I just graduated with a degree in Viking Studies, AMA (ask me anything)

There used to be 7 but they didn't fill them all, it always used to be people who didn't meet the history grade requirements who would try and transfer upon arriving. More recently they lowered the amount of places and expected a personal statement which was clearly aimed towards viking studies rather than just history in general. There were only 3 people in my year, 3 in the year above, 4 in the year below.

English.

I can read old English, middle English and old Norse though.

What do you think did my damage to your future career; Viking Studies or the University of Nottingham?

Must've helped a lot though, as the teaching would be focused on you a lot more than if there were, say, 200 students.

Well done for graduating

And I love your sig, by the way

Favourite Viking is a difficult one, off the top of my head I'd have to say Ragnar Lodbrok. He was hardcore to the death. I'd love to know more about the women of Viking times, because they were pretty cool too, but not much is written about them. In Norse mythology my favourite is Thor, because of the story where he gets dressed up as a bride

Jelous.

Im studying Old England at the moment but am finding it hard without access to serious academic resources , I am essentially working from Beowulf and a vocabulary dictionary any hints or advice?

One of my faves too! I love Thor.

Were you taught by Judith Jesch? What was she like?

[I didn't study Viking Studies - it never would have occurred to me sadly - but I took Old Norse, Old English and Germanic Myth and Legend as part of my English degree and I ruddy loved them!]

Undergraduate, it's a 3 year degree but because of health reasons it took me 4 years.

I got many books out of the library, didn't quench my Viking thirst

As an interdisciplinary degree it made me good at multitasking and looking at things from different angles. Archaeology gave me knowledge of excavating and physical remains, history was good at analysing written sources and different points of view, and on the English side I know a hell of a lot about English place names, and am relatively good at understanding middle english, old english and old norse.

For the moment I'm working in a salaried charity job that I enjoy, I don't know what the future holds though. I'd love something that involves Vikings but I know how unlikely that is. I'll be happy with anything that pays a good salary really

The go-to Viking fact is that they didn't have horns on their helmets, it was all made up by the Victorians for opera. They had horns for drinking, but horned helmets were not practical in battle whatsoever

well done on your employment success but I don't really find that fact interesting. Do you admire and contrast the human development, that have taken place over the last thousand years since the Viking world. If so, what things do you think an average Briton from our period going back to the Viking era would have trouble copping with?

What career do you hope to go into?

At the moment I'm working for a charity, but in the long term I'm not really sure. I want to be based in London, I'd like something that's office based and pays well, and having done my fair share of pub work I'd like monday-friday daytime work! Otherwise I'm very open minded

Your degree sound like sooo much fun

Thanks, it was! Also I know way too much about Vikings for my own good

Do you want a job where you'll be using your degree or not? Sorry if that sounded rude.

No, I have a degree in Viking Studies, no parody there sonny jim.

Doesn't seem like a waste since I'm already in a 22k starting salary position in a job I like. BTW took me 4 years, not 3. You were saying about no chance of good employability...?

Plus bonus if you bring back enough plunder

How does it feel that you wasted 3 (?) years of your life with absolutely no chance of good employ ability?