Aurélie G

Aurélie, from Toulouse, France, studied here for a year as part of the Erasmus scheme. She graduated with an MA in Politics.

Why did you choose to study at Dundee University?

I had an opportunity to study in Dundee thanks to the Erasmus programme. Dundee University is very well rated in France and internationally speaking for International Law and Politics, but also for its relation to students.

Please give a brief 'history' of your career since graduation

I passed my MA (or Master 1) in Dundee. Thus to finish the European Diploma, a final year was required. I did my Master 2 (5th year of Study) in Bordeaux, in Politics-Global Security.

To complete this diploma, an internship was required. I, thus, spent 6 months as redactor for the Ministry of Homeland Security, in the International and European Affairs Office. Then I worked as redactor for the Ministry of Defence.

Since 2009, I am a PhD. student in the Centre de Documentation et de Recherches Européennes (CDRE) in Bayonne.

How has your degree helped you in the 'real world'?

As a French student, passing a year, only using English, is a great advantage. It opened up some very interresting professional opportunities.

Also, the fact that I studied Politics from a foreign point of view opened my mind and gave me a broader way of understanding issues that I was confronted with, both academically and professionally.

What was the most enjoyable thing about your degree and why?

The difference between teaching in the French and the UK system is huge, at least in International Law and in Politics. I really appreciated the fact that in Dundee, professors were only giving a "skeleton" of the topic they were talking about and "keys" to understand the issues.

Then, students carry out their own research to build their own opinion and arguments on these issues.

What was your best university experience and why?

Dundee University was my best university experience. For the reason mentionned above, the way lectures are done, but also for the fact that the student is considered. If you have a problem, you'll find someone from the staff who will kindly help you. Questions about a lecture? You can totally ask your Professor.

You have enough time to do research and to take part in other activities. Sports clubs are a great way to meet people and to have activities if you feel alone, same as events organised by the Uni and the Union.

What sports activities or clubs/societies (if any) were you involved with?

Rucksack club

Do you have any advice for potential new students?

Don't stay only with your national fellows. Meet foreign people and Scottish people. You can feel it hard to understand the language or the accent but you will not progress unless you hang out with people from different nationalities. Staying in University accommodation is good as you will probably be with people coming from different countries.

Visit the local area - Dundee and the Firth of Tay area are nice places. If you can save some money, the best way to discover Scotland is to rent a car and drive around. You can also take a bus (bus lines are very well developed, a bit like trains in France).

And if you have a problem and don't know who to talk about it, do not hesitate to go to the Advice Service. They are nice and they will help you.

How did you find settling into life in the UK?

It can be very different from your home country. I had the great chance to meet very nice Scottish people a few days after arriving who made me discover the local life, which was definitely more enjoyable than staying only with French people.