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Undergraduate degree student profiles
We keep in contact with international students who have successfully completed their Undergraduate Certificate and progressed onto their degree at University of Stirling. Read about some of their experiences:
Meet students currently at the International Study Centre, preparing for a degree.
Yun (Ray) GOU
From: China
Age: 19
Degree: BA Economics and Finance
Undergraduate Certificate pathway: Business and Arts
“I decided to go abroad to study when I was 15. First, I applied to different universities in the United States, but I didn’t get a visa. After that an agency told me about Stirling, and I read about the degree I’m doing - Economics and Finance – and found out that I can get a good degree from here. Now I’m really happy I chose Stirling.
The second year of my degree is different from the ISC because we have to do everything by ourselves, and no-one will tell you when to come to lectures. Now I have more freedom but also I have to deal with everything by myself.
In the ISC there are smaller classes so you get more time from the teachers. Now at University we have larger classes – 60 or 70 people in a lecture. I think the ISC told me everything I need for the degree course and I learnt quite a lot of skills.
And I like the ISC teachers, they are really nice. I miss being at the ISC but I’ve met more people and made more friends now I’m studying on a degree.
After Stirling, I still want to go to the United States and do my Economics postgraduate degree. Or maybe I will stay in the UK for postgraduate study. I’m not quite sure, but I know I want to become an Investment Analyst.”
Onyeka (Ben) Esiana
From: Nigeria
Age: 20
Degree: BSc Biology and Environmental Science
Undergraduate Certificate pathway: Sciences
"I chose Stirling because the University offered the course I wanted to do in Environmental Science. I also wanted to find out what Scotland was all about – I didn’t know about it before I came here!
At the ISC it’s a very simple, progressive structure. We took it step-by-step and learnt how to write essays and how to be successful at university. I learnt everything I needed and how to study in a much more independent way – like it was going to be in the second year of my degree.
My ISC biology teacher introduced me to certain topics and then sent me to research and read up about it on my own at the University. I also got instructions on how to study so that I was able to meet the deadlines, and get used to the University system.
The welcoming and understanding ISC staff offer great help to students for both academic and social issues. In fact, it was a lovely experience studying in the ISC.
The ISC is definitely the best path to both first and second year degree entrance. I miss it so much, but I’m enjoying my degree so far. I think I’m even more independent than before. There was an event in the first week where I met year 3 degree students, so I made some friends straight away.
After my degree I haven’t decided actually on what aspect to go into, but I think I would like to get a PhD and after that work in a government agency perhaps on climate change or perhaps set up my own private lab, here in the UK. But that won’t be permanent as I want to take my skills back home to Nigeria.”
