Gloria Langat PhD in Demography2007

Hi, I'm Gloria Langat and I studied PhD in Demography within Social Sciences: Social Statistics & Demography at the University of Southampton.

The teaching staff are extremely experienced and have vast knowledge of developing countries.

Q: Why did you choose to undertake your studies at the University of Southampton?

I was attracted to the University of Southampton because some of the best students and staff from the University of Nairobi, Kenya where I did my MA, had done their doctoral studies there. Having already done my MA Demography, I was happy to pursue the course further to PhD level.

Q: How did you find studying Demography at the University of Southampton?

Social Sciences offers a very good course in demography, among the best in the UK. Students and staff are always well represented at local and international conferences, such as the British Society for Population Studies, Population Association of America, as well as the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP), showing the quality of research outputs from the University. The teaching staff are extremely experienced and have vast knowledge of developing countries in Africa and Asia and also eastern Europe.

Q: How did you find adapting to life at the University?

As an international student, the University feels like home away from home, as international students are very much integrated into one community with the home students.

Q: What is life like in Southampton?

The city of Southampton is a small and serene place, which is very conducive for learning. Albeit a small city relative to other cities in the UK, it has all that one needs and is also very accessible. The National Express bus service direct to Heathrow Airport and London is excellent. The city is more like a university town with everything structured to cater for students' life.

Q: Do you feel the course has helped to improve your career prospects?

I have chosen research on demography as my career and a PhD would definitely equip me with the experience and skills that I need to pursue my goal. Before joining Southampton, I worked for a research institute that was based in Nairobi Kenya doing research on population and health issues in sub-saharan Africa.