"The fieldwork and dissertation have been central to my experience as a Social Anthropology student. While I am sure it will stand me in good stead in my future search for employment, its central value was as a practice which revealed what Anthropology is really about; through fieldwork, the abstract and theoretical concepts which we had absorbed in two years previous study became immediate and concrete; the subject came alive. Observing and analysing patterns of human action and thought, and later attempting to relay any inferred information (in the form of a dissertation) was a stimulating and challenging process, which seemed to me to be of value in and of itself" –Samuel Ward

"The dissertation fieldwork that I carried out during my time at Queen’s was an incredible way to explore an area of the discipline I had chosen based on my personal interests in Anthropology. At first the thought of carrying out independent research was overwhelming when I thought of the reality of being out there; conducting interviews, taking fieldnotes etc. However when you find yourself motivated and keen to find information you land on your feet and make it work for you, and it all just falls into place. Planning and organising your own research is great for building confidence in your own abilities and the actual fieldwork is a life changing experience; completely taking matters into your own hands teaches great self-reliance and people skills. Not only is the dissertation excellent to have on your CV when looking for employment, it also gives you applicable life experience skills such as communicative ability. The dissertation is hard work, but it definitely pays off and gives you so much more in return." –Amy Hitchens

"Recently the dissertation experience has been really useful in my job search.  Because it involves different research methods and demonstrates good written and verbal communication skills, it's great for the CV and even better for coming up with examples for competency questions in interviews. It's also brilliant for networking because it provides easy conversation and an awareness of social issues etc. The only problem is I can't switch anthropology off - I'm temping at the moment in a very multicultural office and as soon as someone mentions something interesting, or for example invites me to an Indian wedding, I want to talk about it all day!’’ - Lucy Proudlock

"At first the thought of doing a dissertation was pretty overwhelming, however, once I started to research my topic and really get involved it felt good to be actually doing my own anthropological research. My dissertation allowed me to explore my own anthropological interests and create a piece of work that I am now incredibly proud of. Throughout my time researching and writing my dissertation, I met incredible people and experienced things I wouldn't have normally been able to. It allowed me to enter into a community I wouldn't be involved in otherwise, leading me to meet incredible and interesting people and experience their way of life.’’ – Christie Hyland

"Doing an anthropology dissertation is great for allowing you to use your own creativity and actually apply your knowledge rather than simply learning from others. It is a fantastic way of building confidence for any future career as it gives you the opportunity to expand on something independently and looks great on the CV!" – Genevieve Bigger

"My university experience would have been completely different if I had not had the chance to do a dissertation. It was extremely beneficial in developing not only aspects of me as a person - such increasing my confidence but also in helping me determine what interests me with regards to my future career. From my dissertation research I came to realise that I am passionate in improving health among the population and consequently I applied for (and was accepted) onto a Masters in Public Health at Newcastle with the aim to achieve a job in the NHS. Without my dissertation I do not believe I would have had this realisation or the determination to further my education in this direction. I entered second year of university without a clue of where my life was headed and left university on the track to fulfilling a passion thanks to my dissertation and so I believe it is an extremely advantageous aspect of the course. Once I finished my dissertation everything else felt easy in comparison -  I gained so much confidence in my academic ability from the independent study such research allowed me to conduct which others, who did not complete a dissertation, missed out on. It definitely makes a difference in the long run and I believe those who complete a dissertation in anthropology definitely get more of an idea of what it is actually like in the field for anthropologists, allowing you to gain much more respect for those you study. Furthermore the process of producing your dissertation allows you to become very close to others on your course and I would definitely describe it as a bonding experience not only for students but between students and staff. At times it felt like a long uphill struggle and it is definitely a process that has its highs and lows but it is totally worth it in the end - just hang in there!’’ – Becca Patterson

"My experience at Queen’s has been invaluable in allowing me to pursue further study. Through my time at Queen’s I have been able to be a part of the Anthropology society as well as being a student ambassador and being involved in many different clubs and educational opportunities. My degree has helped me immensely as the fieldwork I engaged in last summer and the dissertation I produced have allowed me to gain enough experience in ethnography to be offered a scholarship to complete an MA in Social Research followed by a PhD in Politics. My time at Queen’s has been extremely enjoyable and I would recommend the experience to anyone." -Anna Bailie