Andrada Vasilescu graduated from Royal Holloway in 2023 with an MSc in Forensic Psychology. Now she’s working as a Foreign National Offender Specialist with HM Prisons and Probation Service (HMPPS).

Andrada Irina Vasilescu

We sat down with Andrada, an international student originally from Romania, to learn more about how studying a postgraduate degree helped her in her career journey after Royal Holloway.

What were you doing before starting your master’s, and what made you decide to pursue postgraduate study at that point in your life/career?

After completing a BSc in Criminology and Psychology, I chose to pursue an MSc in Forensic Psychology and start the first stage in my journey to becoming an accredited forensic psychologist.  

What are you doing now? How has your master’s degree influenced your career path or progression?

I'm a Foreign National Offender Specialist with HM Prisons and Probation Service (HMPPS) and it was my MSc in Forensic Psychology opened the door for me. It taught me in depth about the impact that a variety of factors can have on a prisoner’s pathway to incarceration, as well as the potential of using psychology to foster rehabilitation. It helped me gain promotions in the service, strengthened my critical thinking, and allowed me to better understand the depth of the psychological challenges that prisoners face.  

What aspect of the course had the biggest impact on you professionally?

The practical aspect of the course definitely had the biggest impact. Going to Crown Courts, witnessing trials, and writing case formulations brought me closer to the reality of what my life would look like as a forensic psychologist.

What aspect of the course had the biggest impact on you personally?

It taught me empathy, which I carry with me every single day in my job in prisons.

Looking back, I’m glad I chose Royal Holloway and this course because...

Royal Holloway felt like a second home. As a non-UK student, my peers and lecturers helped me feel included and listened to and I felt supported throughout my whole four years here. My teachers had a genuine interest in sharing their passions, and I’m still in contact with a couple of them now.

Was there any support or opportunity offered by Royal Holloway that helped shape your experience or future career?

The careers service was brilliant! They helped me with my CV prep, as well as mock interviews. I also had a lot of part-time job opportunities as a student. During my MSc, I worked part-time as a Duty Manager at the Students’ Union, and as a Research Assistant for the Law and Criminology School.

In one sentence, how would you describe the impact of your masters experience?

Doing a Master’s degree helped open my eyes and shaped my future career.