International Relations and Politics
“When I was picking my Universities I wanted to be close to London, in a campus that was not separate from the city and at a place that had excellent sporting and academic opportunities. Oxford Brookes fitted all the criteria”
Simon Wigfield completed his studies in Politics and International Relations in June 2010. Having taken Politics at AS Level Simon was curious to see how the subject differed on the international stage.
When I was picking my Universities I wanted to be close to London, in a campus that was not separate from the city and at a place that had excellent sporting and academic opportunities. Oxford Brookes fitted all the criteria.
There are two aspects I have enjoyed about being a student: work and play. In the first couple of years at Brookes I enjoyed being able to go out and socialize with a brand new group of people from different walks from life. However as I became more involved with my degree I found I became more and more interested in the topics I was learning.
I found that my lecturers engaged the students, enabling constructive debates during seminars. By hearing other students’ view points and perspectives I found myself being able to make educated opinions and changes to my own personal beliefs.
Simon Glaze, a lecturer in the Global Political Economy, was the most inspiring member of staff I came across at Brookes. His enthusiasm and wit made what could have been a dry subject one of interest, ultimately becoming central to my choice of dissertation. When I was conducting my dissertation I found access to the Bodleian Libraries very helpful, enabling me to read some of the academic journals that very few universities make available to their students. I was also able to attend insightful lectures given by various scholars and celebrities at the Oxford Union.
Both International Relations and Politics enabled my time management skills to develop; with demanding coursework and tight deadlines it was vital I managed my time correctly. I feel these skills are paramount when working in most industries and are usually high up on the list of skills required by an employer.
I’m due to start a career in events management this summer working as a Business Conference Producer for a large Transnational Corporation. My degree in International Relations will help me decide topics of interest, be they economic or social, that would be of most interest to companies from differing countries and industries.
Oxford is one of those places where it’s hard not to like living. There are so many different events and activities to get involved in, be they student balls or local festivals, even though its not the largest city in the world. Day to day life is also pretty relaxed with countless places meet friends for a coffee or, more commonly, a pint.