Greg Stark Scotland

Why did you decide that QMU was the right place for you? 

I originally started studying at QMU in 2006 as I had always wanted to move to Edinburgh. I attended the Corstorphine campus for my first year and moved to the new Musselburgh campus halfway through my second year. The new facilities and prospects drew me in. 

When I chose to return to my studies a few years later, I was offered the chance to come back as an Associate Student while I worked full-time, which meant I could enter directly into 3rd year as opposed to having to repeat the first two years of the course again. This was a major contributing factor as to why I wanted to specifically return to QMU. 

Why did you choose to study in Edinburgh? 

Coming from Glenrothes in Fife, Edinburgh was always somewhere I visited when I was younger. Whether it was to watch Scotland play rugby at Murrayfield, watch my local football team at Tynecastle, or spend days taking in the culture with my family - it’s always somewhere I’ve loved to be. 

Edinburgh is the greatest city in the world and I’m not shy about telling anyone that! Where else can you stand on the main shopping street and see a castle on top of an old volcano? You can eat in the city for breakfast, walk up the Pentland Hills to have a picnic, and then stroll along the beach at night. It truly is an amazing place.  

Since finishing at QMU, I got married, had two children and have now fully settled in the city I moved to almost 20 years ago for university. I’m proud to call Edinburgh my home. 

Why were you interested in a sociology course at QMU? 

Sociology is a fascinating subject. You would be surprised to know that you are actually involved in the study of sociology in everyday life, all of the time. Whether you’re asking your manager at work when your next pay rise is coming up, you’re debating about upcoming elections and referendums, or you’re in a bar talking to your friends - these are all aspects of sociology. 

We learn why the world works in the strange way it does. We ask why we communicate in the way that we do and what we need to change to make the world a better place. The one thing you need to know if you want to study in this field is that you can work with so many types of people – people of all cultures, religions, socio-economic groups and sexual orientations, to name a few. We want to produce literature and carry out vital research that will inform policy makers to make changes that benefit everyone. That is what sociology means to me. 

What did you enjoy most about your course?  

I really enjoyed the Sociology of Scotland module where I gained a more well-rounded knowledge of the place I have called home all my life. I was fortunate to have a lecturer whose research was focused on a small ex-mining village five minutes from where I grew up in Fife, which I found fascinating. I also enjoyed learning about subjects I never knew anything about before walking into my first lecture. I took a class on gender-based violence, which was run in collaboration with Women’s Aid. I enjoyed the class and ended up applying much of the theory and practice I learned on this module into my role as a support worker. 

Did you experience any challenges while at university? 

"Balancing university and work commitments was always going to be a challenge. However, although it was hard work, it was so worth it in the end. QMU supported me with accessing a student loan, and my lecturers were flexible when it came to accommodating my situation as a 'mature student'. Hard work, yes, but I have never regretted it once."

What was it like studying abroad in America for a year? 

I was lucky enough to study at Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania in 2017, thanks to financial support from Santander Universities through QMU. 

I found out about international exchange programme opportunities after attending the direct entry week organised for me upon my return to QMU. I was told it would be beneficial to look into an exchange as I planned to write my 4th year dissertation on disability rights and it would be useful to see how people with disabilities are treated in other societies. I also found out that studying at another university abroad may help me progress into government work or academia post graduating.  

I was required to complete a Research Methods module, which I later realised was crucial to writing my dissertation in my final year. I also took modules I felt would benefit my learning on the course, including International Relations, Social Justice and Equality, and American History from 1920. I have a great interest in history and I thought, where would be the best place to study American history...America! 

The most enjoyable thing about living and studying in the USA was the people I met. I became good friends with people from Australia, Belgium, Mexico, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Iran, Nepal, Japan and India - some of whom I still speak to today. 

What have you been up to since you graduated? 

After working in policy and strategy with a local health and social care partnership, I moved into a role as a Senior Development Manager for mental health services – a sector that I remained in for two years.  

I then took on a role supporting the health board with its post COVID-19 pandemic financial recovery and I still work here today. It's a hard job but one I enjoy every day due to the great people I get to work with. 

I have also been fortunate to continue my professional development by becoming a qualified Project Manager in 2021. I am currently working towards attaining a role within one of the NHS Lothian acute sites, in the near future. I want to get back into a service role where I can offer my previous private and public sector experience to support the effective running of our hospitals here in Edinburgh and the Lothians. 

How did the completion of your degree at QMU help post-graduation? 

I am very grateful to have received my degree from QMU as I have worked up to a point now in my career in which this is an essential requirement for most of the jobs I have applied for or aim to apply for in the future. Although subject matter knowledge is always held in high regard, as a Recruiting Manager, I will look for those with a degree when short listing candidates as it demonstrates a level of discipline that is demonstrated over four years, countless late nights and early starts to get those assignments in on time. 

Studying a variety of subjects within the course was a great benefit to me. During my 4th year I learned a lot about different research methods which not only helped when gathering data for my dissertation but also in my work today. In my current role within the NHS, I recently co-designed and carried out an observational study working with our doctors in training (Junior Doctors) to improve their working conditions and support management colleagues to best manage rotas. This took me right back to my days of studying ethnographic research while on my course. 

What’s your ‘top tip’ for making the most of being a student at QMU? 

Start reading now. Read any academic literature you can. This could come in the form of academic textbooks, journal articles, government reports and studies. You will be surprised how your writing improves the more you read. 

Above all else, only study a subject that you have a passion for.