Madilyn BA in Sociology Second year
Choosing Newcastle
Growing up, my family made regular trips up to Newcastle to visit with friends and family. This sparked a real love for the city so I knew that I wanted to study in Newcastle and the excellent academic reputation of Newcastle along with the city’s great reputation for being a fun city convinced me that Newcastle University was where I wanted to study.
When I attended the Sociology Open Day, the range and diversity of the modules really caught my eye-they all seemed really interesting and thought provoking.
Your course
Because I didn’t study Sociology before University, I was slightly anxious and thought I might struggle a lot with the course. However, after a few lectures and tutorials, I discovered my fears were unfounded.
The faculty staff are really helpful and very enthusiastic about their modules, which is encouraging and inspiring, and it is easy to find a module that will spark your interest. If I have any difficulty on a module, the support system offered in Sociology is amazing, with all the lecturers having times when you can go see them to talk about any issues you might be having as well as being very accessible via email.
The small group teaching in seminars not only helps you understand what is happening in the lectures and offer an opportunity to ask questions regarding content or assessments, they are also a great place to get to meet fellow students on the course. Together we’ve organized study groups which help me to be motivated to get all the preparation and reading done for the lectures and seminars.
Facilities and services
The newly renovated Students' Union is a great place to meet up with friends, either for a quick bite to eat, a quiet drink or as a place to meet up before a night out. Work wise, the computer area in the Union, which is one of many across the university, is great for getting group work done.
The University’s sports societies are of a very high standard and are great fun to join but there are loads of different societies available that are academic or music based as well as many other clubs you could join just for a laugh.
The careers service is brilliant as well with support provided for just about anything. I often find myself just dropping into the careers centre without an appointment to ask about CVs, career prospects or just for help in regards to what to do after I graduate.
Living in Newcastle
Popping to town for a bite to eat, a quick shop or even just a coffee with friends is all made possible because the University is located so close to the city. This close proximity makes going to lectures a lot easier, knowing that a therapeutic shop is just around the corner if necessary!
The people in Newcastle are really friendly and helpful although I admit it did take a while to understand the accent. The nightlife in Newcastle is amazing, with loads of different clubs to choose from and some form of event going on every night, from Koos days to foam parties to society nights. Believe me, there is never a dull moment.
