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Jonathan Eaton

 

 

Where are you from?

Newcastle Upon Tyne, England.

What year will you complete your degree?

I submitted my thesis in 2009, and graduated in 2010.

What degree pathway did you study at Queen’s?

PhD Ancient History.

Why did you choose to study History at Queen’s?

I wanted to complete my research on the Roman army under the supervision of Professor Brian Campbell, who is Professor of Roman History at Queen’s. When I came to apply for the PhD, I was struck by the amount of funding available for research students.

What do you particularly enjoy about studying this subject at Queen’s?

My research focuses on the various means by which emperors managed the Roman army. Queen’s has a very good library which aids my research considerably. Although Queen’s is a large university, it is very welcoming and I have always been treated as a valued member of my department. My supervisor is extremely supportive of my studies and very generous in the time he gives to supervise my research. Belfast itself has excellent transport links which means I have had no problems in travelling to other universities to attend conferences and present research papers.

What about studying at Queen’s in general? What is that like?

Queen’s is a thriving and cosmopolitan university and is a member of the prestigious Russell group. People come from across the world to study here. I have lived in university student accommodation throughout my studies and have found them to be of consistently high quality.

What are you planning to do in the future? What career would you like to pursue?

I intend to pursue a career in either further or higher education teaching history. I am also interested in working in the lifelong learning sector, as a means of widening access to further education.

Would you recommend studying at Queen’s to other students? What advice would you give them?

I recommend studying at Queen’s to any student, not only for its excellent facilities and reputation but also for the experience of living in Northern Ireland. I would advise prospective students to research the variety of funding opportunities available through the university. As well as obtaining a research studentship to fund my PhD, I have also been fortunate to receive a travel scholarship, facilitating study trips to Germany and Italy, and funding to run my own series of research seminars. The various funding avenues at Queen’s allow students to obtain ‘added value’ for their studies and enhance their chances of future employment.