Department of Politics and International Relations
"I'd been working full-time for 20 years before deciding to take the plunge and go back to university! I knew I'd be in good hands at York because the MA in Public Administration (MPA) tied in well with my professional experience, the university has an excellent reputation and my family live in Yorkshire.
It was absolutely worth it - the modules have been very stimulating and I've benefited from the expert knowledge of my tutors, who've been very supportive. The MPA has a great mix of students from different countries and backgrounds, which has given me such a positive learning experience.
Public Administration is a fascination subject area. I'm interested mainly in how policies are designed and implemented, the impact they have on society, and why some policies succeed or fail.
The course has been the ideal opportunity to boost my skills and experience. Before starting the course I worked at CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, and the World Health Organisation, where I had various jobs based in France and Switzerland.
York is a fabulous city. I powerwalk along the city walls a few times a week, and go swimming in the pool at York Sports Village. It's also been lovely to be around my Yorkshire family again after so many years living abroad. But the geese... well, you either love them or hate them!"