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"Studying at Cambridge has given me a huge confidence boost. I am surrounded by highly educated students and world class supervisors and lecturers. The whole environment has made me realise that I can achieve anything I set my mind to, and that I can follow my ambitions and be recognised as a world class student." |
After completing my BA and Master’s degree at the University of London’s Birkbeck College, the University of Cambridge was my first option when I began to look for somewhere to study for my PhD. I followed the guidelines and looked at the activities advertised by the University of Cambridge by continuously visiting its website. I was particularly interested in learning more about the Department of Sociology, as I wanted to apply to it in order to pursue my PhD. I always thought of Cambridge as somewhere that would never give me a chance, but I was wrong. After I did well in my master’s programme, I finally realised that if I applied to Cambridge I stood a chance of being accepted.
I completed my PhD application online – a process I found easy and very straightforward. After my referees had sent their references, the Department of Sociology contacted me with an offer for me to study there for my PhD. I was overjoyed, but the only problem I had was that I had not yet managed to obtain a scholarship. However, I was so excited about the offer and I couldn’t afford to let the opportunity to study at Cambridge slip through my fingers. I was asked if I wanted to defer for a year in order to get a government loan, but I chose not to because I didn’t want to wait a whole year before moving to Cambridge and starting my course.
Now I am self-funded student, almost finished my first year and I am fully registered as a PhD student. I have had my ethical form approved and the department has accepted my field-work funding form, which means I will obtain funding from the department for my research, so I will be going overseas to conduct my field work soon.
My first year at Cambridge has been very productive and enjoyable. I appreciate the encouragement I have received from my supervisor, who has been very supportive, as well as the department staff, who have dealt with my work and personal issues very professionally. Studying at Cambridge has given me a huge confidence boost. I am surrounded by highly educated students and world class supervisors and lecturers. The whole environment (the city, its people and the university) has made me realise that I can achieve anything I set my mind to, and that I can follow my ambitions and be recognised as a world class student. I strongly advise students to apply for Cambridge, and please feel free to contact me if there is anything you think I could help with: (askastudent@sociology.cam.ac.uk - and ask for Rebwar!)
