Working alongside world-class scholars is part of the student experience at Roehampton. Our theologians and philosophers appear on radio and in the press, work with leading cultural organisations and publish widely. Their expertise means you will benefit from lecturers working at the forefront of historical research. Here is a little more about them.
Dr Kathryn Tempest
Dr Kathryn Tempest teaches Latin language, Latin literature and Roman history. Her research focuses on Cicero, Roman Oratory, and Roman Republican history, as well as the theory and practice of rhetoric more generally.
Dr Simonetta Calderini
Dr Simonetta Calderini specialises in Islamic Studies including Shiism and specifically Ismailism, Islam and Gender, Religion and Human Rights. She is currently researching into classical and contemporary scholarly arguments in favour and against women imams, Ismailism and the issue of the veil, as well as women's rights.
Dr Tim Atkins
Dr Tim Atkins is a poet, playwright, and prose writer, whose work has been widely published in the USA, Canada, UK, and Europe.
Dr Rachele Dini
Dr Rachele Dini’s research and teaching interests focus on twentieth-century and twenty-first century literature, discard studies (also known as waste studies), literary materialities (the representation of objects and the material world), ecocriticism, and Marxist theory.
Children's Literature (Distance Learning) Creative Writing Creative Writing (specialist pathway)
Professor Clare McManus has secured a Leverhulme Research Project Grant worth £314,000 for her project 'Engendering the Stage: The Records of Early Modern Performance' which seeks to prove that, despite the preconception that Shakespearean theatre was a world mainly inhabited by men, a much more diverse range of performers played a key part
Professor Glyn Parry discovered twenty-one previously unknown documents concerning William Shakespeare's father John, in The National Archives, throwing new light on Shakespeare’s early life and developing political views. These documents reveal new information about Shakespeare’s life and political context, and also show that there are still discoveries waiting to be made about the playwright.
A research project led by Professor Fiona Ellis and co-directed by Dr Clare Carlisle of KCL has been given funding worth £140,000 by the Templeton Religion Trust, a global charitable trust that supports projects that seek to enrich the conversation about religion. The project will broach how we think about desire, specifically in the context of the spiritual life, and what it means to be human.
Haleh Agar, a Canadian-Iranian novelist, graduated from Roehampton's MA Creative Writing progrmame in 2017. Her debut novel about a fractured family, OUT OF TOUCH, will be published by W&N (Orion, Hachette) on April 2nd 2020.
Haleh has been published in literary magazines and journals, including Mslexia, Viva Magazine, Fincham Press and Lamplight Magazine. Her short story, 'Not Contagious' was Highly Commended by the Costa Short Story Award. She won the Brighton Prize for a piece of flash fiction, and her narrative essay 'On Writing Ethnic Stories' won the London Magazine's inaugural essay competition. She is currently working on her second novel.
What journey did you take from joining Roehampton to being published?
Writing a novel means drafting and redrafting. It means that you aren’t precious about your words. The Creative Writing MA was the beginning for me, where ideas started to take shape. The manuscript is very different now than it was when I was an MA student. This is something I think every aspiring writer needs to be comfortable with—change. You have to be able to break your manuscript at any stage to make it better.
Once I was happy with my revisions, I queried literary agents and was lucky enough to have choices. My amazing agent Camilla really got me as a writer and so we started our partnership together. She and the team at Darley Anderson helped guide me with suggestions for further revisions before we submitted to publishers.
Why did you want to do your degree?
I was always interested in creative writing but lacked the confidence. The MA helped give me the confidence I needed to take my work forward. Importantly, the MA gave me time to work on the novel.
How did Roehampton support your writing?
My supervisors were so encouraging and supportive. They gave me critical feedback on my work and a lot of encouragement. Leone Ross and Peter Jaeger were wonderful with their feedback and support. So often with writing there’s a crisis of confidence, and sometimes, we just need someone to say—you can do this, you’ve got this.
Where did your idea come from?
I love writing about complex relationships, particularly families. Ideas come from lived experiences and the culture around you. The movie Shame about a brother and sister who both struggle to cope with childhood trauma, really got to me, and I started thinking about my characters--estranged siblings, Michael and Ava.
How did you nurture that idea?
It's a matter of reading and writing EVERY day. Not waiting around for inspiration. That being said, the writing process is also one of co-creation. Once you are tapped into the characters and understand their inner worlds, they will often take you to unexpected places that were not part of the original outline. You must be willing to accept such deviations. I am also nothing without the books I’ve read. Authors who really inspire me like Anne Enright and Alice Munro are my teachers.
Can you talk us through the steps that you took to write your first book?
Once, the general idea of the plot and characters came to me, I wrote a thousand words a day. This means that in a few months, I had a first draft. But of course the first draft will be quite different from the final product. I love the revisions and editing phase. Taking a short break after the first draft means you can revisit the manuscript with fresh eyes. And of course, other eyes help a lot. Gaining distance from your work is crucial so that you can see it in more objective terms.
The tough question is—when do you know when the manuscript is ready? It’s not easy to tell. But if there’s something bothering you about it, if deep down you know that there are things that don’t quite work yet, then don't ignore the feeling. For example, when reading over the book after the first few drafts, I noticed parts where the pace slowed for me, parts I didn't enjoy reading, and I realised that the voice was missing in those places. So I infused voice into such sections, or got rid of them completely, if they could be cut. You get one chance to send that manuscript to your dream agent, so it makes sense to take the time, to see what works for you, and what doesn't.
