Charlie Third

Charlie Third enrolled at NESCol in 2020 to study HND Social Sciences as an adult returner. After being apprehensive that he’d left it too late, was out of the way of studying, and would be the oldest in the class – the reality could not have been more different.

Fast forward four years and he has graduated with an MA Hons in Sociology from the University of Aberdeen. Charlie, who recently became a first-time dad to baby daughter Josephine, is now embarking on a fully funded PhD via the Scottish Graduate School of Social Science (SGSSS) in September 2024. It will see him work in conjunction with the University of Edinburgh, UHI, and the Cairngorms National Park.

Charlie said, “I owe it all to the teaching, structure and content of the HND Social Sciences course at NESCol which made sure I was well prepared for entering the next stage of higher education. I’d advocate the brilliant experience that is North East Scotland College to anyone thinking about returning to learning. “

Charlie was working in a hotel as a manager when the COVID-19 pandemic effectively shut the hospitality industry down. This prompted him to evaluate his plans for the future and his decision to return to learning to pursue his keen interest in sociology, politics and psychology.

“I had concerns that I was out of my depth going to College but the experience I had couldn’t have been further from that. There was also a real mix of people of different ages and backgrounds in my class so my fears of being the only one not joining straight from school were unfounded.

NESCol was the most supportive environment and the one in which I did the majority of my growth as a student. I learned so much both in terms of knowledge and in practical skills, and for that, I thank the brilliant social sciences lecturing team. In addition, the feedback I received from them on my submitted work was constructive, enlightening and key to my development. “

Charlie continued, “As well as the lecturing staff, my classmates were a huge support to me. Despite spending much of the first year engaging in online learning due to COVID restrictions, the life experiences, insight and camaraderie we shared as a group was great. “

Charlie was able to use his HND to enter directly into the third year of an MA Honours in Sociology and feels the college/university route was the right path for him. He explained, “I feel that the learning environment at NESCol was very nurturing, both from an academic and wellbeing perspective. I felt supported by the lecturers and my peers, confident in my abilities to progress to degree-level study, and most importantly it developed my interest and enthusiasm to keep learning. “