University of Strathclyde

The International Students Office is very helpfull The careers service in Livingstone tower is very helpfull the student/staff commitee is allright. I have been the representative for the phd students in the student/staff committee in mechanical engineering for several years. General advice for students from continental europe: undergraduates: have a nice time, finish your course, you will find it easy and you will get a very good mark at home, you have the exchange foreign student bonus. do not stay here to finish your degree. return and finish your degree at home, even if it takes you long and it is difficult. postgraduates: make sure that you get funding to cover the fees. Masters: the one/two years master course is not at all equivalent to the studies after the third year (for Diplom, Matrise, Doctore, Ing.). It can be recommended if you want to change the subject (chemical engineer want to work as bioengineer). it can be recommended if you have in germany 'erstes Staatsexamen', a teacher's degree, and you want a complete degree without completing the teachers training ('Refrendardienst'). It can be recommended, if you completed in Germany an engineers college degree ('Fachhochschule') and you want to proceed with a doctorate. britain offers here opportunities which do not exist in this form in continental europe. MPhil never go for an MPhil. nobody in the whole world knows what an MPhil is. It is a degree for those who could not finish with their PhD. In reality, the MPhil thesis is similar to a german diplom thesis, which takes in Physics for example also one year with the possibility of extension. PhD's do not believe the myth of the three years. it will take you four years or longer. make sure that you have the funding. look at the facilities before you decide to start, but be flexible and make the best out of the circumstances. PhD fellows are 80% foreigners. There is generally a high level of education and you find many friends. In contrast to the undergraduate studies, the PhD is on a sound level and well accepted all over the places, additional you will have experience abroad, and if you can attract a famous scolarship it will be an advantage later.

Not really. Get a mobile phone with pay as you go, dont get a phonecard. Its definitely worth it. Phonecards suck. See if your bank charges for international transactions. Mine did. Also you don't have to bring a computer. Its not neccesary, so much socializing, so little studying and you won't be missing your friends/family back home for constant emailing/messaging. Trust me. Bring an Ipod/mp3 player for your music.

All I wrote above may explain what I think about. Moreover, it was a good chance to improve my English in a cosmopolitan city, filled of students many of them international. A meeting "service" was provided by the university managers to help international students meet other people in order to make you relaxed with the new city as soon as you feel comfortable. In conclusion, the university was well-organized for helping international students.

Initially i thought that i know english well as it was my language of instruction throughout my academic life.But after coming here i am not able to understand this local scottish accent and it has taken sometime for me to adjust.Now i am pretty confident that i can understand any english accent as i am able to understand different international students english accent.I feel studying at a foriegn university has gave me this opportunity and in addition to this my presentation skills has improved a lot and i no longer need to fear if someone ask me to give a presentation.I am able to come over from my fear and i feel more confident now.

Before coming here i thought my room in the university accommodation is big(as seen in the photograph of university brochure).But the rooms here are so small i feel like living in a prison.At the same time i feel my university is charging us more than other universities with the same facilities.But the good thing here is we have a phone in every bedroom and is free to use in the campus network as well as a high sped internet connection which is also free to use from my bedroom.