History
“All the staff here at Brookes are very passionate about teaching students. Our lecturers are very approachable, and the flexibility they offer in terms of appointments and tutorials is testament to the fact that they really care about students”
Since he started studying History at Brookes, Ciaran Jones has got really involved with life on campus. He’s become a student rep for the department and he also helps to run the History Society.
I choose to study History because I was fascinated by how past events still affect and shape our world today. At school and college I was taught by enthusiastic historians who made me want to pursue the subject further.
When I came to the Open Day I was impressed by the quality of teaching offered and I saw that the Brookes’ historians were just as enthusiastic about the subject as my old school teachers had been. I really like the fact you can structure your programme here. The huge variety of well-taught modules on offers means you can pursue your own research interests or try something new.
All the staff here at Brookes are very passionate about teaching students. Our lecturers are very approachable, and the flexibility they offer in terms of appointments and tutorials is testament to the fact that they really care about students. For example, I know one of the professors who will organize a phone tutorial or coffee meeting if one of his students can’t make the scheduled tutorial. Lecturers will go out of their way to make sure students feel confident about the assignments they are writing.
The lecturers enthusiasm and passion for history also extends to the History Society. Many of them kindly give up their own time to present open lectures on topics such as Fascism and Jihadism, and Serial Killing in America.
In terms of study spaces, the John Henry Brookes Building is where I like to work. It’s spacious, quiet and has a feel-good student atmosphere. I’ve found that having access to the world-renowned Bodleian library in your third year is a great help, especially when you are looking to pursue further research. The catering facilities on campus are brilliant, and the social spaces in places like the Forum, Deli, etc are great for casual meet-ups too.
Oxford is a great place to live. It’s an attractive city with loads of places to eat and drink. And because it is a fairly small city you get used to it very quickly. Another reason I like Oxford is because it is a city full of culture: the Ashmolean museum (which is free for students) and the many Oxford colleges are the highlights for me.
I am hoping to complete a Master’s degree in History, as the skills and experience I’ve gained being taught as Brookes has stretched me in such a way that I feel I am equipped to tackle a more rigorous postgraduate programme. The lecturers are very encouraging in recognizing what the course offers in terms of transferable skills for students. For example, through modules like History and Documents, Making History, and Historical Writing I’ve developed the research and analytical skills that I know employers so desperately seek. After my studies I hope to develop a career in Further Education or research.