What our students say
We hope the following comments will give you some idea of why our students choose to study with us from our undergraduates through to our PhD research students. You can follow the links to find out more student profile details, experiences and where some of our students are now.
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Sandra Yeonhee Lee (Graduated 2009 BSc Hons Social Policy)
I wanted to study Social Policy and figured Bristol is the best place to do it... I have always been interested in ‘making the world a better place’ so I have come to do social policy. My course is very interesting because the units touch various social issues. In the future, I'd love to be involved with an NGO. I'm interested in eradicating poverty and focusing on the well-being of children. I want to be a part of making a difference in this world. -
Cynthia Quek (Graduated 2008 BSc Hons Social Policy)
The Social Policy Department at Bristol was a brilliant department to be part of. The staff go out of their way to help and support you, the department is well organised and responsive to the needs of its students.
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Jo Harris (Graduated 2003 BSc Social Policy) Grants Assistant, Comic Relief
The decision to read Social Policy at Bristol University was the best academic decision I ever made. Not only was it intellectually challenging and thoroughly interesting but it is also totally relevant to everyday life. ... A great course that will give any student an excellent basis to build a bright future career
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Rachel Phipp Graduated 2008, BSc Early Childhood Studies, 1st Class Honours Early Years PGCE student, Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge
The interdisciplinary nature of the Early Childhood Studies course at Bristol has provided me with a balanced understanding of the many factors that influence child development. It has equipped me with many transferable academic skills and has informed my teaching practice. I have now secured my first teaching post in the Reception class of an inner-city London primary school which will commence in September 2009. I also plan to continue part time at the University of Cambridge to achieve MEd status. It is a very exciting time to be working in the Early Years!
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Nadia Aghtaie Graduated 2004, BSc Early Childhood Studies, 2:1 MSc Policy Research, 2006
PhD Student in the School for Policy Studies and part-time teaching for Childhood Studies and Social Policy degrees
I was very interested in childhood development, children’s rights and psychology. Early Childhood Studies, due to its multidisciplinary nature, covered these topics in addition to other areas that dealt with many aspects of childhood. The course gave me the opportunity to explore the factors which influence childhood and how these can affect later development. I enjoyed the course immensely and it provided me with an excellent basis for progression onto a Masters degree.
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Vincent Caron (MSc Public Policy - current student)
Understanding how government works and in what ways it can change our lives is a challenging task. After two years working on Parliament Hill in Ottawa for various cabinet ministers, I had the feeling that I still had much to learn about these complex machines that run much (sometimes too much) of our lives. More than I could have hoped for, my time completing the Masters in Public Policy course has allowed me to gain a much needed perspective on the theories and process of public policy. -
Yingjun Yuan (MSc Public Policy - current student)
I chose the University of Bristol because it is a well-known university located in one of the most beautiful cities in the world...The learning process at Bristol is a dynamic one. All the teaching staff are enthusiastic about their specialist subject ... I also really enjoy studying with a culturally diverse group of students with whom I can exchange views on policy issues. Lectures are not simply traditional one-way learning experiences but become interactive discussions. The time I have spent on the Masters in Public Policy programme has offered me a truly valuable insight into the policy field and has broadened my understanding of public affairs within a global context. I would strongly recommend to anyone thinking about studying Public Policy to come to Bristol. -
Dinara Saliyeva (MSc Public Policy - current student)
I am interested in housing and urban development as these are among the current issues being tackled in Kazakhstan ... So I was pleased to find that the School offers a unit on Cities, Housing and Public Policy. I chose this as an elective unit and I would like to conduct further research in this particular area. The unit explores social, economic and political aspects of urban growth on a global scale. It also dwells on new forms of urban governance and has given me an opportunity to study the experience of developed countries. ... I have had such a positive experience here in the UK and with the multinational environment here at Bristol, the whole experience has certainly contributed to my personal development. I have found my soul-city – it is definitely Bristol! -
Donald Wallace (MSc Public Policy 2008)
Choosing Bristol was easy for me as it is a city I know and love and it is a University with a great reputation. It is a city with something for everyone: vibrant without being pretentious, modern but with a strong sense of identity. And people here know how to have a good time. I really enjoyed the international mix of students on the course and the opportunity to gain from a diverse range of previous experiences. The academics at Bristol were very willing to engage with you on a one-to-one basis and I felt I was able to develop my writing hugely through this process. The course gave me an excellent understanding of the policy process and introduced me to new ways of analysing policy. It's helped me to understand the broader context in which I now work - a regional policy body - and I believe it stands me in good stead for a future policy career.
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Audrey Lenoel (MSc Policy Research 2008)
The MSc Policy Research course aims to help students build their practical research and analytical skills and therefore constitutes a good preparation for doctoral studies. ...As the course is particularly intended for researchers and practitioners working in public service organisations, it has a practical focus and the discussions during the classes are fuelled by real-life experiences. I regard this degree as a very good foundation course for my doctoral studies and I think it would also suit the needs of professionals willing to improve their understanding and skills in research methods.
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Rebecca Barns (PhD Social Policy)
The School for Policy Studies has really good shared student office facilities... postgraduate students can work together at different stages of the PhD process... it is always helpful to learn from the experiences of people who are further on in their studies and they often help to support and mentor new students who are just beginning.
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Suhaimi Mohammad (PhD Social Policy)
The postgraduate community is supportive and encouraging; there is ample supervision time and the Centre for Health and Social Care has a positive team atmosphere... I can strongly recommend the School to prospective students wishing to further their studies.