WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO ARRIVE IN THE UK? WAS THE VISA EASY OR MORE COMPLICATED? 

I arrived at Glasgow International Airport early in the morning on a cloudy day in August. Passengers from my flight seemed to be the only ones in queue for immigration. I had gathered up all my documents, but was still feeling uneasy about customs.

The application process for my visa had been a little different. I had a grandmother who was born in Scotland, and I was from a commonwealth country so I was able to apply for a UK Ancestry visa, which would allow me to study, work, and live in the UK for up to 5 years. My plan is to study my PGDE with Strathclyde in Scotland, then remain in the UK to practise teaching.

Gathering up the documentation for that visa had been a long process. I needed to collect birth certificates, marriage licenses, proof of funds, and book an appointment at a visa center in Ottawa (the nearest centre to me) to send off for my visa. I have a real appreciation for what a service like Across the Pond can offer for students going through the visa process.

I was a little nervous about the immigration check for my visa; I was unsure if it would be as complicated. Luckily the agent working the desk at the time was very kind and patient. My Across the Pond Student Advisor had already let me know what to expect, so I had my documentation ready. He asked me a couple questions about my plans for Scotland, and then I was on my way!
 

WHAT WAS WELCOME WEEK/ORIENTATION LIKE?  DID YOU FIND IT HELPFUL? WHAT WAS THE MOST ENJOYABLE?

My programme started earlier than most to accommodate the student teacher placement schedule. I arrived at the mostly quiet student halls, but had great assistance getting set up. The regular orientation activities wouldn’t be ready for another week or two so I met up with my flatmates and other members of the residence to talk about the course and make new friends.

Once orientation week started, there were loads of events going on around the city. Some of these fairs on campus had lots of good info about events in the city (and lots of discounts!) as well as info that was helpful for international students: like opening a student bank account and getting a cell phone plan.

There were lots of events for on-campus residences as well, like free breakfast and pizza meet ups and getting to know your residence team and meet fellow students. It was so easy to meet others while living in student halls, and we quickly made plans for events and trips.

I’ve had some opportunities now to make little excursions on the weekend to places outside Glasgow. So far I’ve made it to Edinburgh (sadly just after the Fringe Festival), and spent some time hiking and exploring the city. I’m looking forward to more kinds of excursions like this, and seeing more of Scotland.
 

DO YOU HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STUDENTS ARRIVING NEXT AUTUMN?

I initially thought because I had experience living abroad and adjusting to a new country that the move over to the UK wouldn’t be too much of a culture shock, but I found that going through the visa process and arriving in a new country still was a pretty new and exciting experience for me, even if I spoke the language here! I really appreciated the assistance preparing for my arrival, so I would recommend new students to seek out any advice from their Across the Pond Student Advisors.

The other side of that is: I found I was very supported by my university once I arrived here. The student halls have been great and the Welcome Week events made me feel pretty comfortable navigating the city, and travelling beyond.
 

WHY STUDY EDUCATION IN SCOTLAND?

A common question I get asked here is: why did you choose Scotland to study education? My answer is maybe a little more complicated than other international students, but it involves the coming together of a great programme and some family roots.

After completing my undergraduate diploma, I headed over to South Korea to teach English. I stayed there for a number of years until moving on to China where I worked for an international teaching consultancy firm in Shanghai. We analysed teachers’ resumes if they were interested in working internationally and helped them find schools that would be a good fit. I became familiar with education qualifications from many countries and after two years in China, I felt that my real calling was teaching. I was ready to choose a programme to get certified.

While looking at postgraduate qualifications around the world, I kept coming back to University of Strathclyde’s PGDE programme. It was appealing to me because it was offered at a masters level, and after completing the course I’d have half the credits necessary for an M.Ed. The course was also heavily focused on the placement learning and experiences. The PGDE stands for Professional Graduate Diploma in Education, and the focus is very much about training new teachers for the professional world of education.

Another thing that interested me was Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence. The program is relatively new and flexible with the adaptability to offer exciting opportunities for teachers. The programme offers vibrant discussions of educational policy in Scotland and invites new teachers to discuss, work in the field, then return and reflect to discuss again. The mixture of theory and practice is an excellent balance for new teachers.

Strathclyde has a sprawling campus which occupies a large chunk of Glasgow’s Merchant City. There are picturesque side streets lined with boutique shopping just a hop away from where students hurry along well-worn steps on their way to class. Lectures take place in old cathedrals, local theatres, and turn of the century buildings as well as the cutting-edge facilities of the downtown campus.

All these buildings are nestled in amongst the vibrant Glasgow restaurant scene, where you can grab a quick bite to eat or stay a while at a coffeeshop nearby. Strathclyde University also recently opened their new Sports Facility, which offers amazing facilities that are included in the accommodation for students living in the halls.

So with an exciting programme in mind, the thing that sealed the deal to come study in Scotland was the Ancestry Visa I applied for. Since my grandmother was born in the UK, and I was from a Commonwealth country (Canada) I could qualify for a 5 year UK Ancestry Visa.

This visa means I can study and work in the UK for the next 5 years so, after gaining my teacher qualification, I’m looking forward to completing my probationary year in Scotland. After studying and working in Scotland for a couple of years, I’ll have an internationally recognised education degree which I can take with me where ever I head to next.

- Ashley