After completing her undergraduate degree in Pharmacy and becoming a practicing pharmacist in Jamaica, Shanelle made the decision to top up her studies with a specialist Master’s degree in the UK.
She explains that the pharmaceutical industry has always appealed to her for the fact it is responsible for life-saving products, as well as many everyday products which we often take for granted, such as the toothpaste we use, hand sanitiser, sunscreen, moisturiser, shampoo, perfume. A Master’s degree would allow her to develop a specialism and widen her horizons further.
But with 11 different postgraduate offers received from universities across the UK, Shanelle had a difficult task ahead of her – choosing which of these varied courses to accept. She began looking deeper into each course being offered and the corresponding university to make her decision.
A ‘one of a kind’ course
As she investigated each option, Shanelle found that she was being presented with options which catered to either the pharmaceutical field or the field of cosmetic sciences – but she desired a more holistic course that could offer her elements of both studies in a multi-faceted approach. She was particularly interested in the creating of products as she hopes to have her own creations available to purchase on shelves one day, and so she knew her ideal course would have an emphasis on formulation.
The more she investigated the University of Greenwich’s MSc Formulation Science course – the first course of its kind in Europe – the more Shanelle knew it offered exactly what she was looking for. It was the course’s uniqueness that first captured her interest.
“The programme of study is one of a kind, which makes it a rare addition to the list of specialties offered within my field.”
Shanelle was also drawn to the university itself. As an international student, she appreciated the university’s cultural diversity. “Of the 185 countries which exist in the world, 140 have been represented at the University of Greenwich, and I think that is absolutely mind-blowing.”
Shanelle also valued the prospect of being able to study and thrive within the university’s iconic architecture. She studied at the Medway Campus while living in the heart of London, so she was able to utilise facilities from all three campuses during her studies, including the world heritage site of the Greenwich Campus.
A ‘remix’ on her career
Shanelle has now graduated from her course with a distinction and has secured what she would deem her dream role within the cosmetic industry as an Industrial Process Engineer. Her Master’s degree has also supported her own personal growth. She values the experience she gained at Greenwich along with the opportunity to specialise.
Graduates are equipped with hands-on experience for industries while gaining invaluable analytical and research skills for the corporate world
She hopes other students will follow her lead and not be afraid to step outside of their comfort zones to develop themselves.
