Our students

I moved to Coventry in 2003 and I was aware of the university pretty much straight away. I came to an open day in 2006 and saw a sample lecture by one of the History and Politics tutors. I was very impressed!

As a mature student (a married man, with two young boys), coming to University was a little scary. I had been out of education for almost ten years working in different jobs from customer service roles to youth worker. I wanted to get into a career that would provide some stability for my family and that would involve me going back into education.

I can honestly say Coventry University has been one of the best decisions I have every made. The University is very supportive of Mature Students and we are (rightly in my opinion) regarded as just as important to the success of the University.

I love the variety of modules on my course. There are a number of choices including looking at political ideas (Rights, Liberalism, Conservatism, Socialism) through to Mao’s China and the changes that took place since the start of the 20th century. I also looked at people politics in Britain between 1800-2000 which challenged many preconceptions. In addition I studied a module called Comparative Politics which looked at the theory behind political structure and used five case countries to look at to develop those ideas, (the USA, Spain, France Russia and Nigeria).

Seminars are a great way of developing your ideas, the tip is not to stay silent! Do the reading and that won’t be an issue! They last about an hour and are a great way for you to argue and discuss ideas outside of the lecture format.

The Tutors are very approachable in the History, International Relations and Politics (HIP) department. They are available for coursework and exam feedback, and will make time outside of their office hours if needed which I have found very helpful to help improve academic performance.

I am about to begin my third year which is dissertation year, every HIP student has to complete a dissertation of 10,000 words. I will be looking at ideology and in particular Political Islam, which is a very current topic in today’s society.

If you are looking for a course that will push you and challenge your thinking, then a HIP course will be the one for you.

I came to Coventry University through the clearing process. When I rang the Coventry clearing hotline the advisor was so helpful and straight away booked me on to a clearing open day. I was really impressed with the campus, the course and the lecturers. For me I really wanted a course that I would be happy on, the lecturers completely reassured my concerns and from there I knew I was making the right choice.

I would advise all potential students to come to an open day as it gives you a better understanding of the campus, the courses and facilities. First day nerves

I was quite nervous on my first day but, I feel I am a confident person and as soon as I got in the lecture hall I was put at ease especially as everyone around me was in the same position. The lecturers were very friendly and got us all involved in group activities, from this point I started to make friends.

It was also on my first day that I applied for a job with the university as a receptionist. It was flexible work which was based around my lecture timetables. I have also been a subject ambassador for the Business School where I have been able to relay my student experience to other potential students.

It is important to not only be happy with the course choice but to understand the student experience as told by the students.

The course itself was amazing and I thoroughly enjoyed the varied modules I studied. The seminars were devised into group discussion where we had the opportunity to put our points across and argue with others.

The course was assessed through course work, exams and group work.

I was given the opportunity to go on a four week work placement. I ended up working in the House of Commons as a Parliamentary Assistant. I was responsible for gathering information for parliamentary debates, responding to constituents correspondence and general admin. The experience I gained from this was invaluable and I believe this has and will put me in a good position with future employers.

As part of my final year project I travelled to The Gambia, my project was on the political, economic and social implications of Casamance refugees in The Gambia. The trip was self funded but as a result of my project have been awarded a PhD studentship to study Hosting Refugees: the Challenges and Policy implications of Hosting refuges in rural communities of the South Back of The Gambia.

Being an undergraduate student at Coventry University was great and I would not change one thing. I am really looking forward to the future, I plan to complete my PhD in 3 years and then go travelling around the world.

I have just completed my Sociology BA honours degree and really enjoyed it and the modules that I have studied. In particular Social Policy and Social Issues, Education Structure and Experience, Families and Social Change and Social Theory. I liked the fact that seminar groups were quite small, which allowed for critical discussion with my colleagues. Personal Support

The staff on my course were really helpful. They were approachable and I felt at ease going to see them with any questions or queries I had.

The support I received from my personal tutor from day one was fantastic. It was great to have one member of staff who I could go to with any issue, no matter how small, and who has supported me throughout my time at university.

Coventry University has given me many opportunities to get involved in different projects and through these I have gained so much valuable experience. In my final year I become a student mentor as part of a scheme within the Faculty of Business, Environment and Society. I have also been a course rep for Sociology , helping represent student views within my department. These experiences have increased my confidence and presentation skills when meeting new people.

In my final year I was elected as a Non-portfolio Officer on the Union Council, within the Student’s Union Again this has proven to be a great experience, where I can represent the views of the students whist gaining more skills to add to my CV. There is definitely lots going on around campus and I’d really encourage everyone to get involved.

