Meet our studentsHumanities

Don’t be afraid to talk about your experiences outside of academia. The humanities department at Strathclyde are extremely unpretentious and are always looking for unique perspectives and experience.

The close attention and dedication of my advisors to my critical and creative vision has been a force of nature, inspiration, and morale in a field that’s very difficult to break into.

Studying a PhD has opened many doors for me already and I’m not even halfway through it as of yet. I’ve attended the political studies association conference, visited several historical archives and am completing an SGSSS internship this summer.

Among the highlights of this journey has been the opportunity to engage with cutting-edge research and participate in academic conferences, which has significantly broadened my academic and professional network.

Historical research can feel quite lonely. However, perhaps precisely because of this, PhD students in the humanities tend to band together strictly. The interaction with your peers provides you a much-needed psychological support during the research process.

My advice for future PhD students is that before applying for this course, choose a topic that you will enjoy because you will study, eat, sleep, and carry your research with you everywhere. Lean on your Supervisors and do not be afraid to admit that you need clarification or help from them.

I have found the community at Strathclyde to be second to none: between our students, faculty members, and administration teams, I have always been grateful for the time, attention, and advice I have received throughout my journey as a student at Strathclyde.

I can confidently say that if you're seeking an exciting and dynamic program with a fantastic academic team, along with the opportunity to meet and study with like-minded peers from various countries in one of the greatest cities in the UK, you should definitely apply!

The research community in Strathclyde is robust – it is built on integrity, innovation, research, diversity, and mutual respect. Both home and international students from Africa, Asia, the US, Canada, and Australia are provided with a serene environment based on best practices.

It took me more than ten years to return to studying after my undergraduate degree and, as a result, I needed sometime to become ‘fit’ for the academic environment. But I was fully supported by the lecturers and the academic community. I became more used to the journals and literature and this helped me reach my full potential both academically and professionally.

I have gained a deep understanding of the historical context and evolution of diplomacy and international security. Through in-depth analysis of historical events, treaties, and conflicts, I have acquired a comprehensive knowledge of the factors that shape diplomatic relations and global security today. This knowledge allows me to approach current issues with a well-informed perspective, considering the long-term implications and historical precedents.

The specific classes that I took were not only interesting and thought provoking but challenging and really made me think outside of what I was used to. I enjoyed the passion of the professors within class and their willingness to engage in discussion with students during and after lectures. The friendships I have made within this programme have been extremely fulfilling and I know will translate into long lasting friendships.

The course has been crucial in developing key skills that are commonly used in the workplace. Organisation, independent research, communication and teamwork are common in employer’s expectations and it is through the Diplomacy and International Security course that I have been able to develop them. Using examples from this course that demonstrate my aptitude in the desired skills to employers has been central to my success in securing employment after I graduate.

I graduated with Distinction. Even though it was a simple one-year course, I realize what it means to my whole life. This journey is a symbol, gives me extra confidence, and reshapes my thinking model as well.

It has been an incredible experience. The Digital Skills in Media and Communication course was the most practical in terms of online tools and platforms... working on a Strategic Communication campaign was another extremely benefical experience if you're interested in PR, marketing and business.

There is always something new to learn, and I really enjoyed sharing my perspective to different topics and listening to the perspective from my course mates.

I was a Programme Representative for MSc Diplomacy and International Security. In this role, I acquired various practical skills, such as gathering feedback, communication and organisation skills, and learned how to build collaborative working relationships, gaining the trust and confidence of my peers.

My Masters course helped me with so many things. It opened my mind to look into things critically and eventually, this is how I came to finalize the topic of my research. It also gave me a chance to explore different areas of research and new scholarly debates which is very exciting if you are planning to start your research journey. 

The MLitt allowed me to think about different styles of communication in research and how developing skills in one area might transfer to another.

The course content of specific topics based on contemporary diplomatic crises spiked my interest, as I was able to learn from real-time examples and issues, which allowed me to research and study these examples further, outside of the classroom.

I think the vast range of things that we were taught across the Masters degree was one of the parts that I enjoyed most about the course. I was encouraged to try many different forms of writing that pushed me out of my comfort zone whilst making me a better and more rounded writer.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of my course were the classes, where my lecturers encouraged us to put forward ideas and opinions at a more in-depth level than during my undergraduate degree. This made the classes interesting as hearing the arguments and opinions of other students encouraged each of us to consider different perspectives and develop a greater understanding of the topics that we were discussing.

I would also say that the freedom to be creative has been a great boon too. You are very much encouraged to “own” your PhD project and make decisions you feel will benefit the work and this means a great deal of flexibility is afforded to you.

I really enjoyed working as a team. I find that this is really important for international students who may be experiencing their first time studying abroad. I enjoyed the group discussions and hearing everyone’s views during the seminars.

I enjoyed the multidisciplinary approach to the course as not only did this give students more freedom over their learning, it also made class and group discussions more interesting and informative as students were able to bring different perspectives from other modules and backgrounds into their analysis.

The interdisciplinary aspect of the course means that you are encouraged to consider several different aspects of the subject you’re studying and encourages critical thinking when considering the historic foundations that influence present and future global issues. 

The teaching and administrative staff of MSc Diplomacy and International Security provide a supportive learning environment for students to thrive and grow. They respond to enquiries and resolve complaints promptly. They also provide constructive academic feedback.

