Grace Muchemi

Grace, from Kenya, graduated in 2011 with a BSc in Economics.

Why did you choose to study at Dundee University?

My first choice was always Scotland, but I was torn between Dundee and Strathclyde in Glasgow. However after speaking to the International Rep at a Uni fair in High School I knew Dundee was where I wanted to go. He was so friendly and painted a warm loving picture of Dundee and after looking at the prospectus and speaking to one international student I was sold.

The beauty of it all was when I finally arrived in Dundee it was what I had imagined it to be and then some. Plus I wanted a campus university, where everything is in one place rather than spread all over town. This made it easier to make friends and get to know quite a lot of people.

What are your immediate plans after graduation?

Work for 6-12 months before starting a masters program in Marketing and Public Relations.

What are your longer term career plans (if any)?

Work in the Marketing and PR field and eventually open and own my own PR firm back in Kenya.

What information do you think applicants need to know before starting this course?

The beauty about Scotland and especially Dundee is that uni is 4 years. This means you have your modules spread out more and can therefore take more electives especially if you're not really sure what exactly you want to do. First and second year allows you to try out different modules and then finally settle down on the degree that you like and that suits you.

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

The fact that I could try out different modules before finally settling down on what I loved doing the most.

Lecturers and tutors are also really helpful and literally only an email away and they were always ready to help out.

Modules like Marketing Research and Internship were also quite enjoyable as they put me in real-life situations where as much as it was about getting good grades it was also about getting results for companies that they would use.

What was your best university experience and why?

Meeting new people who will become life long friends. The international community in Dundee is so diverse that it allows you to make friends from all over the world and the people are so welcoming and friendly that you can't help but be friends.

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

Secretary of the Dundee African and Caribbean Society. Celebrating everything about Africa and the Caribbean from food to music to each other.

Did you taken part in any student exchanges/work placements?

My internship module required me to find a 3 month placement in Dundee. I worked with the St. Andrews Family Support Project, a project that helps teenage mothers in Dundee.

Do you have any advice for potential new students?

1. The winters can get quite cold especially if you are not used to it.
2. Try out new things and be open to new experiences - you'll end up meeting some amazing people
3. Make use of your lecturers, advisors and tutors. They are there for you so don't be afraid or shy to ask questions or ask for help.

How did you find settling into life in the UK?

It was quite a change especially coming from Kenya. The weather and the food was a big thing to get adjusted to but it was made so much easier with having an open mind and amazing flat mates....it was also quite easy to find people from Kenya around which made the days i was really homesick much more bearable :)