History@Portsmouth

University of Portsmouth's History Blog

Tag Archives | students

Students next to HMS Warrior

Welcome to the Journey! Starting as a First Year History student

By on September 16, 2019 in Learning in Focus

Are you just about to start your first year as a History student? In this case, Welcome to Portsmouth University! You will probably wonder what it will be like and what to expect. Then why not read this blog written by one of last year’s ‘freshers’, James Farrar. In his blog James, who is just about to start his second year, looks back at his experience of starting the exciting journey as a History student. University is not an unknown, unexplored frontier. It is a fantastic place of opportunity and learning. You are not the first to land at its shores. Neither was I or the millions that went before. […]

Continue Reading 0
Rob and Eleanor

Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence

By on April 24, 2019 in Events, News

In this blog Dr Rob James, Senior Lecturer in History, reviews the activities final year student Eleanor Doyle has undertaken as an undergraduate at Portsmouth, for which she deservedly won recognition at the Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence on Tuesday 2nd April 2019. Eleanor was the recipient of a V-C Award for Excellence for all the work she has done enhancing the student experience while simultaneously promoting the university to educational and industry bodies. Also winning a V-C Commendation at the same event was our Dr Karl Bell, Reader in Cultural and Social History, for his work organising Darkfest, an annual creative and cultural festival, and running the Supernatural Cities project […]

Continue Reading 0
students dissertation

‘Have faith in your abilities’: Researching and writing the dissertation

By on January 7, 2019 in Learning in Focus, Research in Focus

In this blog Dr Rob James, senior lecturer in history, throws light on the process of researching and writing an undergraduate dissertation. Rob specialises in researching people’s leisure practices, and teaches a number of units that focus on one of the most popular leisure pursuits of the first half of the twentieth century, going to the cinema. He would be happy to supervise students with dissertation topics that cover a broad range of topics located broadly in twentieth-century Britain. Mentioning the word ‘dissertation’ can send a ripple of terror across many a student cohort. It is like one of the characters in the Harry Potter books and films mentioning Lord […]

Continue Reading 0
2018 HHSG booklet cover for slider

Looking backwards – and forwards

By on November 15, 2018 in Learning in Focus, New Publications, Research in Focus

In this post, Mike Esbester, Senior Lecturer in History, outlines student and staff work with an external partner to mark a significant anniversary. Mike’s research focuses on nineteenth- and twentieth-century Britain, particularly on the cultural history of safety, risk and accident prevention, and on the history of mobility.  When people hit a big milestone age – 40 is a common one – it seems that for many the mind starts to think with greater focus about the past, as well as turning to the future. In some respects organisations are no different: big anniversaries are often used as a moment to pause and take stock, as well as to consider […]

Continue Reading 0
Ravelin Park

‘Definitely my favourite year’: How to succeed in your final year as a History student

By on September 16, 2018 in Learning in Focus

Returning for your third year as a History undergraduate? This blog was written by former History student Emily Fryer, and in it she reflects back on her final year of study and offers tips on how to work through it. Emily graduated in July 2018 with a first class degree. Third year was definitely my favourite year, it is extremely rewarding. It feels like all the work you have put in during first and second years is coming together, and you are starting to see the results. I personally found the work load way more manageable than second year, mostly thanks to there being no more assessed seminars. There’s also […]

Continue Reading 0
students at portsmouth

‘You will get out of the course what you put in’: Being a first year History student

By on September 15, 2018 in Learning in Focus

Are you just about to start your first year as a History student and wonder what it will be like? Then read this blog written by one of last year’s ‘freshers’, Amelia Boddice. In the blog Amelia reflects on her experience when starting this whole new chapter in her life, from how to prepare for class to enjoying life both inside and outside the lecture room. Amelia is just about to start her second year of studies. What to expect? In terms of the gap between A-level and doing an undergraduate degree you can expect a big difference in the workload. There is an increase in the amount of preparation you must […]

Continue Reading 0