My journey from BA (Hons) Computer Animation & Technical Arts to MSc Computer Animation & Visual Effects as an international student at BU

When I first arrived in the UK for my undergraduate degree, I had a very clear plan: three years, graduate, get a job.

That was it. No extensions. No extras.

But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that plans have a way of evolving.

As an international student, time feels different. There’s always a quiet awareness in the background: visas, finances, next steps, what happens after graduation. I also started my degree as a mature student, surrounded mostly by coursemates fresh out of school, so in my first year, I often felt like I was in a race. A race against time, against comparison, against this idea of where I thought I “should” already be.

Osher and her friend at their graduation.

Naturally, the question of a master’s degree came up early. In my first year, I went back and forth. In my second year, my answer was clear: no. I thought I needed to enter the industry as soon as possible. The “real world” already felt intimidating enough without voluntarily staying in education longer.

At the start of my third year, I still wasn’t planning to continue. Then I attended an alumni panel where graduates working in the industry shared their experiences. One piece of advice stuck with me: apply for jobs and master’s programmes at the same time. If you get a job, withdraw. If you don’t, use the master’s as a focused year to strengthen your portfolio and specialise.

It sounds simple, but for me it was a turning point.

At that stage, I felt the pressure of stepping into professional life in a country that isn’t my own. The graduate visa clock is real, and it’s not generous. University felt structured and supportive. The industry felt uncertain. The idea of a master’s shifted from being a delay to being a smart, strategic option.

As the months passed, I attended a master’s open day at BU and learned more about the course. Slowly, it stopped feeling like a backup plan. I actually wanted it. I realised that one more year could give me the chance to refine my skills, explore new areas and enter the industry feeling more confident rather than rushed. It also helped that my friend had already decided she was staying for her master’s. Knowing we’d get one more year living and studying in the same place made the decision feel less daunting and more exciting. Instead of stepping into something alone, it felt like we were choosing to grow through it together.

Osher and her friends discovering the UK

Starting the master’s felt completely different from starting undergrad. I wasn’t overwhelmed this time. I knew the facilities, understood the systems and felt at home on campus. During my undergraduate degree, I had considered becoming a student representative but never quite felt ready. This time, I did. Putting myself forward felt like a sign of how much I had grown. While the role comes with responsibilities, what I value most is that classmates feel comfortable approaching me because I understand what it’s like to be new, adjusting and figuring things out.

Academically, the first semester gave me the space to build on what I had learned during my undergrad, strengthening personal projects and existing skills. Then the second semester introduced completely new material – deeper, more technical and unexpectedly exciting. During my postgrad, the course dives further into the technical side of animation and visual effects. I also started discovering industry roles I had barely known existed, roles that genuinely align with how I think and what interests me most.

Another unexpected benefit of staying has been appreciating the place I live and study in. During undergrad, everything felt fast. Now, I’ve had time to properly explore the local area: coastal paths, quiet walking routes, places that feel like an escape from deadlines. Sometimes those walks are just a break from screens. Sometimes they serve as a creative reference.

I don’t feel like I’m racing anymore.

I feel prepared.

And that feels like the right way to step into whatever comes next.

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