Why do you study sociology?
As someone who's had the fortune to grow up across multiple cultures, sociology was a natural fit for me. Sociology seeks answers to questions that often aren't asked enough, with a constant endeavour to understand the way that our societies influence how we think and act.
I'm fascinated by international differences in tradition, custom and belief, and I've found in sociology the opportunity to study these differences everyday.
I've thoroughly enjoyed studying sociology across both my undergraduate and postgraduate courses, and would encourage anyone - sociologist or not - to engage with the sociological spirit of questioning your society whenever possible.
What first attracted you to the Department?
The Department at Oxford is packed with established sociologists who clearly hold a huge passion for their subjects, and whose work has been internationally recognised. I was eager to test myself and get involved in this inspiring academic community.
Furthermore, the fantastic opportunities for graduate funding here at Oxford have been essential in facilitating my study here.
What do you enjoy most about being a student at Oxford?
The various seminars and extra lectures across the University offer the chance to stretch my sociological imagination beyond the defined syllabus, an aspect of my degree that I've really enjoyed.
I'm grateful for the statistical methods module on my course, which I'm confident has prepared me well for further study. Finally, the optional modules studied during Hilary Term offer a brilliant chance to really research deeper into some of the sociological topics I'm most interested in.
Away from the course itself, in a broader sense this Department is brilliant for fostering intellectual imagination and encouraging sociological investigation.
The professors always make time for a conversation over coffee, whether about a specific piece of research or for some wider advice about academia in general.
I can't think of many settings that are as academically energising as this Department!
What are your research interests?
I'm researching the role of sports as a community assimilation tool for refugees in Britain. My thesis tries to gauge whether participation in grassroots, community-level sports can serve a positive function in the assimilatory experience of refugees moving to the UK for the very first time.
While common sense indicates that participating in sports might help someone access employment opportunities, housing advice, friendship-making or language-learning, it is important to recognise that sporting arenas also serve as vehicles for racist, xenophobic or nationalist rhetoric.
I hope to uncover how sports can be used positively, to help inform governmental policy and support for community initiatives.
Who is your academic hero?
I have two! The first is Loïc Wacquant, whose book "Body & Soul: Notebooks of an Apprentice Boxer" first inspired me to study sociology at undergraduate level. It is one of the most sociologically complete ethnographies that I've read, and its setting in a Chicago boxing gym highlighted to me that combining my passions for sports and sociology is possible.
The second is Erving Goffman, whose writing style is among the most accessible I've seen. I'm a big believer that books on social theory should not be clouded in academic jargon, but should be legible and understandable for all, and Goffman's work exemplifies this.
What do you hope to do when you finish your MSc?
I have many pathways that I'm considering pursuing, across both industry and academia. Regardless of which direction I choose, I'm confident that I can bring the sociological knowledge structures and ways of thinking that I've developed during my MSc at Oxford into whatever comes next!
What piece of advice would you give to prospective students?
Don't be afraid to apply! Students on this course come from all over the world, having studied a huge array of different subjects.
Whatever background you come from, you will have unique skills and insights that you will be able to explore further during this course.
If you do decide to join, take the opportunity to attend many super-curricular academic events. This university is a haven for ground-breaking research, across sociology and beyond, so try to pack as much learning into your time here as you can!
What interests do you have outside of sociology?
My primary extra-curricular is sports. When not in the library, you'll likely catch me playing, watching or talking about football/cricket/rugby. I've been lucky enough to serve on various sports committees whilst at university, and have made some of my best memories in these roles.
