International Students Share Their Experiences
Five students share their experience of being an international student in Edinburgh, from things they wish they knew to taking advantage of the opportunities offered by the University.
The University is a welcoming place for international students and has a large international student community. Students have the chance to make friends from around the world, experiences new things and embark upon new adventures.
Those studying here in Edinburgh have the opportunity to study abroad, become involved in societies and to learn new skills.
Jenny's Blog
The University of Edinburgh, I’ve come to realise, has so much to offer that it’d be unjust to try to cover it all in one simple blog post! But, I will attempt to capture the essence of it, by telling you about one of my favourite experiences from last semester.
In her post Jenny talks about her experience of moving to Edinburgh from Thailand. She explains how she feel it’s important to try new things and to meet new people so that you don’t feel homesick. Jenny found that a great way to do this was taking part in a workshop organised by the Tandem Society.
Leda's Blog
I really didn’t know what to expect when coming to Edinburgh – I knew it would be old, not too big, and fairly rainy, but I didn’t know that I would fall in love with this city so quickly, and end up regarding it as a second home.
Leda who came from Massachusetts to study sociology uses her blog post talk about the things she wished she had known before moving to Edinburgh. She explains what it’s like to live in halls, getting used to a different education system, and the importance of joining different societies.
Hermina's blog
I have challenged myself academically, professionally and socially and as I reflect carefully I am happy and proud to say that I have added to my skills a new toolkit that will help me improve and advance in life.
Hermina talks about how she faced culture shock when she moved to Edinburgh from Albania. She believes that the best way to deal with the change is to challenge yourself, which she did by becoming a class rep. Hermina found that this helped to make her feel more connected to the student community and develop her interpersonal skills.
Amanda's Blog
As an Edinburgh student you are exposed to different cultures, backgrounds, and languages on campus. Talking with people from so many areas of the world has given me a more global perspective.
Amanda from New Jersey, USA feels that studying at Edinburgh has given her a chance to connect with people from all over the world and to learn about new cultures. Being surround by other international students on campus she was inspired to learn a new language. She also found that joining different societies meant that she could learn more about other cultures.
Fiona's Blog
My best piece of advice for students moving to Edinburgh for the first time or venturing out on exchange is: Just say it and just do it. Whether that’s introducing yourself to someone new in freshers’ week, or going along to that first society event.
Fiona who came to Edinburgh to study fashion at Edinburgh College of Arts explains how important it is to take advantage of opportunities and to not let anything hold you back. While on an exchange trip to Amsterdam she reached out to other students who would be in her class, so she had the opportunity to make friends beforehand.