Rachel Loughran
Student spotlight details
In preparation for full-time study, Rachel took short online and weekly courses with the Department to develop her critical reading skills. She has since graduated with a double-first from Wolfson College, Cambridge.
'Before I enrolled on the Department's weekly course studying the work of W.B Yeats, I had undertaken the Critical Reading (Online) course. Both courses allowed me to expand and develop my critical reading skills while also balancing my career as an actor and theatre arts tutor.
'I enrolled in W.B Yeats studies with the Department as part of my preparatory study whilst applying to undertake a full-time degree in English Literature. I had been out of education for several years and sought a way to re-introduce myself to formal study that was flexible enough to fit in with my career and commitments. The opportunity to do so was invaluable and without doubt a brilliant opportunity for mature students to experience formal study in a flexible setting.
'I found the group discussions element of the programme the most rewarding, and was an excellent preparation for the supervision system unique to Oxford and Cambridge. There is a great deal of freedom to express and defend your own literary ideas based around the text studied. The discussions were developed expanded by the expert knowledge of our tutor Dr Tara Stubbs who was able to support the class by adding context and guidance to debates without impinging on individual ideas.
'I think the most challenging aspect of the course is the preparatory reading and annotations completed at home. However, there was plenty of support from Dr Tara Stubbs via email or during class the next week. Additionally, there is a degree of flexibility with this form of study, in that you build your own study agenda to fit in with your own commitments. The course can be taken at your own level and is not overly pressured.
'Since finishing the course, I was offered a place at Wolfson College, Cambridge to study BA English. I graduated in July 2020 with a double-first and won the Jennings Prize for my Part I and Part II exam results.
'The Department for Continuing Education offered me a flexible, supportive learning environment and is an ideal preparation for mature students, like myself, wishing to return to full-time study. Dr Stubbs’ consummate knowledge, friendly attitude and infectious passion for her subject characterized her lively introduction to Irish modernism and its relation to wider literary movements.
'I would highly encourage anyone who is thinking of pursuing full-time study to enrol on a course with the Department. The weekly courses, in particular, will provide you with face-to-face interaction that closely resembles a university tutorial. Furthermore, it allows you to slowly build your knowledge in an active group environment and the support provided from tutors is outstanding.
'As for my next steps: I am currently applying to masters programmes in modern/contemporary literature as a foundation for doctoral research.'
