Studying for a Sports, History and Culture Master’s online led to a part-time job offer at Silverstone for one De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) student.
David Freestone never intended to study for his master’s straight after graduating with a BA in History but the allure of a distinctive course delivered through distance learning combined with half price tuition fees was too strong.
Amazingly, his decision to enrol on the course led to a great, CV-boosting benefit – a part-time job at Silverstone.
It was while visiting the home of British motorsport to do some research for his undergraduate dissertation, that David secured his first role at Silverstone – volunteering in its archive. Then, when he told them he was thinking of doing his master’s, they offered him a paid part-time role.
He said: “It was amazing opportunity, not just because it meant I am earning some money to support my studies but because it I am doing work that I am really interested in. It might even lead to a full time job.”
David was able to continue studying at DMU because he qualified for a VC 2020 Scholarship. While the scholarship offer played a part in his decision, he says he chose to stay at DMU because of the course.
Although his plan is to eventually find a job working in heritage, during his time at DMU he developed an interest in sports – especially the role women play in motorsport. In fact, his undergraduate dissertation focused on women in motorsport before the Second World War and he is now exploring their role in the post-Second World War era for his master’s dissertation.
“Combining sport with history and culture makes it the perfect course for me. I think it is brilliant that DMU offers a course like this. It really makes it stand out from the crowd as a university.
“I know quite a few people who studied history at another university but came here specifically for this course because it is just not offered anywhere else. And the fact it is delivered online makes it even more attractive.”
While initially a little dubious, David has also been converted to the practicalities and advantages of distance learning.
“This approach to learning makes studying really flexible as I can fit it around my other commitments. With the lectures being online, I can access them via Blackboard and do them whenever I have the time plus you can submit your work online too.”
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Despite the course being delivered remotely, David says that DMU has been really good with access to tutors.
He said: “They are readily available and it has been really useful to be able to come in and speak to them for advice and guidance face-to-face. Knowing all the research that is undertaken here, it is also very reassuring to feel you are learning from experts.”
Now, more than halfway through his postgraduate degree, David has no regrets about his decision.
“I would absolutely encourage people to do their master’s – as long as they are prepared to put the work in because it is quite a step up from the undergraduate level. There is a lot of self-study and you have to go into more depth and you have to deliver course work quite quickly. There may be fewer deadlines but they are much bigger deadlines.”
Posted on Monday 18 May 2015