School of Social and Political Science

Content

What made you choose to study at the University of Edinburgh? 

I chose to study at the University of Edinburgh because I love the city of Edinburgh and I felt that this masters was a good match for me.

I had previously studied social sciences from an interdisciplinary perspective and within the MSc in Sociology and Global Change I was able to continue to do so while specialising in sociology.

Another important factor for me was the prestige of the University of Edinburgh; I really wanted to obtain my postgraduate degree from a top university.

How have you enjoyed your programme? 

I enjoyed the contents and the structure of my programme very much. I really liked the wide variety of electives that is available to MSc students in the School of Social and Political Science. I felt that this really provided me with an opportunity to widen my knowledge on topics I did not previously study.

I also appreciated the length of the programme; as the MSc in Sociology and Global Change is a calendar year long rather than an academic year, there was enough time for me to focus solely on my dissertation research after concluding my courses.

Find out more about MSc Sociology and Global Change

What has been your favourite course? 

My favourite course was Armed Force and Society. In this course we discussed armed conflict and weapon technology from a sociology perspective.

The reason I enjoyed it so much, is that it surprised me. I had never focused on these topics before, which made it a really interesting course for me.

Additionally, this course was taken by students from several different MSc programmes, which allowed for interdisciplinary discussion and meeting students outside of my own programme.

Aims after University

One of the major reasons I chose this MSc programme, is my desire to make a social impact in my future career. I am not entirely set on the form in which I hope to do that. I may pursue an academic career, but I also see myself ending up working in the third sector.

Regardless of which career path I choose, I feel that this degree has prepared for using my sociology knowledge for real life social impact. This is a way in which I think my MSc degree really added value on top of my undergraduate education.

What would you say to your past self before starting the course?

I would tell myself to have faith in my own abilities. Starting a postgraduate degree can be overwhelming at times and at these moments it can be easy to forget your previous academic and/ or professional successes.

These successes, however, prove that you will be able to achieve your goals in postgraduate education.

(Written in 2021)