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Having read Law as an undergraduate and with professional experience in the publishing world I was unsure how to change my career path to suit my passion for heritage and historical buildings. The MSt was excellent in enabling me to do this. Not only did it furnish me with the skills to interpret historic fabric, it also paved the way for me to work within the heritage sector, particularly with country houses. Both during and after the course I was able to gain valuable curatorial experience at Holkham Hall, Goodwood House and Woburn Abbey. Following this, I decided to undertake a PhD at Cambridge researching female architectural patronage in eighteenth-century Britain, for which the MSt had prepared me for perfectly. This research was fully funded by the School of Arts and Humanities. The academic rigour of the MSt, together with the fascinating site visits and the impressive range of speakers has ensured that I am now well equipped to pursue a career either within the academic or heritage world.
Amy Boyington (May 2018)
Following an undergraduate BSc degree in Archaeological Sciences from Sheffield University (2002), my professional skills developed with a number of years working in the field of commercial archaeology, both on site and within a graphics department. Moving into the drawn survey of historic buildings and then into building assessment and interpretation, I needed to augment my archaeological knowledge and so began the Building History MSt in 2013.
The course was perfectly suited to my situation. It allowed me to continue working while undertaking my studies and to utilise skills gained during the course every day. The residential weeks are well-designed. Lectures were given by experts in every field of building history, and I personally found that lectures on architectural history were a brilliant accompaniment to my archaeological knowledge, all consolidated by visits to put the learning in context. New research skills and opportunities led to the production of a thesis which did justice to an under-researched area of building history that can be utilised directly by building historians working in the field. Since graduating in 2015, I have progressed substantially both within my employment and without. I now lead historic building projects in a commercial archaeological unit, but am also more heavily involved with external groups; I co-organised and led a well-respected national conference on vernacular architecture in Hertfordshire. Finally, I cannot emphasise enough the amazing network of fellow building historians and experts I have found who are happy to share knowledge and ideas.
Tansy Collins (May 2018)
Prior to taking the MSt in Building History I had studied for a history degree and worked as a Tour Guide. The two years I spent on the course are particularly memorable as an enjoyable, if intense, part of my life. The course is well rounded, and while covering architectural history, it also taught practical skills such as the analysis and interpretation of standing buildings. The programme of teaching is excellent and includes a wide range of lecturers who are experts in their field, and each subject is backed up by a field trip.
The course has been an invaluable help to my career. The second year work placement gave me important experience in the work-place, and the skills I gained on the course enabled me to work as a historic buildings archaeologist and now as an architectural investigator for Historic England.
Christopher Curtis (May 2018)