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English and Drama

Alumni Profiles

After graduating from Queen Mary, Lauren studied for a Masters in English Literature 650-1550 at Oxford. She has recently started working for a publishing company in Oxford.

Why did you choose to study at Queen Mary?

I chose to study at Queen Mary because of the breadth of subjects covered in the degree. As an archetypal eighteen year old without much idea of what I wanted to study beyond English, broadly speaking, I was confident that I’d have enough opportunities to explore and refine my interests. Living in London was undoubtedly a major attraction for a small town girl like me, too.

What was the highlight of your time at Queen Mary?

My personal highlight was going to look at Chaucer manuscripts in Lambeth Palace Library as part of the Chaucer module in my second year. As my interests began to head towards medieval literature, it was amazing to have the chance to view manuscripts as an undergraduate and start to see beyond printed editions of medieval texts as we experience them.

How did you find life on campus and in London?

Life on campus was a very comforting experience – it really did feel like a village, just with one of the best cities in the world beyond the gates. Wandering around and seeing friendly faces while in the heart of "The Big Smoke" really is unique to Queen Mary and makes for a brilliant student life.

Which of the modules that you studied at Queen Mary was your favourite, and why?

My favourite module, if you excuse my geekiness for a moment, was Introduction to Old English. I’d heard of poems like Beowulf before, but it wasn’t until I was able to read them properly in the original language that I really began to appreciate them. It marked the beginning of an interest that developed through my undergraduate dissertation and is something I continue to work on.

What have you been doing since graduating, and how did studying at Queen Mary prepare you for it?

Since graduating, I’ve indulged my medieval side further and I’m currently studying for a Master’s degree in English from 650-1550 at Oxford University. The emphasis on research from such an early stage in my BA not only helped me get a place on my current course, but is proving invaluable in the work I do now and in applying for new opportunities.

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