Robert Stewart
Lecturer (UK/Malawi)
I enrolled on the MRes programme whilst working as a higher trainee in psychiatry in the UK. I had arranged to spend an out-of-programme year working in Malawi, Africa, and wished to conduct a research project whilst I was there. I had no previous research experience so decided to enroll on the MRes to learn the necessary skills. I needed to be able to fit in my studies around work commitments, and to have flexibility in the number of modules that I took each semester. This course allowed me to do both. The modules were clear and well structured, and I was able to choose those that fitted best with my interests and priorities. I wrote up the project from Malawi as my dissertation for the course, and I am now back in Malawi working as a lecturer and about to embark on a PhD. The MRes has served as an excellent stepping stone from NHS training into a clinical academic career, and I would recommend it to anyone wishing to make a similar career move.