Postgraduate Prospectus

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Katy Wheeler, Hockley,
Essex – BA Sociology and
Criminology ’04, MA
Sociological Research
Methods ’07, PhD
Sociology ’11
Essex’s Department of
Sociology is the best in the
UK so, after completing my
BA, I decided to return for
postgraduate studies and
applied for ‘1+3’ ESRC funding, which
was crucial in my decision to return.
There is nothing quite like studying
for a PhD and I really enjoyed carrying
out and managing my own research
project. I was always grateful for the
excellent support from my supervisors
and department; Essex offers a dynamic
environment and I was encouraged to
participate fully in the research culture,
with weekly seminars and short courses
for all.
The Colchester Campus has lots
of facilities and is a great place for
socialising and recreational activities.
The sports centre offers aerobics
classes and a decent gym, while
the membership is excellent value
for money. The library is very good
and stocks important journals, most
of which you can access online.
My MA gave me a good grounding in
qualitative and quantitative methods,
incredibly important when pursuing
a research career. After finishing my
PhD, I worked as a postdoctoral
research fellow at Queen Mary,
University of London. Having a
sociology degree from Essex definitely
carries currency and my employers
remarked that I had good
qualifications from a good
department.
Graduate
profile
Paola Limon, Monterrey,
Mexico – LLM International
Human Rights and
Humanitarian Law ’11
My decision to study at Essex
was based, mainly, on the
variety of modules within my
chosen course, and the quality
of the academic staff who
would teach me. I was lucky enough
to be awarded a Santander partial
scholarship to support my studies.
I was soon fully immersed in my
course, gaining knowledge on different
issues. I appreciated getting to know,
learning from and working with staff in
the School of Law. They were always
available for questions relating to
modules, supervision of coursework
and guidance regarding the profession,
as we were given lots of information
about job opportunities.
Being at Essex allowed me to get to
know people from many countries and
very diverse backgrounds. Our different
experiences enriched lectures, providing
different perspectives around the
practical issues. I also enjoyed the range
of activities organised by our Human
Rights Centre, the Essex Transitional
Justice Network, and other related
student groups.
Since completing my LLM, I have worked
as a research assistant for one of my
Essex professors, on independent
projects related to topics covered
during my LLM. My studies at
Essex have really given me the
tools to make my way along
this profession.
Graduate
profile
32 | Postgraduate Prospectus 2012