After I completed my course I gained a place on a graduate trainee scheme working within a government department. Without my degree and the skills I have gained at Coventry University I don’t think I would have has this opportunity.

When it was time to decide about which University I wanted to go to I looked at lots of prospectuses. I came across the Coventry University prospectus and saw the course History and Politics BA, which really interested me.

Looking back at my time at Coventry University I had a great experience, as with many other undergraduate students it gave me the opportunity to move away from home for the first time and the University were great in offering various work opportunities to assist me financially. As a whole the University has a great atmosphere and the facilities are state-of-the-art including the library that offers computers, quiet study, group study and plenty of copies of books for all courses.

In regards to my History and Politics course the lecturers were great and the subject itself was so varied and covered such as broad range of history. Modules such as the ‘Making of Modern America and Mao’s China’ were particularly interesting. The building where my lectures and seminars were held was also convenient in location and the facilities provided were excellent. The diversity of the people on my course helped me develop on both an academic and personal level.

My favourite memory of being at Coventry University was logging onto the SOLAR system to check my overall results in the summer of 2006 and seeing that I had achieved an Upper Second Class degree result. I remember feeling the great sense of pride and that my time at university had been worthwhile.  The social side of university also brings back some great memories!

My biggest success at University was being elected as President of the Students Union (SU). This was a highlight of my time at university. It gave me some great experience and exposure to a number of different issues and challenges. I built up some excellent working relationships throughout my time at the Student Union and I keep in touch with many former SU Presidents from across the UK as a consequence of my experience.

When studying at the university I worked as a student ambassador for the Recruitment and Admissions Team and I wanted to stay working for the university after my term had ended at the Students Union. Initially I worked for the Management Information Unit (MIU) before moving to the Recruitment and Admission Office as a Recruitment and Admissions Co-ordinator in April 2008.

If I could pass any advice on to current students or new students I would tell them to get involved as much as possible at University and make sure you keep a good balance of playing hard and working hard.

I started at Coventry University at undergraduate level in 1999, and I’ve been studying here ever since. I left my home town of Walsall in the West Midlands to undertake a BA (Hons) in History and Politics. I enjoyed living in Coventry so much, that I decided to stay here after I graduated rather than go back to Walsall. I also met my wife here at Coventry University, we married in October 2005.

Under the supervision of Dr. Neil Forbes and Dr. Frank Magee, I completed an MA by Research in History in 2004. For this one year degree I decided to fund myself via a career development loan with my bank, and looking back I can say the debt was worth it because it fuelled my desire for historical research. I produced a dissertation on the development of Hitler’s anti-Semitism up to 1928; and from an early age I had wanted to discover how Hitler had developed his ideology, in an attempt to understand why he committed such atrocities throughout Europe.

Filled with this desire to carry on with research, I started a part-time PhD in May 2005, under the supervision of Dr. Forbes, Dr. Magee and Dr. Catherine Hunt. This would not have been possible were it not for the excellent support – financial and emotional as well as professional – from my supervisory team. Also, considering I have been a university student for over 7 years now, my wife is very understanding!

Early in 2007 I was given the opportunity to teach two modules within the BA History course. I consider myself very fortunate to have been given this opportunity, and it was an enlightening experience which has further boosted my confidence. Further experience like this within the next few years should stand me in good stead for a career in lecturing and further historical research, once I have completed my PhD.

I took my course within the Centre for Peace and Reconciliation Studies at Coventry University. As an international student, I was initially nervous about starting a new life abroad, however, I found the staff to be warm, welcoming and approachable. The University environment was such that I was able to feel comfortable enough to settle down quickly.

I’ve always found the University staff encouraging and motivating. The tutors are professional, and always encourage a harmonious atmosphere for research within the classroom. These positive impressions provided me with a sound platform on which to undertake a three-year PhD course.

Throughout the first year, I was offered well-organised courses and efficient heuristic teaching. My tutors directed the research in a way which kept me focussed throughout the course.

I have benefited a lot from the Centre for Peace and Reconciliation Studies, both in terms of research methods, and personally. To my tutors and classmates, I'd like to take this opportunity to say that I am honoured to be sharing this experience.

My experience at Coventry University has been wonderful, and academically fulfilling. The School's wide range of specialisms were invaluable and contributed to the achievement of both my academic and personal objectives.

The research facilities, library, and university environment generally, have provided me with a suitable academic home, which I have enjoyed tremendously.