Samar Khan, Graduate, MA Women's Studies

"The lack of female scholars in Islamic philosophy feeds into the misinterpretation of Islam. We need more women academics to research and investigate religious texts and to promote the basic philosophy, to avoid it being manipulated for use against the economic and political development of women. My aim is to become one of these  academics.

Religion has always been used politically by the powerful elites to subjugate the weak. Islam is often seen as a religion where women are treated as inferior to men. However, we tend to forget that Islamic philosophy and Islamic practice are two different things. One of the most damaging phases for Islam was the age of feudalism that bred patriarchy, institutionalised misogyny, and made a gender-neutral compilation of the Qur'an and its interpretation instead of something aggressively masculine.

As a critical believer who thinks that the emergence of Islam was a political response to the historical problems of the time, I challenge the perception that the Islam encourages gender discrimination.

This university has given me the chance to speak and, more importantly, to be heard. In UCC I feel comfortable and confident to voice what I think. UCC’s environment is conducive to bilateral learning. It reaffirms my faith in academia and its role in building a better and more democratic world. Coming to Ireland and studying at UCC may be the best thing that has ever happened to me..."

Aditi Singh, MA Women’s Studies

"The MA in Women’s Studies is an interdisciplinary course that brings gender aspects of diverse disciplines together making it open to innumerable career choices one wants to pursue. The programme gives opportunities to embrace diversity in disciplines, choices, gender performances, etc. It allows us to question our privileges and rethink normalised biases in society from a feminist perspective. 

The faculty members at the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences are highly qualified and experienced, and they are committed to providing a supportive and engaging learning environment for all students. Female students at the college can learn from some of the best minds in their respective fields and engage in research and critical thinking that is relevant to their lives and experiences."

 

Hanke Kelber, PhD Scholar

"I chose to study English at postgraduate level to further pursue my interest in academic research and writing. Since the broad range of Modern Literature modules strengthened this interest during my undergraduate studies, the Masters in English - Modernities appeared an ideal choice.

This programme gave me the freedom to refine my research interests and explore potential areas of specialisation. The course succeeded at introducing a wide array of text and theories while allowing for choice, which is something I immensely enjoyed and valued.

Such freedom only increased when it came time for me to complete a thesis. As I had full creative choice of a thesis topic, the process of choosing and writing a thesis really helped me to pick an area that I truly care about, post-apocalyptic and speculative fiction. That opportunity has been invaluable in setting me on the path of my upcoming doctoral research, which will extend directly from the topics explored in depth during my thesis.

Worth mentioning are other valuable experiences such as organising a mini-conference. However, my experience during the Masters programme wasn‘t limited to studies by themselves. Due to the balanced workload and time schedule I could continue with my voluntary committee work in UCC‘s Fencing Club as well as pursuing the sport itself. Overall this made for an enjoyable year of study that was vital to my academic and personal growth."

Fintan Hastings, MA Graduate

"I was attracted to the MA in International Relations because it allowed me to immerse myself in a subject close to my heart at a university renowned for educating some of the country's greatest historians. I found the UCC School of History to be a warm, close-knit, highly supportive learning environment. Lecturers and staff were always approachable and eager to share their academic expertise, inside and outside of the lecture hall.

The MA was the launchpad for a career that has taken me to Brussels and then onwards to London, working for a variety of global organisations in the public and private sectors. I'll always look back with the fondest of memories of my time at UCC!"

 

 

Laura Cashman, MA Graduate

"Not only did my MA experience in UCC shape my future career, but it also challenged my personal perspectives and inspired me to try and make a positive difference in the world. I was interested in how the world works and how we, as global citizens, can engage with the system to make the world a better place.

The skills I gained during my MA continue to enable me to do this on both a professional and personal basis. My current position has also brought me back to the exciting world of research. Through my role with EdDevTrust, I am offered the opportunity to engage with cutting-edge developments in education as well as add to the debate by supporting Education Development Trust’s own research projects."

Caoimhe Stewart, Graduate

"I have always loved the sea, spending summers engaged in water activities. In my final undergraduate year in social science, modules on marine governance and management sparked the realisation that my career could also be marine-related. It felt like the universe was guiding me, leading to my application for the MSc in Applied Coastal and Marine Management.

UCC's welcoming atmosphere and supportive lecturers fuelled my marine interests. I particularly enjoyed modules on sea floor mapping and GIS (Geographical Information Systems). Joining clubs was easy with many friendly faces. The University's commitment to sustainability, reflected in their teachings and efforts, resonated deeply with me.

Driven by my interest in mapping, I am working on a thesis using GIS to optimise offshore wind site selection in Ireland. Using a multi-criteria decision analysis approach, I aim to create a map that identifies all suitable offshore wind site locations by considering and weighting various impacting factors.

My current goal is to gain more experience with GIS software, leading to my future career as a Marine Spatial Planner. Marine Spatial Planning fascinates me as it involves planning and mapping to balance environmental protection with marine activities and offshore wind, encompassing all my interests."