Our students

Why did you want to study Dance Science and Education?

When applying for the programme, my interest wasn’t in dance science or dance education, so much as in dance.

I hoped that the programme would let me focus and expand upon my particular interests, suggest new areas of exploration and provide a grounding to dance science and to dance education. It did! 

Why did you choose to study this programme at the University of Edinburgh?

I knew that I wanted to study dance at postgraduate level before completing my undergraduate education in 2005.

I had very particular interests, including the study of classical ballet and Irish dance and the discipline of dance history, which I wanted to explore further. The programme was flexible enough that I could study these subjects at an advanced level from an English literature, philosophical, psychological and sociological perspective.

I was aware of the international reputation of the University of Edinburgh and was keen to study at a prestigious institution.

How have you used your masters since leaving the University?

Through the Institute for Capitalising on Creativity, I am now undertaking an Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC) PhD Studentship with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and industry sponsor Creative Scotland. I would not have found my PhD topic in the sociology of dance had I not had the opportunity to focus on this area for my MSc dissertation. The research modules undertaken during my MSc have provided me with an excellent background with which to embark upon my PhD study and I have consistently drawn upon the knowledge and discipline that I learnt through the MSc.

What was the highlight of your time here?

I couldn’t select just one highlight to focus on. The highlight really was completing the whole programme, working hard, getting a lot out of it and ultimately realising what I was capable of achieving.

Why did you want to study Dance Science and Education?

After studying BA (Hons) Dance, where I was introduced to simple dance science, I wanted to continue my education in this more specific field.

Why did you choose to study this programme at the University of Edinburgh?

Whilst I found that there were few postgraduate programmes in this field of study, I was very impressed by the outline of the MSc Dance Science and Education programme at the University of Edinburgh.

Edinburgh has also always been one of my favourite cities and I welcomed the opportunity to live and study there.

How have you used your masters since leaving the University?

Since graduation, I have worked on a part-time basis with Wendy Timmons, the Programme Director for the MSc Dance Science and Education. I made some really useful Edinburgh-based contacts during my MSc which have opened up work experience opportunities and provided career guidance, information, and of course friendship. In the future, I plan to return to full-time academia.

What was the highlight of your time here?

I very much enjoyed the opportunities for interdisciplinary study as part of the MSc Dance Science and Education. Opportunities to study sport science, for example, were a useful supplement to my MSc and made my work far more accomplished than it would otherwise have been.