As an international student, I was very nervous about starting my Master’s in a new country, knowing absolutely no one. However, my fears quickly faded. The beautiful city of Edinburgh and the kind people I met at the University created a welcoming atmosphere, allowing me to create a new home away from home.
Welcome Week
The week before classes begin, the University holds 'Welcome Week'. University entities, such as colleges and societies, organise events allowing students to explore and learn about the city and the Business School while meeting new people. I actually met my three best friends at the University’s postgraduate mixer.
The University also hosted the Activities Fair over three days, where different societies and sports clubs presented opportunities for new students to learn about and join extracurricular activities. There is a wide variety of societies that are both academically focused and not. As wine enthusiasts, my friends and I decided to join the Wine Society, which hosts weekly wine-tasting events and a Christmas Ball at the end of the semester.
Becoming a Student Ambassador
During my first few weeks in Edinburgh, I applied to be a University of Edinburgh Business School Social Media Ambassador. When I was first applying to the University, I frequently visited the School’s social media pages to learn more about what my Master’s programme and life in Edinburgh would be like. So, when I saw the job advertised, I thought it would be a great creative opportunity and a chance to help prospective students like I once was. For me, making social media content has served as a rewarding creative outlet, while also inspiring me to find new study spots, cafés, restaurants, and more.
Academics
As an international student from the United States, I found the UK learning format and schedule to be quite different. For my MSc programme, we had one lecture session and one seminar session per class each week. The lecture was led by the course professor, whereas the seminar sessions provided more opportunities for group work and discussion. The courses assigned readings to be done outside of class each week rather than weekly deliverables or homework, as is the case in the US. For the most part, all of my assessed work was due at the end of a block period or semester.
There is also a completely different standard for marking assessments compared to the United States. For example, an 80% in the UK is considered a much higher mark than an 80% in the US!
The City of Edinburgh
Before deciding to study at the University of Edinburgh, I was fortunate to have already visited the city. From my first visit, I fell absolutely in love. Edinburgh is extremely walkable, and there are several bus routes, allowing you to explore with ease. At the beginning of the semester, I would often just walk around aimlessly, purposefully trying to get lost and discover new places.
Edinburgh has a beautiful balance between urban atmosphere and natural spaces. There are many green areas to walk around or relax in, such as Holyrood Park, Calton Hill, Princes Street Gardens, Dean Gardens, and the Meadows (which is right next to the Business School). I live near Arthur’s Seat and the Salisbury Crags, so I love to take walks around Queen’s Drive when taking a break from academics.
Travel
It is fairly easy to travel from Edinburgh, especially to other areas of Scotland and England. From Edinburgh Waverley Train Station, I travelled to Inverness, Aviemore, Stirling, and London. Scotland has some of the most beautiful landscapes I have ever seen. I am hoping to visit the Isle of Skye some time during my second semester. I also saw Highland Cows during my travels, but I was finally able to view them up close at Swanston Farm in the Pentlands at the end of the semester.
At the conclusion of the first semester, the Business School hosted an end-of-course dinner for my MSc programme, coupled with the MSc Global Strategy and Sustainability cohort. There was a three-course meal with drinks and a ceilidh band! It was great fun to learn Scottish dances with my cohort and socialise with other UEBS students after a semester of hard work.
Looking ahead
I thoroughly enjoyed my first semester at the University of Edinburgh Business School. I felt I was able to attain a rewarding work-life balance as I learned from inspiring professionals in my field while exploring all the city of Edinburgh has to offer. As I begin my second semester, I am excited to see what opportunities the rest of the year holds!