The University of Law Business School student John Wilcox, originally from the United Kingdom, currently works as a Prison Advisor for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Working across the Horn of Africa, John’s work takes him to Kenya, Somalia, and Tanzania, as well as the Indian Ocean region covering Seychelles, Mauritius, and Sri Lanka. We recently spoke to John about his experience studying The University of Law Business School's online MSc in Leadership and Human Resource Management, and how he manages to balance the demands of online study with his career.

Thanks for talking to us, John. First of all, what was your motivation for studying this programme?

Well, my work at the UN requires me to develop their prison staff via coaching and mentoring. I felt that I could use a bit more theory, and I noticed the modules for the MSc in Leadership and Human Resource Management programme were directly relevant to the work I was conducting, and therefore would enhance my delivery. So far, I find it very interesting, there are certain theories dissected in this course that I find highly valuable.

What do you enjoy about studying online?

I’m quite visual, so certainly the videos are very good for me. I’m impressed with the whole package and how everything comes across. I’ve also found the student support team to be very good.

How would you describe the level of contact with your fellow students and tutors?

I speak to the other students regularly and I plan to meet up with some of them during my travels. I’ve also had many useful interactions with my ULaw tutors, for example, if you drop them an email, they always get back to you in a timely manner.

What advice would you give to other people who are thinking about studying online?

You certainly need to set some time aside, because, for example, you may have assignments due mid-week, and you’ll fall behind if you don’t manage your time effectively, especially if you’re working full-time. You need to devote a few hours a day to your studies, as well as a few hours at the weekend. Ultimately, you’ve got to make the necessary time commitments in order to succeed.

“I had a Skype conversation with one of the tutors which was quite useful. They all do come back to you, certainly if you just drop them an email, they do respond, and it’s quite timely as well.”