Being a history and politics student has put me at such an advantage.

I have really enjoyed developing new academic skills and utilising them to get the most out of my degree.

Ciara Treacy

BA History and Politics

Why did you choose to study at Sheffield?

Sheffield stood out to me for several reasons. One of the first things was how lovely the city itself is, it has the perfect combination of city life and greenery so there is always something to do!

Secondly, the course and module really stood out - you are never limited to what you can learn at Sheffield, and all the modules give you space to be creative and delve into your specific interests.

Has your experience so far been what you expected?

It has gone above and beyond what I expected, I always knew I would love to live and study in Sheffield but both academically and socially, I am always learning more - I am definitely not ready to leave yet!

What do you particularly enjoy about your degree?

I think my favourite part of my degree has been building up on my areas of academic interest.

First year modules start off quite broad, so you have the freedom to learn about a wide range of time topics and time periods, and then throughout second and third year you have the opportunity to focus on the topics you love most - I have really enjoyed developing new academic skills and utilising them to get the most out of my degree. 

What modules are you studying this year? Are there any modules that you've particularly enjoyed so far?

So far I have been studying Contested Visions: Imagining the Empire in Mid-19th Century Britain, and Conflict, Cultures and (De)Colonisation. As you can imagine, these two modules compliment each other extremely well.

With Conflict, Cultures and (De)Colonisation, we learn about different forms of imperialism and culture, from the medieval period to the modern day - it is good because it allows you to think about how these topics are still relevant today, and we learn in different ways - through videos, round table discussions, presentations, it is extremely innovative.

Focusing more on Britain and the 19th century, Contested Visions delves into the British Empire, looking at different groups during this period and how they were involved in this imperial process. It is great for discussion and debate - both modules are really thought provoking, and so vital to learn to get a bigger idea of Britain to this day. 

What do you enjoy about doing a dual degree?

Being a history and politics student has put me at such an advantage.

In politics, it is almost impossible to avoid looking at history, so I have found already having knowledge in certain areas has helped nuance my understanding in certain topics. Not only do many of my modules compliment each other, I have learnt about the industrial revolution in politics (in relation to global political economy), and about the UN in history (the making of the 20th century)!

Overall I have come away learning more than I ever thought I would, and I am extremely grateful for doing both subjects!

If you’ve undertaken any extra-curricular activities, what do you feel these have added to your time here?

I went to Krakow with History Society in my first year and it was brilliant - I highly recommend getting involved in History Society to immerse yourself into university life, it has a great balance of academic and social benefits, and having the opportunity to go to other countries that are so rich in culture are unparalleled experiences!

Do you have any plans for after graduation?

I hope to stay in Sheffield and do a masters! I feel like I am only at the beginning of my learning journey, and I know I do not want to be anywhere else for it!