Postgraduate Prospectus

www.essex.ac.uk/sociology | Sociology
Emma Weddell, Colchester,
Essex – MA Sociological
Research Methods ’07, PhD
Sociology ’11
Student
profile
I initially wanted to study at
Essex because my potential
supervisor was teaching there.
However I soon realised what
an exceptional reputation the
Department of Sociology has, which made
me even more determined to come here.
I completed my undergraduate degree
in sociology and wanted to pursue an
academic career, so I took the next step
which was research methods training
(through Essex’s MA Sociological
Research Methods), followed by my
PhD. The teaching in the Department
was excellent; lectures were always
really interesting and well-delivered.
It was also great be surrounded by
so many like-minded people; everyone
on my course worked hard but had a
sense of humour. I have made lifelong
friends at Essex and for that I will always
be thankful.
Since completing my PhD, I have been
working in the UK Data Archive, based
at the University, and am in the process
of applying for post-doctoral funding.
I’m also working on my journal articles
and conference papers in order to
disseminate my research findings.
Studying at Essex has provided me with
a thorough grounding in sociological
research methodology and
definitely prepared me for
an academic career.
North America, Latin America, and the
Asian sub-continent, with particular
strengths in: criminology and social justice;
culture and media; economic sociology;
ethnicity, migration and rights; intimacy and
gender; science in society; social theory
and methodology; and survey methodology.
Reflecting these strengths, we are home
to two major research centres: the Centre
for Research in Economic Sociology and
Innovation (CRESI) and the Centre for
Intimate and Sexual Citizenship (CISC).
We therefore offer two routes to a PhD:
PhD by research – if you have a
strong background in sociology, and
a well-formulated research proposal,
you may be admitted directly to
supervised research.
Integrated PhD – in your first year, you
follow one of our pathways which provides
Masters-level research training, then
undertake three years of PhD research.
Research supervision is available in the
following fields:
n Criminology and social justice
n Culture and media
n Economic sociology
n Ethnicity, migration and rights
n Intimacy and gender
n Science in society
n Social theory and methodology
n Survey methodology
Research degrees
Our PhD is a structured three-year
programme of advanced study and
research, and we also offer an MPhil, which
is a two-year programme. If you wish to
undertake a PhD but are not sufficiently
qualified, you may be offered our MA/MSc
and PhD (four-year programme), where
progression to your PhD is conditional on
successful completion of your MA/MSc.
Research areas
Our research supervision is extremely
wide ranging so, whether you are
looking to carry out research in survey
methodology, criminology or cultural
history, we can offer you appropriate
expertise and support.
Postgraduate Prospectus 2012 | 201