had no idea this was the career path I really wanted to go along"
After graduating in 2013 with a degree in BSc (Hons) Psychology, Ellie Blackford felt inspired to further her education in an area she was passionate about.
"I came to Bournemouth University with the dream of becoming a clinical psychologist working in a mental health setting. Little did I know that the units and teaching at BU would inspire me to not only complete an MSc at the university, but continue down a career path that had never entered my mind prior to coming to BU.
"BU provided me with an excellent platform to not only explore the area of Psychology I was driven towards, but numerous pathways that psychology can take you."
Ellie fought personal battles with the help of university staff, support she is grateful for.
"Despite personal struggles that left me feeling unsure whether university was the right decision for me and whether I should continue, I received tremendous support from both the staff and well being departments within the university.
"They helped guide me and give me the support to continue on with my degree, happy with the decision and I felt that there was always someone to talk to and ask for advice when needed, resulting in me finishing university with a 2:1 BSc (Hons) degree."
During her last year as an undergraduate, Ellie discovered what she was really passionate about and tells BU who inspired her to stay here and complete a Master's.
"My third year provided me with the opportunity to choose units that I was particularly interested in and gain a deeper understanding of said topics alongside exploring career prospects in these fields. As cliché as it sounds one unit and one lecturer completely changed my life, in that, until I began my forensic unit I had no idea this was the career path I really wanted to go along.
"I am a strong believer in that the teachers you have can make or break a subject for you and truly felt that the passion and enthusiasm that Terri Cole and colleagues gave to the Forensic unit really drove me to want to learn more and explore this new found passion in me.
"I was absolutely captivated in the different areas of forensic and investigative psychology that the emergence of a new MSc in this field was a no-brainer for me. The course was fascinating and was so eye-opening to the different careers and opportunities you have available. The different styles of teaching involving real-life application methods was an innovative and truly wonderful way of learning and as someone who prefers learning by doing this was the perfect design for me."
Now, happy in a secure job and pursuing a career she wants, Ellie is still using the skills she learnt during her studies.
"Since completing my MSc in Investigative Forensic Psychology I have secured a job as a Police Enquiry Officer for Surrey Police which has amazing career progression prospects whilst allowing me to utilise the skills I learnt throughout my MSc."
Find out more about studying MSc in Investigative Forensic Psychology.