MA West Midlands History student, Alan Browning, tells us more about his experience studying at the University of Birmingham.
Why did you choose to study MA West Midlands History at the University of Birmingham?
“The course fulfilled many criteria: a local focus within a national framework; an extensive timeframe, giving me an insight into the broader sweep of history; ready opportunity to study access to specialists in their field; extensive resources, both physical and electronic; and like-minded students with a real desire to expand their horizons”.
What has been the highlight of your course?
“For me the opportunity to study aspects of life in the West Midlands in the eighteenth and nineteenth century was the highlight: lectures provided a helpful roadmap, but there was then the freedom to explore a topic specific to my interests. A visit to Ironbridge early in the course allowed the development of supportive student networks, as well as earthing the studies in reality.”
What have you learnt from your programme?
“I hope I have learnt to think as a historian: to analyse, rather than simply to describe; to deal with multiple sources; to extract information efficiently from secondary material; and to structure essays coherently within the defined compass.”
What is life like as a part-time student at the University of Birmingham?
“Nurtured by the Course Director there was a very strong bond between participants on the course, and an infectious enthusiasm for the subject matter. Most impressive was the level of support provided: one-to-one tutorials helped us develop markedly as writers and steered us steadily towards a fulfilling final outcome.”
Find out more about our MA West Midlands History programme over on our course pages.