Former student interviews

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The awe of stepping through the gates of New College into the quad is not something that you ever get over as a Divinity student. Every time you step through those gates, you are reminded of just how special and unique the School of Divinity is in almost every regard. The building is steeped in history and as students at New College you are profoundly aware of this history and your position within it. However, besides the wonderous architecture, New College is also unique in its collegiality. Perhaps unlike larger schools, there is a definite sense of community. Having come from a small, rural secondary school, this was hugely comforting. It was never too hard to find my way around and I always knew that the staff were there whenever I needed them.

Incredible community

It can be very intimidating making the move from secondary school to university, but the close-knit, supportive environment makes the change far easier. At first, the sudden change in setting, method, and practice can be daunting. How am I meant to do all this reading? How do you even write a university essay? How exactly am I meant to balance my Religious Studies work with my English Literature work? It can feel at times like you are standing at the foot of Everest and all you’ve climbed so is the hill behind your house. I’d like to say this changes, but I am almost finished my degree and still have not properly worked it out. Yet, behind you every step of the way are the wonderful staff and incredible community at New College who are always willing to help you out.

Enlightening

While it can be hard juggling the readings for Religious Studies and English Literature at the same time, it can also be very enlightening. Oftentimes I find these two subjects work harmoniously to provide you with a unique lens to view, analyse and interrogate so many different aspects of society, culture and history. For example, I chose to write my final year dissertation in English Literature looking, in particular, at the eschatologies of Emily Dickinson and John Donne. Through this project, as well as in a number of other situations through my time as a student, I was able bring together knowledge from both subject areas to consider the subject at hand in a new light.

Diversity in approach, subject and direction

There is so much in terms of interconnectivity and interplay between these two subject areas that you are never found wanting. I have studied everything from Contemporary African American and Black British Visual Culture to Medical Ethics in Literature, from Paul and his Letters to Theories of Religion and not once have I felt confined by my degree. There is so much diversity in approach, subject and direction within the join honours programme that you can really explore what you want to explore. As you step through those gates for the first time a whole world of opportunities opens up before you.

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What is it like to be a student at New College? This was one of the biggest questions I had before going to university. I was the only person from my school who had applied to do religious studies and I didn’t know anyone else in the same position. I was quite nervous about going to university but after a few weeks I really felt like I had settled in. There are a lot of great things about studying at New College and it’s a fantastic school to be a part of!

Interesting courses

There are so many interesting courses that you can take, that you can really follow your own interests. For example, I’m a religious studies student but I’ve really enjoyed taking courses in biblical studies and theology, as well as courses like Scottish Literature and religion.  

The School of Divinity also has one of the biggest library collections of theology and religious studies in the UK. This means there is a lot of materials available to help with essays and research!

Community feel

As the School is one of the smaller schools in the university, there is more of a community feel to New College.  As well as academic events throughout the year there are also social events to bring students together, usually including a ceilidh during welcome week and a ball at the end of the second semester (which is the best event of the year!). There are also weekly communion services in which all are welcome. We have a great social space called Rainy Hall (which looks like the Great Hall in Harry Potter!) where students can eat, do work and catch up with friends.

One of the biggest aspects of being a New College student is inclusion.  Although the subject content of New College is focused on religion, there is no requirement that students hold religious beliefs. Staff and students of New College come from various religious and non-religious beliefs, cultures and backgrounds. Additionally, the school has been working hard to ensure that everyone feels welcome and valued and this is highlighted in our Athena Swan silver award for gender equality in 2018, as well as a greater emphasis on LGBT+ students with meetings and lunches being organised throughout the year.

Amazing location

Being a student at New College means studying in one of the most beautiful buildings in the city!  You can’t help but smile when you enter the quad and have to duck past the tourists taking their snaps of the architecture (or the statue of John Knox). Studying in such an amazing location makes you feel like you are truly part of something special!

Starting university can be a really daunting time but joining the School of Divinity will be a rewarding and enjoyable experience. I hope any prospective student looks forward to their studies and joining the school!     

As a mature student I didn’t know what to expect starting at Edinburgh University. Before classes started, I attended the welcome week. I found these events very helpful, for familiarising myself with the buildings and settling my nerves. We were given a tour by experienced students and given some helpful hints on how to use the university Learn site.

Resources online

Each class has an online handout, this gives you contact details for the lecturers, the course recommended reading and the details of the topics that will be covered in each lecture. I like to be able to prepare and plan, so the class handouts and the information on the Learn site helps me to do this.

There are PowerPoint presentations for each lecture, which are posted on Learn before the lecture. These are helpful to aid note taking during the lecture or as you do revision later.

I have dyslexia and found having all the information for the course on the Learn site helpful once I got use to navigating around the programme. I contacted Student Disability Services and they were able to give me extra software tools to help me and a Dictaphone. All lectures are recorded, this allows students to listen again, for revision or to make more notes.

Friendly and reassuring

My first lecture was in biblical studies, the lecturer was friendly and reassuring. The class was structured and easy to follow, we were given a handout that helped me make notes in class and to study later for the exam.

The lecture was stimulating. Class readings broaden out the subject. Lectures are happy to answer questions in class and make themselves available after class for in depth questions. There is a chance to engage with classmates in your tutorial classes.

There are always conversations in the Rainy Hall. A comfortable study space that would not be out of place in a Harry Potter movie. Wood panelled walls, with painted shields and portraits of past masters on the walls. Rainy Hall offers a chance to talk to fellow students. There a mixture of degree subjects that your classmates are studying making for stimulating ideas.

Informal and inclusive

I was pleasantly surprised by the informal and inclusive nature of life at New College. There are regular extra lectures, talks and book launches that everyone is invited too. These offer a fabulous opportunity to hear academics from other major international universities talk about their books or specialist subject. The opportunity to expose yourself to more advanced topics stimulating your critical thinking as these talks are followed by a question and answer session. There is no pressure to take part, but they allow you to hear how other academics tackle a subject you are interested in. These are not hierarchical gatherings; first years are as welcome as professors.

The staff at New College are interested in your learning and want to help you get the best out of your studies. They are open to new ideas, seeking to advance the study of their topic.