Economic and Political History postgraduate degrees in All England

I am a mature distance learning student, completing my MA in Philosophy of Religion and Ethics. The online platform is easy to use and the digital library is expansive. All staff have been easy to contact when I need any support, including IT, Finance, Admin, my personal tutor and teaching staff. I have been assigned a mentor to help me stay connected with university life and the Philosophy department. The modules are contemporary, as are the course materials. The student cohort is diverse and we all connect to the course flexibly, from different time zones. I receive a weekly events newsletter which has plenty of options for attending online webinars and socials.

Durham is a beautiful city and university with great social opportunities. The traditions are very strong at this school. It feels today like how Oxford and Cambridge were twenty years ago. Sometimes administration can be a challenge, many people have difficulty in knowing how to pay tuition and the university is slow to respond to emails. Also, there are far too many international students and just students in general. The university’s expansion plans are causing a drop in the school’s national and international rankings and causing the university to be in danger of losing its character.

Great buildings and location with great transport links to major cities. Being taught by people who are the best in that field and being able to contribute to their research at an early time in your studies. The tutorial system with very few people in classes making learning much more interactive.

I come from Madagascar, an island located in the Southern African region in the Indian Ocean. In my country, English is the third language, with French as the second, and Malagasy as our local official language. Additionally, Madagascar is one of the most underdeveloped countries in the world. I earned my Master's degree in Theology from our national theological faculty before pursuing a second Master's level course at the Cambridge Centre for Christianity Worldwide (CCCW). I am deeply grateful and honored to have been admitted here, and I extend my thanks to the CCCW Board for this opportunity. My journey at CCCW has been marked by several meaningful experiences: Despite my background, I have never felt excluded. I am welcomed as part of the community, and my classmates are genuinely understanding and supportive. English proficiency is required for students from countries where English is not the first language. I am deeply thankful to my professors and classmates for their patience, as they recognize both my efforts and my progress in achieving academic-level English. I have never felt judged, and I am committed to improving daily. Lastly, the support, guidance, and attention from the professors have been invaluable. I truly admire their dedication and the advice they offer as they assist us throughout our studies.

There are excellent lecturers and student support services (particularly academic skills). The campus has a good feel and has a lot of outdoor seating which will be nice when the weather is warm. Lecture rooms are good but the seats are very uncomfortable. There is little impact from the students' union, for example there was no 'refreshers fayre' for January intake students, which also impacts the student life score.