As a final year university student, I find myself feeling ungrateful and selfish when I become concerned about my future and what it may bring. However, providing you’re aware of the life-changing difficulties that others are facing (if you’re not, have a read here) then it’s okay to acknowledge your own struggles. It’s okay to be worried about your job prospects, how you’re going to afford to move on from university life, and what your first move may be after graduating. If your graduate plans have been put on hold as a result of coronavirus, here are a few things you might be able to do to make sure this time doesn’t go to waste.

There is often the presumption that a master’s is only worthwhile if it will improve your employment prospects, whether by allowing you to obtain a higher paid role or perhaps allowing you to apply for roles that you wouldn’t otherwise be qualified for. However, what is sometimes forgotten is that postgraduate courses are also a great opportunity to enhance your learning and broaden your knowledge of a subject you love. For those who do arts and humanities subjects in particular, a master’s can allow you to explore an area of your course that you may have really enjoyed during your undergraduate learning, but felt as though you didn’t get long enough to fully engage with. A postgraduate degree can also be a great way to improve certain skills, such as written and verbal communication, research, and critical understanding, that you may have initially developed during an undergraduate degree but could work on expanding further.

Just because a master’s isn’t a requirement for the role you’re hoping to fulfil in the future, it is by no means a waste of time. However, it is nevertheless important to remember that deciding to enrol on a master’s course should not be a decision you undertake lightly; they’re costly in terms of time and money. If you’re not in a position to undertake a masters, whether that be as a result of the financial burden or other responsibilities you may have that just won’t allow for it, then there are plenty of other ways you can expand your academic skills which may benefit you in the future (and even if they don’t, they’re a constructive and worthwhile way to spend your time!).

I know a lot of this year’s graduates will have been planning a gap year of sorts – a time to get yourself a part-time job to save up some cash that you can then spend on travelling and seeing the world before seeking out a long-term career. I think it goes without saying that travelling will not be on the cards for the majority of us for quite a while.

However, please don’t feel as though you’ll never have the chance. Don’t look at it as though travel plans have been cancelled: instead, try to see them as having been postponed. This is most definitely easier said than done, but think about how you can reshuffle your timeline to account for travelling in a year or so from now. There is still the opportunity to get a part time job, as long as it won’t jeopardise yours or your family’s health and wellbeing. The money you earn from this can still be saved into your travelling fund, and if anything you’ll have a longer period to earn more and therefore travel more freely when the time comes!