Hear from our postgraduate students

“As an international student moving to a new country is a huge step, but the community at Royal Holloway is so supportive. I’ve made a lot of friends from different parts of the world and, although we don’t have family here, we support each other just like family does. I’ve joined the Hindu Society, they do pujas and aartis every Thursday, so I just feel like I'm at home.  

Arriving that first day was amazing. Dropping my bags off in my room I caught a glimpse of the Founder's building through the trees and just ran to explore the campus. I didn’t know where I was going but I went everywhere – it was just magical.

Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. It's very normal to feel nervous at first, but trust me, you are not alone.”  

Read Heer's full story here

"I had been working for several years but felt I didn’t have theory to back up what I was already doing in my professional life. This course blends both theoretical and methodological elements in its modules and provides the analytical tools I need for the UK job market.

Leaving full-time work to return to education was a difficult choice. I chose Royal Holloway because it offers the perfect balance for this stage in my life – great academic grounding along with structure.

I had quite a lot of anxiety about leaving my professional life to study in a different country. I had forgotten what it felt like to be a student again. Royal Holloway really has made the transition so easy."

Read Sawera's full story here

“I chose to study part-time for several reasons, mainly to make space for other commitments. Going into the course, my main concern was finances. I needed to find a part-time job locally, which I’ve done, and balance that alongside my studies. I’m also on a society committee and involved in volunteering, including the Peer Guide scheme. Managing all of these commitments made studying part-time the right choice for me, as it allows for a better work-life balance.

It's allowed me to not only have continuity and build on kind of my skills within the degree, but also outside of that to keep finding career opportunities and social opportunities all across Royal Holloway."

Read Matt's full story here

“I did my undergraduate degree at Royal Holloway, studying drama and acting. In my courses, essays, and assignments, I was always drawn to theatre and performance through the lens of gender and gender theory. I then discovered that Royal Holloway has a Gender Institute, which I thought was really exciting, and that they offer master’s programmes. That’s where I first realised I could take my interest in gender studies further.

"What really stood out was how flexible the programme is. Unlike other universities, this course gave me the chance to study gender theory as a whole and then choose a pathway that suited me. I chose the politics pathway because gender and politics overlap a lot, and I already had an A level in politics. 

“I would sum up my experience at Royal Holloway as life-changing, as it really has allowed me to explore all the options available to me.”

Read Jakob's full story here

“I love my subject, so being able to continue it felt like an opportunity that I couldn’t miss.

"I’ve enjoyed building on modules that I did in my undergraduate degree, learning new things in different areas, and exploring a lot of the ancient world that I hadn’t thought about before. They all have such an enthusiasm and passion for what they're teaching, and I've got a great relationship with them, so it's been brilliant to continue working with them for my masters.

“I've been taught by a range of different lecturers and met a wider variety of people, which has helped me to examine my subject in ways that I’d never considered before."

Read Lily's full story here