Sara Giorgi

MA in International Politics (International Relations Pathway)

Why did you choose Manchester?

I chose Manchester because I was an Erasmus student here in my final undergraduate year.

I loved the English university system (I’m Italian) but I also fell for Manchester – both as a university and a city. It’s got a very high number of students, a truly multicultural environment, great opportunities and a good international ranking in league tables.

Why did you pick your course?

Because I developed a huge interest in international relations while I was an undergraduate and especially during my Erasmus exchange at Manchester.

What are the best things about your master’s degree?

It benefits from being very broad; it gives you the skills to work in very different areas, but at the same time you can specialise in the areas that really interest you.

Are there any parts of your master’s that you’ve particular enjoyed? What made them stand out?

Among all the course units that I’ve done so far, I really enjoyed Ethics in World Politics.

Even if it was a little bit tough at the beginning, the debates and the empirical issues were interesting from the start; I found myself discussing about them with my flatmates, friends and family.

Plus this unit introduced me to an area that I’d like to explore in more detail – Chinese Foreign Policy. What’s more I found the tutor, Professor Suzuki, extremely clear and stimulating.

What benefits do you think your course / the University will bring to you on graduation?

It has shown me how to practically analyse foreign policy and improve my capacity for critical thinking.

Please can you give details of any societies you’ve been involved in?

I’m the Vice-President of the Italian Society and I’m involved in the Sharing Words Project as a teaching assistant at the Aquinas College, Stockport.

Why should a prospective applicant choose Manchester?

Because it is so multicultural. If you choose International Relations this is an important thing to consider. Around 10 countries are represented in my class of around 20 students.

In the past, when applying for jobs at international organisations, I was asked if I had the skill to work in an international environment. Now I can say "yes".

Also, there is so much going on in the University: debates, talks, societies, events… It’s truly an environment where you can flourish.