Marissa Rando, (Jul. 1, 2026)Coming to the University of Cambridge has been a dream come true for me. The university as a whole is a scenic global village with innumerable ways to grow and engage intellectual interests, creative passions, social networks, and physical fitness. The Sociology Department (which I'd say is particularly young and engaged) is filled with brilliant and thoughtful scholars of diverse focus areas. It is a great place for anyone looking to be challenged and engage in meaningful conversations (sometimes debates) to find/refine their academic voice.
Jialii Fan, (Jul. 1, 2026)The Department of Sociology is a cornucopia of pertinent debates and ideas. I will always be grateful to have completed my PhD here. It provided me with both the intellectual freedom to pursue the questions I am genuinely interested in and the structured support and resources to help me work through the many puzzles of research.
I had the opportunity to work with brilliant and supportive supervisors and mentors on a topic I chose myself. What I valued most was being part of a vibrant intellectual community, where reading groups and retreats, departmental seminars, and going to the pubs with academics and students continually introduced me to new ideas. I also really appreciated the opportunity to supervise undergraduate students during my studies, which helped me develop my teaching experience and prepared me well for my academic career. It’s a great community to be part of, and one I’m proud to be a member of.
Dominic Parker Moore, (Jul. 1, 2026)Having started my Sociology PhD at Cambridge in June under the support of the Harding Scholarship, I can confidently say that the experience has already exceeded my expectations. The intellectual freedom to delve into my research on the sociology of intellectuals has been invigorating, and I have greatly benefited from the expert guidance of my supervisor, Professor Patrick Baert.
Beyond my individual research, the department offers a remarkably vibrant intellectual environment. I have actively participated in several research and reading groups - including Culture and Politics, Talking History, and Institutions, Labour and Movements (ILM) - which serve as forums for discussing cutting-edge sociological scholarship. The ILM group, in particular, gave me the opportunity to attend a fully funded residential week in Suffolk, where we immersed ourselves in intensive discussion of contemporary work and labour literature.
I have also thoroughly enjoyed the range of talks put on by the department, featuring a diverse array of external speakers. Sessions such as Matteo Bortolini’s exploration of comparative biography, Laura K. Field’s intellectual history of the MAGA New Right, AJA Wood’s critique of the Right’s reception of the Frankfurt School, and Simon Schaupp’s analysis of the anti-green backlash have consistently broadened my theoretical horizons.
Complementing these events, our weekly first-year seminars have systematically equipped me with essential research skills - from formulating precise research questions and navigating methodological choices to addressing ethical complexities, publishing strategies, and refining presentation techniques. The experience has been stimulating, and I look forward to building upon this strong foundation as I continue to develop my academic toolkit over the next three years.