Current student
MPhil in Classics and Ancient History
“Because I had a specific idea for my postgraduate research 'monetary debasement in the third century Roman Empire' selecting a University was really a matter of finding a place where the resources and staff would be able to support this effort.
“The University of Bristol stood out, not only because it had the academic requirements to bring out the best in my research, but because of the rich culture of the community, the cooperative environment in the Arts faculty and the beautiful countryside of the South-West. Being from a rural town in the sparsely populated state of Oregon, opportunities to escape the city for fields, forests and green country was an essential requirement!
“Nevertheless, there was some culture shock in moving to Bristol. My wife and I sold most of our worldly possessions and restarted our lives mostly from scratch. We've bought our own car, rented our own cottage and integrated ourselves with new friends. I played American football and basketball in the US - in Bristol I have had to learn football (soccer). I now endure the humbling lessons that come with learning a brand new sport at age 26 alongside people who have played it for most of their lives.
“Despite the initial challenges and risks that come with a more thorough integration into a new country, I would recommend it to anyone who actually desires to get a more intimate cultural experience. Whilst there is a lot of safety and comfort in limiting one's experience to the familiar - we learn the most when we challenge ourselves to go beyond our perceived limits.
“Every opportunity I have taken to get myself to Bristol has carried with it the possibility of failure - especially seeking funding. I was shocked and grateful to have received an American Alumni scholarship for my MPhil year, which covered a good portion of my tuition expenses. There is no question that Bristol is an expensive place to live in the global scheme of things - every little bit can make a huge difference.
“My studies this first year have gone well. I give much of the credit to my supervisor, Professor Neville Morley, who has applied consistent challenge and encouragement. Neville and I get along very well and we meet in person around once a month, but are generally discussing things via email regularly. This has made working together much easier, allowing for flexibility in our schedules and also providing for regular interaction. This has also been my experience of other staff at Bristol - gentile but meaningful critique in the context of positive support and a genuine push towards excellence.
“The department of classics has provided weekly seminars where I have been able to build relationships with the staff and other research students. Moreover, the Faculty of Arts also puts together lectures, seminars and conferences, along with valuable postgraduate training sessions that have been useful to me for getting the most out of my programme and enhancing my future career prospects. Because of these activities, I have been able to integrate myself in with a group of friends and colleagues who are working in areas similar to my own. Outside of these seminars, I meet regularly with other postgraduates in independent study groups for language and critical theory as well as in conferences such as the Annual Meeting of Postgraduates in Ancient History (AMPAH). Bristol has also provided funding and encouragement for events outside the university - such as a seminar from the Institute of Classical Studies at University College London.
“Studying in this kind of environment is going to be an immense help when I finish my education and seek to take my place in academia. Moreover, because I have chosen to study internationally, I feel much more comfortable seeking employment in a wider range of countries, cultures and universities. My experience in Bristol goes far beyond merely being formally educated in Classics, but has provided a vast wealth of new encounters, opportunities and challenges which never would have materialised if I would have chosen to stay at home.”
