"I was apprehensive about returning to HE after 21 years, unsure about my intellectual ability and wondering how I'd cope with study at postgraduate level. In fact, life skills gained away from HE have been an immense help. I'm more focused and organised than I would have been at 21 and, consequently, am gaining much more from the course. I chose this particular MA because I love listening to people's stories and wanted to learn how to properly conduct and preserve oral history interviews. I was also drawn to the unique Mass-Observation Archive at the University of Sussex and am delighted that part of the course allows us to delve into this rich resource. The course provides an overview of life-stories, life-writing and mass-observation material and, as one who loves reading diaries, biographies and talking with people, this course seemed tailor-made for me!

"I have been amazed at the inter-disciplinary nature of Life History Research. It is fascinating to learn of overlaps with history, sociology, anthropology and psychology and, in my view, this academic breadth strengthens the course and attracts an interesting cross-section of students. So, the MA in Life History Research is definitely the right course for me. Like anything worthwhile, it requires hard work and application, but I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone interested in people and their stories."

Bridget Conneally, Student on the MA in Life History Research, 2009