Meghan Nicholson

Sunderland, UK

BSc (Hons) Sociology

PGCE Post Compulsory Education and Training (PCET)

MSc Inequality and Society

Meghan Nicholson has studied three courses here at Sunderland, most recently the MSc Inequality and Society. She enjoys the real-world coverage of the course and is interested in research into domestic violence survivors. Her aim is to teach at the University of Sunderland one day.

This is the third course I've studied at the University of Sunderland – I have also studied on the BSc (Hons) Sociology and PGCE PCET course. After I completed my undergraduate degree, I didn’t know where I would end up, until I spoke to one of my lecturers and made the decision to study for the PGCE – she made me fall back in love with Sociology and pushed me to be the best teacher I could be. I aspire to be a lecturer at the University of Sunderland one day as the culture is wonderful and I want to be part of that.

The MSc Inequality and Society course has fulfilled my need to further my research into the lives of domestic violence survivors and the module choices and topics covered have really gripped my interest. The lecturers have given us real flexibility to focus on our specific area of study and have been very encouraging, while the assignments are appealing as they look at current issues and case studies which have had mass media coverage. The course really helps you see real-world inequalities and examine them from different theoretical perspectives – my eyes have been opened and it's so refreshing.

The support on the course is also fantastic – the Programme Leader is brilliant and pushes us all to meet our potential. I would advise prospective students to speak to current students about their overall experience and the staff teaching the course, as it will help you find out exactly what you need to know about the course and university life. Plus, look at all the modules offered on the course to see which skills you, as an individual, would like attain and how Sunderland can help you do it.

In five years’ time I see myself completing my PhD whilst teaching. I would love to explore issues of domestic violence, specifically looking at the support male survivors receive when help-seeking and I would hope that my work could contribute to policy changes and campaigns.

Sunderland has a fantastic culture, brilliant staff, teaching excellence, and above all, it’s where I feel safe and at home.”

Published 4 February 2020