During the week at the University of Glasgow, affectionately nicknamed the UofG, we caught up with an alumni with an MSc in Civil Engineering. João Paulo Santos told us about his experience studying at one of the oldest universities in the UK.
THE #UniversityWeek is a loveUK initiative to bring universities closer to the public interested in studying abroad. It is an opportunity to get to know more deeply what we do not always have as information. That's why it's important for us to always bring true and voluntary reports from those who have been or are students at loveUK's partner universities.
So, enjoy reading and learn more about the University of Glasgow!
loveUK: Why did you choose the University of Glasgow?
Joao Paulo dos Santos: I chose the UofG for several reasons. The first one was the great tradition that the University has in developing research and for having in its history renowned people in all areas of knowledge. However, as history alone does not guarantee the future, another extremely relevant factor for choosing the University was its positioning in the world rankings, being one of the Top 100. Additionally, the institution was about to make significant investments in the modernization of the campus to provide more quality to the education provided. by the number of foreign students that the university had. Because it enables the creation of a more comprehensive networking and an even more significant and effective exchange of experiences. Another factor of great importance for choosing the university was the fact that it allows people from the community to take courses at the institution. This ended up allowing my wife to take some high quality technical courses, enriching her experience during our stay at the place.
loveUK: Which course did you take at UofG and during which year?
JPS: I studied a master's degree in Civil Engineering & Management during the year 2017/2018, staying at the UofG from September 2017 to September 2018.
loveUK: What do you have to say about the University as a whole? From the infrastructure? Do you support foreign students?
JPS: It's impressive, but I have nothing but praise for the university. From infrastructure to academic support (especially for foreigners). The university's infrastructure is fantastic, which demonstrates the institution's concern to provide students with a quality study. Even presenting a mixture of classic and modern buildings, it has an internal structure of exceptional quality, with absolutely fantastic laboratories and library! The university's teaching methodology is another thing that caught my attention, as it promotes the constant exchange of experiences between students and encourages discussions of ideas during classes. your life during your time at the university. From psychological support to guidance on how to proceed in the face of usual situations. In addition, it provides English courses (for support), assistance with the job market, through referrals and assistance in the preparation of curricula and activities for the family, in order to facilitate the stay of people in the place. range of scholarships, which help a lot. And, something of great relevance happens because such scholarships are available to many foreign students.
loveUK: How was your adaptation process?
JPS: My adaptation process was very smooth, as the Scots make this process very easy. It's amazing how they like Brazilians in general and how receptive, extremely friendly and fun they are. A point of attention was given by the Glasgow accent. In the beginning, I confess that it was more difficult, but people always showed concern to make themselves understood and with great humor. In my case, it took me about 10 days to get used to the accent that is totally different from the one presented in traditional English books.
loveUK: Tell us about a remarkable experience from your year in the UK.
JPS: Summarizing into a single outstanding experience during my stay in the UK is extremely difficult. So I'm going to quote something that sums up all this through maturation. The personal and professional growth I had during the entire time I was there was extremely incredible. As much as this is closely linked to the exchange process.
loveUK: Did your expectations meet reality?
JPS: My expectations were exceeded by a lot! At first I went to UofG with the intention of just taking my master's degree, improving my English and returning to Brazil. Afterwards, I achieved merit in my master's degree, I left with friends around the world and with a unique life experience. In addition, I was awarded a scholarship that helped me a lot financially in the payment of the course. loveUK: How did having a master's degree abroad reflect on your professional life?
JPS: The various possibilities that emerged after this period is something I really did not dream of having. After the course you become really global. You really start to compete for opportunities around the world. But as I'm currently focused on staying in Brazil, I was able to have an accelerated professional growth that was not possible before in my career. In financial terms, the master's degree was a great lever for my career.
What's up? Did you like João Paulo's experience? You can read others from other universities on our blog or you can contact one of our educational consultants now to start your University of Glasgow admissions process!
