Hey guys, my name is Abi, and I am a postgraduate student studying MSc Island Biodiversity and Conservation at the University of Exeter. My course is run through a Jersey-based charity; the Jersey International Centre of Advanced Studies – so I’m based in Jersey (Channel Islands)! Today I’m going to share with you what a week in my life juggling a Masters programme, fieldwork, part-time work, and time for myself.
No two weeks are the same since our modules rotate every four weeks, but this week stood out—it was the start of our Island Ecology module, packed with field trips and learning opportunities.
Here’s a glimpse into how my week unfolded!
Monday: A foggy start
The week began with a stats and assignment briefing workshop. This session was all about helping us understand the research methods for an upcoming report, with insights from a PhD student who had taken the same module. We get a lot of support like this from the course alumni, which is really helpful as they have previously been in the same boat!
In the afternoon we were meant to be going out for a field trip joined by the students from the MSc Biodiversity and Conservation programme based at Penryn Campus, but unfortunately the week had a foggy start, grounding flights and postponing the trip.
Instead, I used the unexpected free time to take a foggy walk at Bouley Bay, my go-to spot for some fresh air. The fog even cast an eerie feel over the island just after Halloween. There’s a castle behind all that fog!
Tuesday: Dive into study (and the sea!)
I had no scheduled classes on Tuesday, so after breakfast I headed to the library to do some independent study. This week was reading week for the Island Ecology module, so I had a fair bit to get through and I was in the library 9-4.
In the evening, I headed to Bouley Bay again but this time for a night dive! I only started scuba diving when I moved to Jersey 2 months ago, but it has quickly become one of my favourite ways to decompress when life gets busy. I am particularly loving night diving at the minute because it feels so peaceful and there is such a variety of life that comes out at night! On this dive we got really lucky and saw loads of life, including a large cuttlefish and a baby squid that came to play with our torchlights!
Wednesday: Another study day
Another study day meant more reading and preparing for the module lectures to kick off next week. I headed back to the library for another 9-4 study session.
By the evening it was time to unwind. Living in student accommodation has its perks, especially when it comes to spontaneous evening hangouts with friends. A midweek break to socialise kept the energy up for the days ahead. My accommodation in Jersey is a little different to standard uni accommodation, as I live in a guest house rather than student halls. It was organised for me by JICAS once I accepted my offer for the course. I live with around 15 people, but we’re a mixture of young professionals and postgraduate students. This means we’re all on slightly different schedules and the house never feels too full but never too empty either!
Thursday: A day of field trips
On Thursday the fog finally lifted, allowing other MSc students to arrive from Exeter. We kicked things off with a scenic walk along the west coast of Jersey, led by the brilliant Nicky Mansell who provided us with her expert local knowledge on both the Neolithic sites around Jersey and the damage caused by last year’s storm.
Here we all are (MSc Island Biodiversity and Conservation students and MSc Biodiversity and Conservation students):
The highlight was seeing the exposed peat bogs and remnants of an ancient forest once covering Jersey’s shores. It was fascinating to see how the environment has evolved over thousands of years. These trees have been preserved in the peat bog, and when the tides are right they come up from the sand! It’s really strange to finally see them when you’ve been down there when they aren’t exposed, as they were under your feet the whole time. I’ve been down to St Ouen’s Bay a number of times but have never been fortunate enough to see these until this trip. My favourite one is this bit of tree that sort of resembles a horse’s head:
In the afternoon, we dove into fieldwork at Le Hocq, in the Southeast corner, with Prof. Jamie Stevens (who made it from Exeter through the fog eventually), to practice our biodiversity surveying skills in the intertidal zone. This is my favourite bit of the Jersey coast, it’s such a contrast to some of the other sandy beaches, I think it’s really cool. The temperature is starting to drop here now so this was quite a chilly afternoon, but I got myself a luxury hot chocolate from one of the beach cafés to warm up.
In the evening, I hosted a board games night as a belated birthday celebration. But we all forgot to take pictures, so here’s one from my actual birthday lunch at El Tico instead (with a homemade cake from one of my friends <3):
Proof that there’s always room for celebration amidst a busy schedule! We had a really nice evening, and it was great to all see each other outside of a teaching setting.
