Ashley Hoi Tung Ip

Sociology and Criminology BASS

Why did you choose to study this course?

My experience as an international student has allowed me to interact with multiple cultures and prompted me into considering the role of identity, and what it means to be influenced by specific social backgrounds.

Living under Western culture from a family of Asian background, I wanted to explore the relationship between cultural norms and identity. Also how different aspects of society such as crime, race, and social groups contribute to social form and regulation.

Why did you choose to study at The University of Manchester?

While other destinations allow me to take either Sociology or Criminology, only Manchester offers the opportunity to take both Sociology and Criminology.

Choosing Manchester as a destination also allows me to step away from familiar grounds, to study in a place with rich knowledge in both fields.

The environment and the school’s reputation were big factors for me when choosing a destination where I’ll be spending my time for three years. I considered the university’s academic support and career services, as well as the weather and student life in Manchester.

What has been the highlight of your course so far?

The opportunity to engage with different disciplines and investigate from multiple perspectives.

Areas such as Politics and Anthropology often intersect with the thinking process in the eyes of sociologists and criminologists, which broadened my horizons by introducing the dynamic quality of the course.

What area are you specifically interested in?

How media interacts with culture and society. How the audience of today perceive media as a tool and how it can be used to advertise certain aspects of society.

How would you describe your student experience so far?

It’s been very fulfilling. I got drawn into student life as soon as I stepped into Manchester.

The welcome week especially made me feel part of the community real quick, and the opportunity to take part in lots of societies helped to distract me from my homesickness.

The student life here is amazing, joining new sports and hobbies from zero experience was easy and I was welcomed by everyone.

Are you involved in any extracurricular activities?

I’m involved in several sports communities and been to many student-hosted events and clubs.

I’ve joined basketball, netball, frisbee and handball, and I was a volunteer at the dog shelter as a dog walker.

I’d recommend students try everything in their first year, it’s a time where your student experience begins and you’d get to make new connections and friends through it all. 

How is your international student experience?

Manchester has been so welcoming with its international students. I’ve met different people from everywhere around the world through my course and different societies.

I had the opportunity to learn about different cultural experiences through my friends, and this widened my horizons as a global citizen.

Do you have any tips for future students?

I dived right into student life as I got to Manchester. It's vibrant and there are multiple events going on every night.

It took a while for the homesickness to kick in, and when it does, despite your wishes to stay in your room as a couch potato, the important thing is to go out and join a club or go to an event.

You can feel the friendliness of people around you making you feel better. It’s hard navigating in a new city and starting fresh, but once you start building connections, they’ll help you feel more at home.

Think about what you value other than the university’s academic reputation. For me, the weather and the student environment are also a big factor. It’s important to go to a place you will enjoy for the next three or more years.

What are your plans for after graduation?

I’m considering further studies to pursue what I want and increase my opportunities in work fields.

I plan on pursuing a career that involves learning the globalising society and interacting with different cultures. More specifically, I’d like a career that strives to learn how the economy is driven under a dynamic world and how we adapt to these changes in everyday lives.