Postgraduate

MSc and Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Trials

Skills and Aptitudes

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 - particularly undergraduates - 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, 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 this kind of study.

Likely to be suited if you:

• enjoy studying
• have experience of organising your time well either at work or 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

Probably not 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 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.