Friday: An early swim and some more hands-on learning
Friday was another fieldwork day! I woke up quite early so decided to get up for a sea swim (at about 6:30am). Surprisingly (for the 8th November), I wasn’t the only person down there! I try to get in the sea as much as I can as I find it really helps me recharge before a busy day. This swim really woke me up and I had way more energy for the rest of the day (which was needed!). I am lucky enough to live just up the road from a tidal bathing pool, and its often filled with life, so on Friday morning I was looking for crabs on my morning swim (takes your mind off of the cold!)
At about 8:30am we headed up to the campus for a brief about the afternoon’s adventure at Elizabeth Castle and the causeway, led by Prof. Jamie Stevens again, and had a play around with a new (to us) software for assessing our quadrats from the day before. My course is based on the Highlands College campus in Jersey, we share a floor of one of the buildings with the Jersey Institute of Law. At about 12pm we had a nice long lunchbreak and headed off to the Elizabeth Castle causeway for 1:30pm. The tide was dropping so we started heading out towards the castle, where we were using 60m transects to look at the zonation on the intertidal zone. It’s really interesting to see how the species change from high shore to low shore!
Here’s a picture of some of our group digging up sandworms while we waited for the tide to start going out!
Here’s us testing whether the tide had dropped enough to cross the causeway (it hadn’t, I got soggy feet):
And here’s my group (and Prof. Jamie Stevens) climbing up to look at the biodiversity in the high shores zone. Prof. Jamie Stevens and I are quite well camouflaged in this!
The evening brought a change of pace as I headed to work at the Blue Note Bar at around 7pm. We’ve just decided that it is cold enough to start selling mulled wine to festive customers, which made for a cosy and cheerful end to a packed day. I finished at 11:30pm and was pretty shattered after an entire day outside, but it was worth it!
The weekend: Work and study balance
The weekends are my chance to slow down and recharge after a busy week. I like to spend Saturday morning catching up on assignments at my own pace, with a good playlist or a cup of coffee to keep the mood light. It’s a quieter time to reflect and organise, making sure I’m ready for whatever the next week brings. This Saturday I got up at around 8am and headed to do some work at the Santander Work Café. I think it’s nice to have a change of scenery at the weekend so that I don’t live at the uni library! The good thing about living near the centre is that I get a short walk in to wake myself up before I start work. Later in the day, I head back to my part-time job. Working in hospitality is suprisingly relaxing in its own way – chatting with cheerful customers adds a social element that feels less like work and more like a break from the academic grind. It’s the perfect mix of productivity and unwinding, setting me up for the rest of the weekend. Plus, it’s been great for getting to know people after moving to an island where I didn’t know anybody!
I headed out on Sunday for a solo hike to clear my mind before teaching week (which is normally pretty hectic). I hopped on a bus to Corbière in the southwest corner of Jersey, embarking on a 12-mile hike back home. It took me around 6 hours (I tried to do it without a map and got lost a couple of times, but it was all good fun). I also stopped on the way for a swim and a coffee at St. Brelade Bay, soaking up the calm before diving back into the week ahead.
Finally, on Sunday evening I headed to a friend’s house for a belated bonfire night celebration! This was such a relaxing day to end the week, and the embers were gorgeous next to the moon:
Reflections: Tips for Students at Exeter
This week was a whirlwind of activity, but it taught me a lot about balance. Here are a few takeaways for fellow students:
1. Embrace Flexibility: Things don’t always go as planned (hello, foggy field trips!), but adaptability is key. Sometimes, unexpected moments bring the most joy.
2. Find Your Rhythm: Whether it’s early swims, night dives, or cosy evenings with friends, carve out time for things that recharge you. This is something that I wish I had focussed on sooner in my Undergraduate degree! With all the exciting new experiences you have when you move to university, it’s so easy to say yes to everything but forget to make time for yourself.
3. Work Smarter, Not Harder: If you’re working part-time, keep your hours manageable. For me, around 10 hours a week is the sweet spot—it’s social, keeps me busy, but still leaves room for studies.
4. Explore Your Surroundings: Whether you’re in Exeter or abroad, take time to discover your local area. A hike, a coffee, or even a quiet walk can do wonders for your mental health. For me, when my course gets intense I find it really useful to head out into nature to remind myself why I started!
5. Celebrate Small Wins: Hosting a game night, finishing a report draft, or even taking that sea swim are moments worth celebrating. They keep you motivated and connected to the things you love.
Final Thoughts
Every week at university is an opportunity to learn, grow, and make memories. Whether you’re balancing coursework, field trips, or part-time work, remember to find joy in the journey. I hope you enjoyed hearing about my week!