Camilla Walker

Politics MA

Why did you choose Manchester?

I did my Sociology degree at The University of Manchester. Throughout my final year I enrolled on several Politics modules that I absolutely loved. Staying on to complete my MA at the University was a no-brainer, the Politics department is great, and the city itself is a fun and exciting place to live.

What are the best things about your degree?

So far it has been the teaching, plus the relationship with lecturers feels completely different in postgraduate study. Also, the community of students is tight knit. We are supportive of each other because we’ve worked hard to get here and we understand that studying at MA level is hard work.

Are there any modules / teaching you’ve particular enjoyed? What made it stand out?

I really enjoyed the compulsory Comparative Politics course unit in Semester 1. Having an understanding of theories of power, the structure-agency debate, and post-structural theory was really useful for the other units I took that semester. I imagine that they will continue to be useful for the rest of my course.

Aside from this, the course unit is a great way to meet people on the course (it is compulsory after all) and Nick Turnbull is a fantastically engaging lecturer.

What benefits do you think your course/the university will bring to you on graduation (eg skills for employability)?

I want to use my degree in the future. I hope it will stand me in good stead for a job in my key interests - global development and securities. The flexibility of the course has allowed me to structure my learning around these two key interests. The careers department at the University is really helpful, so I will be making a visit there before my MA time is up!

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

I have been a member of the Ski & Snowboard society since my first year. 

Why should a prospective applicant choose Manchester?

The Politics department is full of excellent and inspiring academics; the variety of modules on offer is broad; and the city itself offers lots of different experiences for people who are in search of city life but aren’t quite ready for (or fancy) the ‘Big Smoke’. I’ve loved my time in Manchester so far and would I highly recommend it to anyone who is not afraid of getting their suede shoes wet on a regular basis!