How did you take your book from manuscript to published piece?
Even once you’ve got the perfect home for your book with a publisher, there’s a lot of work to be done. Your editor will request revisions—structural, and line edits. I can’t even tell you what draft number I’m on! Every time you think—oh yes, this is the one, think again! It’s much easier for me now that I’m working with professionals in the industry who can point me in the right direction. The key again, is to be comfortable with change. That being said, if something is important to you, and your editor is asking for you to change it, make the case-- explain why it works, how you feel it adds to the story. The editorial process should be one of dialogue, and I was lucky enough to have an editor who practiced this.
What have you got planned next?
I’m working on my second novel, and I'm very excited about it. I also dabble into short fiction every now and then for a change, and I find the variety keeps me inspired. You want to stay inspired!
Fincham Press is Roehampton's very own University publishing press and is run by a team of staff and students, publishing an anthology of student work every year. Fincham Press also publishes two open access, peer-reviewed journals; International Journal of James Bond Studies and RoundTable, run by the department's research students, which gives a platform for early career research in their fields.
Roehampton takes an active role in the local community and beyond. Our research centres and staff both engage with projects that inform national policy, enhance the lives of local people and contribute to the church. For example, Digby Stuart Research Centre for Catholic Studies acts as an interface between the academic community and churches and NGOs, offering you the opportunity to make your own contacts in the field.
Also home to Catherine of Siena College, which offers a range of online courses relating to theology, gender and social justice.
We also have a very active partnership with Wimbledon Bookfest, which offers opportunities for students to get involved and staff to talk about books they’ve had published. We also work with Bookfest to help deliver sessions to local school students.
This course draws on a diverse range of social science disciplines such as criminology, law and socio-legal studies, psychology, sociology and human rights. An engaging range of optional modules will enable you to specialise in key criminological topics such as migration, online harm, environmental justice and genocide.
This challenging programme will provide you with a strong knowledge of the complex roles that human rights and international relations have in global issues such as terrorism, struggles for democratic freedoms, genocide, the effects of defence policies, climate change and social justice. You will graduate with the skills you need to succeed in a highly competitive environment for international human rights advocacy and protection.
Department News
Human Rights students addressed by distinguished Commonwealth figure, Vijay Krishnarayan
In this time of environmental crisis, this new course will reflect on some of the most urgent environmental issues we face, and imagine new ways of relating to the natural environment.We live in a time of great environmental crisis. To fully understand how human beings relate to the non-human environment, as well as the obligations we might have towards it and to each other, we need the cultural, political, and ethical analysis of the Humanities disciplines. This MA will equip students with the knowledge, confidence, and critical ability to reflect on some of the most urgent environmental issues which we face, and to creatively imagine new ways of relating to the natural environment.
This programme will balance traditional international relations theory, case studies, and literature alongside a critical approach which explores and deconstructs the complex relationships between power, conflict, identity, and globalisation. Compulsory modules will teach students the historical and theoretical foundations of international relations as well as familiarise students with key research methods for use in their final dissertation. These modules will also provide the link between theory and practice through experiential learning and the application of global case studies.
This two-year programme is designed for postgraduates who want to make a significant contribution to the human rights agenda internationally. This full-time programme is taught in the UK, Sweden and Spain, and will prepare you for an international career in the protection of human rights. Our programme has a strong emphasis on professional development. This programme is designed for postgraduates who want to make a significant contribution to the human rights agenda internationally with civil society organisations, governments, and the public and private sectors. You will be exposed to legal, political, sociological and anthropological approaches to human rights promotion and protection in a globalised world.
Criminology and Criminal Justice Erasmus Mundus Human Rights Policy and Practice
Environmental Humanities Human Rights and International Relations International Relations
Our exceptional, stylish library is only three years old yet has quickly become established as the beating heart of academic life at Roehampton. Its long, flexible opening hours are ideal for busy postgrads balancing study with work and home life, and there is even a postgraduate-only area. Take a guided video tour now.
Being a student at a campus university in London gives you the best of both worlds. We are lucky enough to have a 54-acre parkland campus to call home, and are only 30 minutes from central London.
We offer plenty of opportunities for you to get involved through playing sport, music, volunteering, or joining one of over 50 student societies. We also have catering outlets, across campus, and each College has social spaces where you can meet up with your friends and relax.
Our campus is close to Putney, Hammersmith and Wimbledon, which each have wide a range of shops, cafes, bars and restaurants. With central London so close, you can easily access the wealth of culture, entertainment and dining options the capital has to offer.
At Roehampton we are focused on ensuring you succeed, and have a wide range of support services to help you at every step of your journey.
Wellbeing – our team are able to provide personal wellbeing support, professional counselling and mental health support. Each college has a Student Wellbeing Officer and a College Warden, the latter is available after hours for all on campus students.
Medical – we have an on-site NHS medical centre which provides doctor and nurse-led services.
Disability and dyslexia – we encourage students to let us know about specific needs so we can work with you to tailor our support.
Financial – we have a wide range of scholarships, and a student hardship fund for those students in financial difficulty.
Chaplaincy – our diverse community is reflected in our multi-faith chaplaincy and we have a number of spaces for worship.
Study support – all students have an Academic Guidance Tutor, as well as access to library support and online study resources.
