First days in Edinburgh
Arriving in Scotland
I flew into Glasgow, Scotland about three weeks ago, and since then everything has been a whirlwind, but in the best way! I took an overnight flight from Toronto with my family, so when I arrived I was quite tired. However, first I had to get through customs, which was relatively easy. The border officer asked me for my passport, my visa, my CAS, biometric residence letter, and where I would be staying. I had all of this in my carry on, so it was easy to access, and we were out of the airport in no time! I had decided to fly in two weeks before classes started, which allowed me time to travel with my family first, as well as adjust to the time change. I visited family in Inverness for the first week, adjusted to being five hours ahead, and then took the train down to Edinburgh, where I will be attending school for the next year. Inverness was absolutely beautiful, and I highly recommend making it one of the places on your bucket list to visit when you study in the UK!
Travelling the Edinburgh
Arriving in Edinburgh was nerve wracking; I was really hoping I would love the city, because it was where I had chosen to live for the next year of my life. I shouldn’t have worried! The city itself is absolutely beautiful, and surprisingly easy to navigate once you get used to it. I participated in several tours and got to know my way around in the days before classes started. However, I was already homesick, especially when my family flew home, and I hadn’t even been away from home for long. I knew this would be a problem for me, but talking to my family and talking to my flatmates really helped.
Welcome to the University
My program had a Welcome Day, where they introduce you to the course and exciting activities to come over the next year. My program, MSc Publishing, is very small, and only a year long. It gave me the opportunity to meet people in the program, talk to the professors about my concerns, and learn about what was to come. I definitely recommend participating in your school’s welcome week!
Starting Class and Settling In
After classes officially started, I realized I loved my program. I’m happy I decided to do this, and the university has been so supportive of me as I took time to adjust. The professors and counsellors are all here to help, and happy to do so. Exploring the city, learning my way around, and attending classes have all helped me to adjust, and with views like this, how could I not love the city?
My Favourite Parts of the City
My favourite part so far has definitely been exploring the city with my family. We toured all around Old Town, and visited several tourist attractions, such as Edinburgh Castle. This was wonderful, and it allowed me to see a lot of the city in a short amount of time. Victoria Street is an especially pretty area to see!
Recommendations
To those who are considering studying in the UK next fall, I do have a few suggestions. Familiarize yourself with the city as soon as possible, as this will make you more comfortable in your new home. Definitely go to Welcome Week, and any additional sessions put on by your program. They are great places to meet people and adjust to being a new student in the UK!
- Lauren