Maria Quigley

I started in Maynooth University in 2009, studying Politics within the Department of Sociology. I had initially picked this subject as I was interested in current affairs and so I felt I would be able to somewhat engage with the course material.

Four years later at the end of my degree, I would not hesitate to recommend studying Politics at Maynooth University to anyone. The atmosphere and feeling of classes within the department is extremely welcoming and inclusive. Classes are also quite small in comparison to many other Arts subjects in the college and this helps with initially adjusting to university life and building confidence to speak and engage with lecturers and classmates. The content of the courses offered is incredibly diverse, including modules concentrating on Irish and European politics, political theory, gender and politics and the politics of ethnic conflicts.

There is also a great deal of emphasis placed on developing research skills and abilities throughout the degree structure, which I have found to have been invaluable in applying for postgraduate programmes and making sure my applications stand out. As a student of Maynooth University there is also the opportunity to avail of the university’s “Study Abroad” scheme, which I was lucky enough to have been able to do. I spent my third year at Boston College in the US, studying subjects such as American foreign policy, the UN and US-Iran relations.

I have been accepted onto a Masters course at School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London for September 2013 and am really looking forward to building on the experience I have had of studying Politics at Maynooth University, especially in relation to the topics such as gender and politics and ethnic conflict.