polome

Thank you for this. Yes, I will have to find scholarships/funding because I am really short on finances at the moment! Slightly off-topic, but since a lot of knowledge I have gained of this area has been through independent reading and studying (I studied an undergrad and a masters in ancient history so completely unrelated from human rights), is it ok to mentioned Coursera courses in my personal statement/long form of my CV?

Thank you, this is very helpful. I am very new to this field so I really appreciate your insight. I have two internships ahead of me, both with local UN offices in the country. I speak one of the local languages fluently and I hope to learn the other official language this year to a reasonable level of fluency. Yes, that's true, I am not entirely what to do after this year because it is all up in the air at the moment. This resonated with me: 'Overall, I want to set myself up to get a job with a major organization doing development work in my country of choice, while also leaving the door open to do more community-based work with an independent organization.' I just can't afford a master's at the moment, but I'll be studying a postgraduate diploma in human rights and refugee laws organised by the local UNHCR office alongside my internship. I hope it will be helpful as I would really like to work in this field!

Is it better to study a master's in international development/migration studies or actually spend a year in the country I am interested in learning the local language and interning with UN offices/NGOs in the country? I have a master's in a humanities subject not related to international development, but want to move into this area. I am thinking of doing a master's in this area, but I have had friends tell me it is better to gain experience in the country (in this case it's a developing country in Asia) and learn the local language than studying a master's. I am short on finances at the moment, and it's a lot cheaper for me to spend a year in Asia studying and interning unpaid (I have friends there) than spending my savings on a fancy master's in international development and/or migration studies. My long term goal is to work in the non-profit sector in Asia, focusing on women and children's rights and refugee rights.

Thanks, although I think people don't realise clinical depression can be equally hard to deal with. Your brain just shuts down and I am a very academic person and I have been struggling so much lately.

Thanks, so I can I put it like this? University of XYZ Course 1, Course 2, Course 3, etc. It's a super prestigious university. I don't want to name it on here, but it's the Ivy League of the UK, so I am really upset this hasn't worked out, but I think it's for the best at this point.

Thank you very much. How do I explain this on my CV (for the next year or so). I was awarded a scholarship for this master's - is this something I should mention with a line saying (Unable to complete degree as a result of illness?)

Well I attended two terms in my first year and I'm back this year for the final term. I can't choose courses because that's all done, this term I'm writing essays for tutorials and have exams in four weeks (degree is entirely assessed via exams). I have multiple sclerosis and depression and no support from my GP so things are difficult. It's not easy to just make a study plan and follow it up; my energy levels reduced drastically and I'm in a lot of joint and muscle pain.

See I don't know, I am so scared to leave because I don't want to feel like a 'failure', on the other hand, this degree is worthless to me (content wise) and I feel like I want to go home and rest and just get on with life.

Quick background: Undergrad: High distinction in history, graduated top of class from a mid-tier UK university Master's: Tuition fee funded master's at a top UK university. My course was completely not what I expected (the papers I wanted to sit were discontinued the year I joined), I had a very difficult time, developed depression and had other symptoms. I couldn't sit my final exams, left for two terms and now I am back for my exams. In the period I was away was diagnosed with MS and I have depression on and off, which has worsened since I have come back because I need to deal with everything alone and I am so exhausted. And my GP isn't helpful. I want to go home because I am finding it very hard to deal with things on my own. I don't see the value in this degree because I want to work in a completely different sector when I am done (I have a year-long research internship ahead of me that I can do from home) and I just want to get home, meet my specialist and learn to deal with my condition better. I live in another country and have access to private healthcare and can go back to my specialist. Also, I wish to apply to the US for further studies in a different subject (related to my research internship). Should I leave? I am massively underprepared, feel ill all the time and fatigued, and my depression and MS symptoms keep getting worse.