Humanities & Social Studies

OK if you did it at A-Level

Advantages: Easy if you did A-Level
Disadvantages: Hard if you didn't

...to do a degree in Politics because I was really keen to learn and I really wanted to know more about the subject - then I went to the lectures! Having had no formal teaching in Politics before, I found it quite hard because everyone else had done either A-Level Politics or Higher Modern Studies. Being expected to learn post-war British politics in 10hrs of lectures was therefore a bit too hard for me! Quite honestly I couldn't be arsed to learn ...
...for people whose hobby is Politics - and that seemed to be most of the people I met in the class. One guy even told me that he wished Margaret Thatcher was his Godmother (!) So the course was alright - I was glad I did it because it looks good on my CV, and I believe it gets better after 1st year for all concerned. Second year is mainly about International Politics and there are certainly a lot of interesting honours courses to choose from. Beware! ...

RuthHolohan 10.07.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Politics

Don't panic

Advantages: Interesting, challenging, rewarding
Disadvantages: It might just drive you crazy

...past Spring about a young law student who admitted embezzling funds from an Edinburgh students society. I, along with several of my classmates, recalled attending criminal law lectures with this young student, and wondered how anyone could be quite so stupid as to even attempt to perpetrate such ridiculous fraud. But then, being a law student at Edinburgh University can do strange things to your mind. Those of us on the postgraduate law conversion ...
...from her previous degree. The law faculty are very approachable, so if you have doubts about your qualifications, it is still worth contacting the university for more information. The deadlines for admittance are also very flexible- in my case, I decided to apply at New Year, even though the UCAS deadline was officially October. The lateness of my application was not a problem, and I know of others who were admitted even later than I was; so again, ...

tartantribe 06.08.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Law

History at Edinburgh

Advantages: Brilliant 3rd and 4th year and world class tutors
Disadvantages: 1st and 2nd year is a bit frustratingly general

...University of Edinburgh, on a History (hons) MA course, and so the last thing I should really be doing is writing ABOUT it instead of writing FOR it, but hey never mind! The last four years have been fabulous fun, and work has hardly got in the way of that at all. That said, my parents tell me its what I'm actually here for! So how does History here work? Well, like most Arts degrees at Edinburgh, when you arrive, you are actually more part of the ...
...courses, two must be in history itself (1st year this means European, British or Scottish history, 2nd year American, Imperial, Medieval or Scottish) and the third can be in whatever else takes your fancy, although they do tend to prefer you to stay in the Arts department! This is great as it means you effectively get two first years, you aren't expected to do hardly any work and its not hard anyway, and you have the flexibility to change your degree ...

gsm4 23.02.2001 · Read full review
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Review of History

A good outside subject, certainly.

Advantages: Easy, and fun.
Disadvantages: yahs being noisy about their gap years

I did social anthropology one and i really enjoyed it. Basically, its a general introduction to the subject of anthropology - an exploration of the study of culture worldwide from Ghana to the Trobriand Islands to Edinburgh itself! The lectures were intereting and you get to see a video every week about various different issues or ethnic groups from around the world. Memorably 'Onka's big Moka' a la Toploader album and a film about a man with a lot ...
...field. However as a social scientist I've more recently done an anthropology honours course called the 'anthropology of death' which i have to say was very very interesting and made my science-type friends jealous cos their courses were much more dull. This was based around the notion that death is a fiction because it is something that you can never truly experience yourself as you never live to tell the tale! As some famous guy (whose name escapes ...

RuthHolohan 10.07.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Social Anthropology

Interesting

Advantages: Friendly department, interesting course
Disadvantages: Long essays!

...am just entering senior honours sociology at the University of Edinburgh so I feel qualified to speak about the course, particularly as its not what I applied for but because I found it so interesting I changed! The first year is varied and gives you a general overview of sociology introducing you to various topics including risk. You dont need any previous knowledge. The second year focuses on identity, to include nationalism and education amongst ...
...methods, and other than that you can choose from a diverse range of courses from feminism to intimate relations (!) The lecturing is excellent and usually fun as well as interesting. the department is small and friendly, and particularly helpful. The Directors of study actually make an effort to help you which cannot be said for those in all departments. You can do your dissertation on pretty much anything - the research is excellent in the department ...

RuthHolohan 10.07.2001 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Sociology