Undergraduate Menu

• Introduction
• Why Study with us?
• Degree Schemes
• Part I
• Part II Modules
• Study Abroad
• Funding
• Our Students Say
• Visit Us
• Careers
• FAQs
• How to Apply
• Current Students

Sian Saxby

Medieval and Renaissance Studies Major, Graduated 2010

In my second year, I was asked to provide my new seminar group with an interesting fact about myself. This is what I said: I chose Lancaster over Cambridge. Naturally there was a shocked silence and a few strange looks my way - no doubt coupled with a few suspicions that I was making this up - but it is, in fact, true. Having had Lancaster recommended to me during a Cambridge open day, when they extolled its virtues in general and in particular those of its History department, I decided to take a look. Being from the south, I was entirely unaware that there even was a university in Lancaster, but having got my hands on a prospectus and been impressed by the huge range of modules available for history students, I booked myself in for an open day.

A few weeks later, at my second Cambridge interview, I was asked, somewhat rhetorically: 'And, of course, Cambridge will be your first choice?'. My answer - 'No, actually, it's Lancaster' - I think speaks for itself.

Being a dedicated medieval historian, I was on the look-out for a course that tailored to my needs and didn't require me to take any modules of dreaded modern history. At Lancaster, I found exactly that. Not only was I given the choice of doing a degree in Medieval and Renaissance Studies (goodbye, World War One!), the range of topics available was more comprehensive and far more engaging than any other university I had looked at, and when I finally embarked on my course I was instantly impressed by the enthusiasm of the lecturers and tutors. My experience got better and better, considerably enhanced by my Tuesday morning seminars on the Crusades where we were liberally plied with tea and biscuits whilst learning about the Infidels.

I have never regretted choosing Lancaster. The course got better as the years went on, and by my third year I was astonished to discover that I had somehow become an adept and confident historian. The skills I have gained from three years at Lancaster are invaluable to me; I really don't know how I ever got along without them, and I am eternally grateful to the history department for making my three years at university enjoyable as well as educational, fun as well as fulfilling and infinitely better than anything I would have got anywhere else.

Save this page: Del.icio.us Digg It Reddit Facebook Stumble It!