The fact that the course was offered as a multidisciplinary MSc really encouraged me to step out my comfort zone and study courses offered by different departments...Taking classes from multiple disciplinaries allowed for me to expand my knowledge and consider debates from different angles.

Honestly, I love that the Strathclyde research community is generous when it comes to sharing knowledge. People are always happy to help and suggest/advice on where to find what you’re looking for.

The course pushed me out of my comfort zone as several of my assignments involved presenting a topic of my choice to the class. I found this to be a valuable experience as it increased my confidence in speaking in front of people and being accountable for my work and research.

This is a very practical course and you will meet many outstanding people as your classmates. They may already be editors or reporters of well-known media organizations. You can learn from them and find a unique way of looking at problems.

I really was amazed by how professional and organised the online platform was. I also liked the talented teachers and their respectful attitude towards students. I also admired how passionate they were about their specialist subjects. I felt that they wanted us to do really well in the programme and enjoy our studies.

TESOL provides me with a brand-new view about education nowadays, including the tools of teaching and the methods of teaching. Learning more about education around the world inspired me to choose the subject.

The best part of the course is that it allows you to choose between different disciplines such as History, Law and Politics. Which I believe are crucial to becoming an outstanding professional in the field

My scholarship was beneficial to my studies as I didn't have to worry about finances while doing my work. This also pushed me to work harder to live up to my scholarship, and I'm thankful for the opportunity to prove myself and be a successful student.

Your historical knowledge and awareness will increase significantly and you will develop a range of skills that will benefit you in the future. The facilities and academic resources available are amazing and will not only support you throughout the course, but will also help you to make the most of your Strathclyde experience.

Despite so many restrictions, the university left no page unturned when it comes to providing an efficient learning experience along with inviting a range of guest lecturers. This certainly has been the highlight for me.

An MSc in this field is a heavy amount of work, so juggling this and working pretty much full-time through the pandemic certainly increased my ability to manage my own workload – something employers are always keen on!

I must admit that one of the things I enjoy most about the course is having access to a lot of new information and declassified documents. It’s always interesting to read about the discussions that happened behind closed doors.

I can say that the English department has an extraordinarily welcoming faculty, and I would recommend that any new student feel comfortable getting in touch with them. It can be nerve wracking to ask questions or seek advice outside of class, but it has been my experience that they are more than willing to offer their advice and guidance if you need it.

I have really enjoyed all of the guest speakers and people from the field that professors have been able to bring in to speak for us. It really helped me get an idea of the practical side of the field that I’m planning to enter.

I have been an advocate for positive, sustainable change since my days as an Enactus student and gaining an MSc Applied Gender Studies will better enable me to work towards the ambition of making gender equality a reality.

Take a more active role in discussion during the tutorial and don’t be afraid to communicate with professors. Most of the time, when I was struggling on things, a short chat with a teacher can help me greatly.

I applied to Interdisciplinary English Studies as I am genuinely interested in how novels are shaped by society and vice-versa. If you love English literature and how it relates to the world around us, do it!

My cohort were encouraged to pursue courses across history, law and politics and to discover our own areas of interest and speciality. I found that this to be a unique approach to learning, which led to my classmates covering a variety of timelines and topics of expertise.

As a languages student one of my highlights has to be my years abroad. Strathclyde gives you the freedom to do two years abroad if you're studying more than one language and this was a great opportunity for me to experience life in different countries, improve my language abilities by immersing myself in the culture and to make great memories.

Sometimes Creative Writing has a stigma attached – personally I’ve had a lot of people question how you can study an art, and how an art can be taught to students – but I loved that Strathclyde offered such a clear approach to how it could be done. And from the beginning I was impressed at how well the classes dispelled that stigma.

The advice he (my brother) gave to me, which I followed, was to make an effort to meet new people, to join a society or club and to keep on top of the workload.

On many HASS courses you are initially given the option to study 3 separate disciplines and then you would progress into second year with 2 or 1 disciplines. Use the ability to choose these 3 disciplines in your first year as a way to give yourself options.

Upon visiting the university open day I immediately felt very comfortable in the surroundings, more so than I had done when I had visited other universities. The central location of the campus and the enthusiasm of the French lecturer on the day helped to solidify my choice to study here.

I had a great Spanish teacher who was really encouraging and after really enjoying learning the language I decided I wanted to take it further. The possibility of the year abroad was also really exciting and was something I knew I wanted to do.

I would say that my final year has been the best part of my course. It sounds crazy, but all my hard work from previous years paid off and I really enjoyed the final year coursework... it was amazing to really feel fluent in my languages.

I really enjoy how practical and useful my programme has been so far. We're not just learning theory, we're doing hands on journalism creation and production. This is not only very helpful for future career prospects, it's really fun too!

The support of Strathclyde is fantastic. Karen Boyle and Churnjeet Mahn have both been incredible helps. Both when it comes to classes and assignments but also with advice for progressing in the future. They have given me a lot of guidance for PhD application and funding.

No matter if you are an expert in diplomacy and international security or know nothing, rest assured that there will be enough in the course to challenge the experienced ones, and plenty of opportunity for those who know nothing to gain valuable knowledge in such an important area.

I want to say to all international students from China, study English hard, and don’t be shy, try to communicate with people. At Strathclyde, you will have an unforgettable experience and gain an international education and English language training, with social and cultural activities.