Grace Sociology BA
It was a visit to the University on the open day that made Newcastle my first choice of university. I knew right away that I did not want to go anywhere else!
The Sociology department at Newcastle is fantastic. I had never done Sociology before I came to University, which was quite daunting, and I had no idea what to expect but the enthusiasm of the lectures and the interesting modules mean that I have done much better than I ever would have dreamed I could! You not only learn the fundamentals of Sociology, but also the skills you need for success in the subject, such as seeing things with a critical eye, which will give you a different idea of the world and how it works.
What is most important to me is that Sociology staff recognise everyone’s potential and are unfailingly supportive with assignments; you can always pop into their offices for help. It is worth being motivated right from the start of university because you get rewarded!
The Sociology department put my name forward to be part of the Top Brazil Santander Universities scheme at the end of first year and I was accepted onto the trip. This involved going on an all expenses trip to Sao Paulo with other students and academics from around the country for two weeks during the first term of second year to explore different aspects of Brazilian culture and university life. Part of the appeal of Sociology is that it offers many opportunities for students to study abroad, either through specific schemes such as these, doing a year abroad for course credit, or going on expeditions for fieldwork in Anthropology.
Newcastle University provides more social and extra-curricular activities than you can think of! Whether it be sports teams, performing arts or course related activities, I found the range of choice to be brilliant. I really liked that during Fresher’s week there is the opportunity to try out tasters sessions of each society to see which ones you enjoy. I found myself signing up to loads at the beginning, and then as you get your workload you commit to the ones you like the best, which you can fit with your schedule.
University facilities are excellent for studying. The Robinson Library is a great resource, with a wide range of books and journals to suit the needs of your course. It has a handy computer cluster, which is a good place to get your work done and there is a café and vending machines that provide cheap food and drink to keep you going. The new and improved student union is a lively place of activities and societies, which makes it a great place to meet new people.
I love the feel of the campus which is conveniently located in the city centre, near all the shops, as there is a massive high street to explore. I have yet to experience another city with such a huge range of nightlife. Everyone is catered for, whether you like a quiet pint or a bar crawl, there are pubs, clubs, comedy clubs and theatres all around the city centre and the impressive quayside, so the only problem is finding the time to see everything!