What our students say

Sundas Mahar, Pakistan (2017-18)

'You learn by learning together and from each other, especially by sharing educational perspectives and insights from diverse nations'

Why did you choose this programme of study at the University of Glasgow?

'I had been teaching at primary school for 6 years before applying for this programme and I was basically looking to move beyond schooling towards working in higher education. I was also looking for a degree that had a broad outlook on education so the fact that it included not only adults in education but also youth and communities really appealed to me - not to mention the focus on issues of social justice that were sort of a background to all the courses within the course.'

Could you describe what an average week in your programme looks like?

'An average week would include anywhere from 2 to 5 sessions of 2hrs each (1hr for a collective class with the lead professor and then another hour focused on students splitting into a group of around 20 students each with a more in-depth exploration/unpacking of the concepts). The project work usually included a group of around 5-6 students coming together to work on a concept they chose to explore in-depth from what they have been introduced to in a course. The group would then work on presenting a teaching session that was very much collaborative in the sense that it included equal input from the teachers and the students. So, you learn by learning together and from each other, especially by sharing educational perspectives/theories/attitudes/cultures from your part of the world and brainstorming solutions for some of the biggest educational challenges facing us today.

The assignments usually require you to demonstrate your understanding of the concepts learned and can be flexible enough to let you find what you would like to write about. You really need to get the hang of academic writing early on if you haven't done it before though and the LEADS service at the University provides a great starting point. The rest comes from basically strategically reading as much as you can to get an idea of how to coherently and formally put your research and thoughts on paper. As far as the programme is concerned, depending on the professor you're with it can include anything from a laid-back informal theatre session about Freire (a critical theorist), to hanging out with your professor at the nearby pub at the end of the course to support sessions focused on helping students navigate the course.'

What part of your programme did you enjoy the most? 

'The interaction with the professors and students from all around the world helps you appreciate the similarities and differences in your thoughts/perspectives.'

How do you feel your programme helped you/will help you with your career plans? (if a current student, please share how the course helped map a career, or if an alumni, please share your professional trajectory)

'The programme helped me to shift focus from primary education to higher education and opens the path to a prospective PhD in the future.'

What is it like to study the programme and live here as a student?

'Living in Glasgow has been a fantastic experience specially owing to the fact that Glasgow really is a friendly welcoming city and it was quite easy to settle in and feel at home within a month or so. The niversity has a lot of extra-curricular activities going on from cultural ceilidh dancing to talks by guest speakers to clubs and societies for almost every sport possible. So it's a very comprehensive and rich student experience. You just need to have enough space in your academic diary to fit it all in!'