Studied in University of Glasgow
MSc in Equality and Human Rights from 2019 to 2020 under the Chevening scholarship
As I waited for the result of my Chevening application, I did extensive research on the three universities of my choice. I had been offered a place in all three institutes – each university was reputable in the study of Media and Human Rights. In the end, I went with my last option – the University of Glasgow (UofG) in Scotland.
I had been to London twice before and travelled around England. But I didn’t know much about Scotland other than it had been repeatedly voted as the most beautiful country in the world. I knew even less about Glasgow but I was drawn to the uniqueness of the course I wanted to study: Master of Science in Equality and Human Rights. Furthermore, UofG is consistently listed as one of the best universities in the UK and in the world’s top 100. I decided to take a leap of faith and live in this underrated gem of a country for a year. Time would soon reveal that I had made the right choice.
When I first stepped foot at UofG in September 2019, my jaw dropped. The university was so architecturally impressive and beautiful; it exceeded all my expectations. I could never get bored of walking through the famous Cloisters section – which has been featured in many movies and TV shows. I joined UofG’s award-winning newspaper The Glasgow Guardian and was able to pursue stories that were close to my heart. I made many friends from all walks of life and expanded my professional network. Upon graduation, I moved to London for a 4-month work placement with the BBC. Once that ended, I returned to Malaysia and started working for an environmental NGO.
There are many reasons to love Glasgow other than its affordable cost of living. Firstly, it is the perfect place for avid fans of live music. I have watched many of my favourite musicians live in concert before the lockdown. It’s no wonder that Glasgow was named the cultural and creative centre of the UK in 2019. Also did you know that Glasgow’s SSE Hydro was the world’s second busiest arena venue after New York’s Madison Square Garden? Secondly, it is the gateway to the breath-takingly beautiful Scottish Highlands. If you are looking for a weekend getaway, Loch Lomond is just a train or bus ride away. This brings me to my third point – Glasgow has good transportation networks. It is easy to get around. Personally I’ve always preferred walking and cycling over taking public transport because everything is near each other. Last but not least, Glaswegians are a friendly lot, which aligns with the city’s tagline ‘People Make Glasgow’. In fact, Glasgow was voted the world’s friendliest city in Rough Guides survey in 2021.
So if you’re looking to study in a world-class university in a world-class city and in a picturesque country, go to Glasgow!
