find your perfect postgrad program
Search our Database of 30,000 Courses

Refine courses

Posted May 5, 2026

Imposter syndrome when applying for a Master’s in Innovation (and how I’m getting through it)

UCL Masters in Innovation

Imposter syndrome didn’t start with applying for this master’s. I felt it when I first moved into music marketing, sitting in meetings convinced I had somehow skipped a step. I felt it again moving to London, where everyone seems driven, busy and very sure of themselves. And I felt it again when I started looking at postgraduate study.

UCL School of ManagementPostgraduate courses like UCL’s MSc Digital Innovation and MSc Creativity, Innovation and Leadership are exciting – but they can also feel intimidating. They bring together people from different backgrounds, with different strengths, all interested in shaping ideas, businesses and industries in new ways.

Looking at course content, it’s easy to start questioning yourself.

  • Do I have the right background?
  • Will I be good enough?
  • Is everyone else more prepared than me?


Coming from a creative, media and marketing background, I found myself wondering how I would fit into a programme that also engages with strategy, technology and innovation at a deeper level. It’s not just about having ideas — it’s about developing them, challenging them and applying them in structured, meaningful ways.

At times, that felt like a gap. But the more I looked into these programmes, the more I realised that this mix of perspectives is actually the point. They’re designed for people who are stepping into something new — whether that’s developing digital skills, strengthening strategic thinking or learning how to lead creative ideas more effectively.

UCL Masters in Innovation
You’re not expected to arrive knowing everything. You’re expected to be open to learning. That’s a subtle but important shift. Instead of asking, “Do I already fit this?”, I’ve started asking, “Am I ready to grow into this?”. That mindset changes how you see the application process. It becomes less about proving you already have all the answers, and more about showing curiosity, adaptability and a willingness to engage with new challenges.

Of course, comparison still creeps in. When you think about applying to a highly competitive course, it’s easy to imagine that everyone else has a more technical background, more experience, or a clearer direction. But in reality, applicants come from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences — and that diversity is what makes these programmes valuable.

Innovation doesn’t come from one way of thinking. It comes from different perspectives coming together and being developed in the right environment. That’s what makes courses like MSc Digital Innovation and MSc Creativity, Innovation and Leadership particularly interesting. They sit at the intersection of creativity, business and emerging ideas, encouraging students to explore, experiment and build confidence in unfamiliar areas. And that’s exactly why imposter syndrome shows up. Because you’re stepping towards something that challenges you. What’s helped me most is focusing less on whether I feel “ready” and more on whether I’m willing to try.

Applying is not a declaration that you already belong — it’s a decision to put yourself in the room. There’s a saying that if you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room. When I think about it in the context of applying, it becomes reassuring rather than intimidating. You don’t apply because you’ve mastered everything already — you apply because you want to be in an environment that pushes you further.

Imposter syndrome hasn’t disappeared. It still shows up in small ways — when I reread my application, when I think about competition, when I imagine starting something new. But I no longer treat it as a reason to hold back. Sometimes, it’s just a sign that you’re aiming for something that matters.

And that’s a good place to start.

Find out more about postgraduate study at UCL School of Management.

Author’s bio: Mihika is studying a Master’s in Innovation at UCL.

Related articles

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome As A Postgraduate Student

So… You’re Thinking About A Masters? Let’s Talk

Postgrad Solutions Study Bursaries

Leave a comment

All contributors must be over 16 year olds

By submitting your comment you agree to our privacy policy.

Categories