What Students Say
Likes
- Course module and delivery was very up to date, relevant and practical information. Courses were assignment focussed that help develop deep understanding of the subject matter.
- Professors are from diverse backgrounds and global experts in their respective fields. They are also very friendly and super helpful.
- State of the art labs that let you practice what you learnt theoretically.
Dislikes
- Placement services could be better
- More options for university accomodation could be made available
- Prior information on what the exact course module is about could be useful
Course Curriculum
10
- The course level was medium to hard; that is why the admission process is crucial. Also, it is very important to choose your course modules wisely based on your background and interests.
- The courses were very up-to-date and very concise. Students from non-STEM backgrounds might struggle to cope.
- 50 students were there in total. Students come from different educational and cultural backgrounds so you will get an opportunity to interact and collaborate with different people. Make sure you participate in as many group projects as possible. There are quite a few Asians. 5 students were Indian.
Admission Experience
-
I applied to 6 colleges.
- UCL
- University of Glasgow
- Heriot Watt University
- University of Leeds
- Loughborough University
- Cranfield University
- I got accepted at 4 universities.
- University of Glasgow
- University of Leeds
- Loughborough University
- Cranfield University
- I never heard back from Heriot-Watt. I got rejected from UCL because i applied very late (I applied in Feb 2021 and their admissions closed in December).
- Reasons for choosing the University of Glasgow :
- The University of Glasgow is a Russell Group university, which is equivalent to Ivy League universities in the USA. So you get better funding opportunities for research, the alumni network is better, and you get a chance to be a part of a reputable history which has once housed Nobel laureates and a university that is globally acknowledged.
- The course module that they were offering, especially options for dissertation, was best suited for my career goals.
- Also, I am a big fan of Hogwarts so studying at a university that looks like Hogwarts is a dream come true!
- Admission process :
- Needed to write a Statement of Purpose (SOP) describing my journey so far, what i want to study, why i want to study the course, what makes me the best fit for this course and university, and what my future plans are.
- 2 referrals from bachelor's university and 1 referral from my previous employer
- Marksheets of uni, 10th, and 12th.
- I was exempted from IELTS because i scored 94% in English from the ISC Board in my 12th.
- The minimum score required is 8 in IELTS.
- The admission process is very straightforward. They have a questionnaire that you need to fill out that can be answered from your SOP, and you need to upload all your relevant documents. They usually come back with an answer within 2 weeks.
- September intake, 2021 batch. The academic cycle for September intake is better. Also, you get some time to be acclimatised to the weather compared to the January intake, who arrive in deep winter, which can be a shock.
- I applied at the end of february. I received a response from them within 2 weeks saying that i got admission. You can apply for a scholarship after you receive an admission. They will give you a month to confirm if you want to accept the admission or not.
Faculty
10
- Faculty to student ratio is 1 teacher for 50 students. The professors are very interactive and respond to emails. You can book in meetings with them or ask questions during/after the lectures.
- The course modules are updated every semester and they make it efficient so that you learn what is most relevant and can be easily applicable practically. Also the courses are assignment based so it develops research skills.
- Depends. They might give you leads for internships or directions on what companies to apply for.
Campus Life
10
- There is one main campus which is spread across one neighbourhood, with different buildings for each department. They are all within walking distance.
- There is a huge library with books and plenty of online resources. There are multiple reading rooms across the entire campus.
- There are many cafes and lunch spots to serve the needs of students.
- There are sports options and classes as well.
Part Time Jobs
- The option is available for students to secure TA or RA jobs, especially students who want to continue in research fields or are in medicine.
- The usual pay is £11-15 per hour, depending on the type of job. The maximum allowed is 20 hours per week.
- There are other options in cafeterias and other supporting staff. There is a website with job openings that can be leveraged to get jobs/internships.
- 11-15£ an hour. You can either use the university job portal, or you can get referrals from existing students or accommodation staff, or you can do walk-ins with your CVs. Most Indian students go for jobs in restaurants. There is a basic CV that needs to be prepared and it is okay to not have prior job experience. Interviews are also pretty straightforward.
Placement
6
- More than 70% of students get a job within the first 6 months, either using the university job portal, LinkedIn, referrals, Indeed, Total jobs, Target jobs, cold emails or the alumni network. Starting salary can be anything between £25,000 and £32,000 based on experience and location.
- Talk to professors. Talk to batchmates. Build your network on LinkedIn. Talk to alumni. Make sure you start preparing your CV and cover letter 6 months into the course and start applying before the course ends so that you do not have to wait to start a job application process before the course ends and you have assessed the job market well.
Accommodation
Off Campus
10
- I researched on Google and read the reviews before selecting the accommodation. My accommodation's name was Hyndland House and the location and reviews were good for the price. Also, a big advantage was the regular cleaning service of public spaces and the kitchen.
- My monthly rent was £650. I would definitely recommend Hyndland House and Maclay Residences.
- It is 1 mile away from the uni campus.
Exams
- IELTS
- Statement of Purpose, 2 Letters of recommendation from previous educational institutions, detailed CV, 10th, 12th and Bachelor's marksheets, Letter of recommendation from previous employer (if relevant), any internship certificates, any other degrees for curricular activities (only as supporting documents)
- There was no interview involved. All the selection process is via the written application.
Fees
- Tuition fees for my course were £24,000 per year.
- I took a private hostel, which was £650 a month. University accommodations which were cheaper could have been better maintained. Good ones were more expensive. There are lots of options for private hostels as well.
- Average living cost was 250-300£ per month.
- There are multiple options for payment frequency. I paid it in one single instalment because i had my loan approved. They can be paid in up to 8 instalments.
Scholarship
- No, I did not receive a scholarship.
- There is a Dean's scholarship which is £10,000, and that is just one award across all STEM branches. So it can get quite competitive. You need to write an essay for it.
- There is an option for Commonwealth funding where the government from Commonwealth countries nominates you and pays for your costs. The condition is that you need to go back as soon as you complete the course and serve in the public sector for 2 years.
- There are options for financial aid as well, which needs to be applied for separately. I am not sure about that.
