Case Study

Before coming to university, I was working as a lawyer in legal and parliamentary affairs for the Ministry of Justice in Zimbabwe. I decided to pursue a master’s degree in the UK to enhance my career prospects – more specifically, to build on my leadership skills. I chose to study at Sunderland as it’s a university that’s known globally for its high-quality teaching and research. It’s also much more affordable in terms of tuition fees compared to other universities. One of the best things about Sunderland is that it’s diverse and inclusive, with students from a wide range of countries and cultures.

I’ve enjoyed every module on the MSc Leadership in Criminal Justice and Policing course, as they’ve been real eye-openers into the way criminal justice works in the UK. My two favourites have been around inequality and vulnerability in the criminal justice system and practitioner and lived experience perspectives in criminal justice, as they both included real life experiences of individuals which made it feel more real.

Studying on this course has taught me what it means to become a great leader in any role – what a leader is, what you need to be aware of as a leader, and how to be empathetic towards the people you lead. I’m due to graduate soon and in terms of my career, I’m exploring opportunities that will allow me to pursue a leadership role, whether that be in criminal justice or in the policy and strategy sector. Ideally, I’d love to work for a third sector organisation or in the Civil Service.

Studying at the University of Sunderland was a wonderful experience, although it did come with some challenges for me. Despite having to overcome a few obstacles along the way, my personal tutor was a shining beacon and supported me as much as possible throughout my studies.

I’d urge any prospective applicants to consider Sunderland as a contender when looking at universities. You’ll receive the highest quality of education and an all-round fantastic student experience if you choose to study here. The lecturers are always on hand to offer guidance if you need it, and you get to network with a diverse variety of students from all around the world.”

Published 24 November 2023