Our tutors - Megan Hassanali

Megan, History - University of Oxford

Hi! I’m Megan, and I recently graduated from the University of Oxford with a First-Class Degree in History from Balliol College. During my time at Oxford, I was awarded the Theobald Exhibition, the Fletcher Scholarship, and the William Western Pathfinders Award in recognition of my academic achievements. I was also particularly proud to achieve a mark of 76 in my final dissertation, which challenged post-structuralist approaches to Soviet subjectivities under Stalin by adopting a methodology centred on the physical body.

Before university, I achieved A* grades in A Level History, English Literature, and Economics, as well as a perfect score (100%) in my Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). For my project, I produced an oil painting inspired by the ‘anti-socialist’ revolutionary movement that influenced China during and after the Cultural Revolution. This combination of rigorous research and creative interpretation reflected my long-standing interest in combining analytical and artistic approaches to learning.

I have extensive experience supporting students across a range of ages and abilities, both during my time at Oxford and since graduating. As President of Balliol’s Dervorguilla History Society, I established a mentorship programme pairing first-year students with more senior peers to provide support with essays, study strategies, and workload management. I also acted as a College and Subject ‘Parent’ to incoming undergraduates, offering academic and pastoral guidance, and worked as an Access Ambassador to mentor applicants from underrepresented backgrounds through personal statements and Oxbridge interview preparation. Alongside this, I tutored GCSE English through NyxTuitions, where I helped students develop analysis skills and exam confidence, and worked as a Teaching Assistant with Canvassing Happiness, designing in-person and online art classes tailored to students with different learning needs.

Since graduating, I have been tutoring full-time during my gap year, supporting students in History, English Literature, English Language, and Economics. I have worked with a wide range of learners - from those aiming for top grades (A*s and 9s) to those focused on simply passing. Every single student I’ve supported has succeeded in their exams, and some of my most rewarding experiences have been helping students with additional challenges. Two of my proudest success stories include: working with a dyslexic student who had failed English Language GCSE (AQA) twice before but passed after just six months of tuition with me, and another home-educated student who had never enjoyed English but achieved a grade 7 in her English Language paper (Edexcel) on her first attempt after six months of sessions together.

A distinctive feature of my teaching style is my belief that half of a tutor’s role is not only to teach content, but also to build confidence. I’ve seen first-hand how a student’s outlook and self-belief can make a world of difference when it comes to performing well in exams. Alongside developing subject knowledge, I focus on equipping students with clarity of thought, essay-writing technique, and critical engagement with texts and ideas. I adapt my approach to the individual: sometimes this means providing structured frameworks for students who need confidence and clarity, while at other times it involves challenging high-achieving students to think more deeply and independently. Above all, my aim is to create an encouraging, interactive environment where students feel supported and inspired to push themselves further.