Having originally been accepted into Durham to study Anthropology, I casually attended a Sociology lecture on an open day and was captivated by the subject. I especially enjoyed having the opportunity to plot my own academic journey in third year because of the huge selection of modules available. Lecturers are open, approachable and accessible and I have never felt unable to ask for help. I now feel very empowered to enter the workplace with the transferable skills and confidence necessary to thrive in a competitive environment.

Studying Sociology at Durham has been an extremely rewarding experience that has enabled me to discover my passions. The course offered a flexibility of structure to suit my own academic interests, both in the expansive range of module options and in the flexibility of research design for my final year dissertation. All staff members within the Department are kind and helpful, taking a genuine interest in student wellbeing and are generous with their time. The teaching has equipped me with core research and critical thinking skills, as well as encouraging a strong sociological curiosity and imagination which will be of great use as I pursue postgraduate study within the Department.

Studying Sociology at Durham has been an amazing experience and I am hoping to carry on my studies at Durham by doing a Masters in Sociology. The Department staff have consistently been extremely supportive, caring and sympathetic to me and other students, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. One of my favourite things about the course is the flexibility which allows you to tailor your degree towards your own personal interests. For me personally, my main interest is in disabilities, especially learning disabilities, and I have been able to explore the area of disabilities in an array of different sociological areas, such as Gender-Based Violence and Social Policy.

Throughout the programme, modules were well-structured and balanced. We had opportunities to choose areas of our own interests to explore in-depth during the third year which empowered us to either apply knowledge into future careers or research related topics in the academic field if pursuing a postgraduate path. I am so glad that I had such an amazing experience that I could absorb new knowledge and explore new ideas during my study at Durham.