Postgraduate Student Life
What is it like to be a postgraduate student?
Postgraduate students can gain experience from studying and socialising in Welsh, even if they are studying in another country. In this section, you can find out about the experiences of some postgraduate ambassadors. Some live and study in Wales, and some are studying beyond Wales!
Postgraduate Ambassadors
At the end of every year, Coleg Cymraeg appoints Postgraduate Ambassadors for a period of 12 months.
How would the role of postgraduate ambassador help me? Well, it could be beneficial for your CV, it could give you an opportunity to be seen, and it could help your development as an academic. We want the cohort who become ambassadors to develop a Welsh-language ‘postgraduate community’ (with the support of CCC).
We won’t be telling the ambassadors what to do. This is an opportunity for you to say what postgraduate students really want, and to share information about the type of support that is already available (e.g. Research Skills Programme etc).
Not studying in Wales? No problem! If you become a postgraduate ambassador, you will be given many opportunities to do things through the medium of Welsh which could help your research. Such as writing a Welsh article for Gwerddon Fach, working on our stall at Eisteddfodau or at events, and communicating through the medium of Welsh. All this and more... and you get paid!
Subject: PG Dietician Diploma
University: Cardiff Met
Where are you from: Bethesda
Interests: Hiking and cycling
Favourite band: Anweledig
Ambition: To be a specialist Dietician
Why be an ambassador: Use the language more often - create blogs and videos.
Heroes: My friends as they encouraged me to speak Welsh more often.
Subject: Psychology / Education
University: Cardiff Met University
Start date: 1 October 2024
Research title: Fluent interactions: Comparing face-to-face and online conversations in Welsh classrooms to understand how they help learners' motivation
More information: Motivation is essential when learning a new language. A key feature of face-to-face interactions is smooth turn-taking without large gaps or overlaps. This creates the impression of fluency in interactions between speakers and can also impact how valuable the interaction feels.
Turn-taking in online interactions (such as over Zoom) is much slower and limits communication through gestures. As a result, online interaction may be less effective than face-to-face interaction.
This project explores whether there is a 'motivation gap' between online and face-to-face Welsh learning courses.
Subject: Professional Translating MA
University: Aberystwyth
Where are you from: Pontyclun
Enjoy at university: A welcoming community and I love the fact that I can speak Welsh every day.
Hero: Bronwen Lewis
Why be an ambassador: Uniting Welsh speakers from all over Wales.
Ambition: Being a translator and contributing towards reaching a million Welsh speakers.
Interests: Netball, going for a walk, gigs
Subject: History
University: Bangor University
Start date: 1 October 2024
Research title: Football in North Wales c. 1958-2010: identities, gender and memory
More information: By using oral history, material culture, as well as written sources, this project will give a fresh twist to the history of football in Wales. It will also analyse topical topics in academic history, including women's sport, nostalgia / memory and everyday history. I will focus on exploring identities and gender in football in North Wales in relation to local clubs, the national teams and teams across the border.
Football has recently become a key part of identity in Wales, so gathering the experiences of players, fans and coaches will develop a conclusion on the impact of football on Welshness, communities and women's voices within a relevant time in the sport.
Subject: Biomedicine
University: Cardiff University
Start date: 1 October 2023
Research title: Discovering treatments for neurological diseases through the methods of biophysics and crystallography
More information: Krabbe disease is a rare neurological condition that affects 1 in every 100,000 births, with a short life expectancy of around 2-4 years of age. It is the result of genetic inheritance, and its main characteristic is toxic molecules that accumulate within cells. We focus on a protein called Acid Ceramidase, which produces additional toxic molecules. We are trying to treat this serious disease by crystallizing acid ceramidase, and imaging it using complex equipment. By analysing this data, we can reveal its molecular structure, which will enable us to discover which drugs can prevent the protein from producing harmful molecules.
Subject: Linguistics
University: Swansea University
Start date: 1 October 2025
Research title: Welsh as a Second Language in further and higher education: learners' assumptions and attitudes
More information:
The number of Welsh speakers has fallen again, especially among young people, and fewer students are choosing to study Welsh as a second language at A level or at university. While Curriculum for Wales and the Welsh Education Bill (2024) seek to change this, there is a need to understand why more people are not choosing the subject.
This research examines learners' attitudes and experiences towards studying Welsh as a second language at further and higher education level. The aim of the study is to understand what factors influence their decisions and how the number who choose to continue learning Welsh could be increased. The research will also consider learners' motivation and confidence to use Welsh, and how this could contribute to meeting the Cymraeg 2050 target.
Subject: MSc Occupational Therapy (before registration)
University: Cardiff
Where are you from: Bala
Favourite place in Cardiff: Bute Park
Interests: Walking
Why study through the medium of Welsh: Easier and being able to offer services in Welsh can be an advantage in the health sector.
Why be an ambassador: Promote more to study their courses through the medium of Welsh, if the opportunity arises.
Enjoy at university: The opportunities to meet other students.
Subject: Welsh / Media
University: Swansea University
Start date: 1 October 2025
Research title: The Life and Work of Norah Isaac (1914–2003)
More information: Norah Isaac was a pioneer in the world of Welsh education, a pioneer in the world of Welsh drama, and one of the great benefactors of the Welsh language. Although minor essays on her life have been published over the years, no comprehensive biography has been written to date.
This project will fill a gap in Welsh historiography, and achieve a number of scholarly objectives. It will present an in-depth and thorough study of Norah Isaac, her life, work, and legacy. It will also promote studies of leading women in Welsh history, contributing to the agenda of the Welsh Government, the BBC, and other bodies to promote awareness of the history of Wales' hidden female heroes.
