University rating
Tell us about your overall university experience so far.
My university UoG has good facilities, great location and very supporting. It has gorgeous architecture and very welcoming, calming environment, where I feel indeed inspired to study especially drawing and creating art.
First of all, the student recruiting team are very friendly, they gave me plenty of helpful advice when I was confused about choosing the right course. The international students supporting staff and the chaplaincy are very kind, they have held a lot of interesting and helpful activities such as choir singing, dog walking, global cafe, cake and chat, field study trip, mindfulness practice... where all people including staff and students can share about their experience and culture and feel connected.
During my time of quarantine, the university provided me food and other necessities, and reimbursed me the money I spent on the compulsory PCR tests due to the government regulation upon the pandemic (2021). I feel deeply grateful for that. Also, the university offers a range of scholarships, which are extremely helpful for who are worried about finance. I luckily got the international student scholarship, which help me a lot as I funded myself 100% for studying abroad. Please check carefully on the UoG website or ask international staff for scholarship information.
Furthermore, the university teachers are very kind and friendly. They care about students both academics and health. They give me helpful instruction and suggestion that I can deepen my understanding about the subject and my position as an illustrator in the society.
About the student union, I haven’t engaged with them yet but I know that they’ve been trying to improve life of students in many aspects, such as the ‘Voice it’ system, etc.
Lastly, I found the Helpzone helpful. They’re ready to hear your problems and offer solutions.
However, I had one tough experience with one of the staff at the Helpzone, as they hadn’t read my email carefully or traced where it began, but replied in a way that I felt very unwelcome and feel bad about myself instead, and the problem wasn’t solved at all. To be fair, it is just one of staff, and they can’t represent for all of the Helpzone staff. As far as I know, other staff are friendly and understanding. I think the university can improve it by asking students about the quality of the Helpzone and their experience with Helpzone staff.
There is only one thing I suggest you to bear in mind. The university has regulation for submission that If your assignment is submitted late up to 7 days, it will be capped to max.40% of the grade. It means being late from 1 second to 7 days are equal, it’s a big scale in my opinion (which I will raise my voice through student union to hope that it can be changed in the future). And there are several ‘submit’ or ‘accept’ button until you can successfully submit your assignments electronically. Plus, the Moodle system for uploading the assignment is sometimes not very reliable, so my advice is trying to submit at least one day before the deadline, or discuss with the Helpzone before the deadline asap If at that time you undergo any problems such as mental illness etc. so they may help you to extend the deadline. Once again, If you experience some problems, please remember that the teachers and staff here are very kind so just calling out for help and do not bear alone.
In overall, I think UoG is a good university and I really appreciate UoG. I will improve and enjoy my studying more and more. I hope you will find the right university for you and have amazing experience. Thank you for reading and wish you all the best.
Course rating
Course rating
My course is basically in-class, however, it is possible to join online If you have any concerns about your health, or have some difficulty to go to the campus on that day. It is really helpful that some lectures are recorded (with agreements from participants) If there is any request from students, so you can watch it later If you unfortunately missed it.
As I am illustration student, I find the printing studio exceptionally helpful. The technician is very kind, professional and dedicated. I suggest prospective students to use this facility as much as possible, because it is really good, and for some technique and equipments such as screen printing is expensive to do outside.
Besides the weekly lecture, we have the drop-in drawing session, which is very exciting. Currently it’s once a week, optional, and is valuable learning. I held a drawing worship here, and one of my classmates held another workshop too. It’s great to learn from friends and other students on the course.
My studying is Master so it requires a good research skill and being open to discuss. I love to do research but honestly, I prefer practical things such as drawing or printing techniques than long lectures or long hours of discussion, so I wish my course will have more drawing and printing practice time. As many artists, I am introverted and sometimes I just want to be silent and mindfully focus on my work, so sometimes I feel exhausted If I need to talk or listen too much in one day.
There is only full time option for international students, but full time and part time options for UK students. If you do full time, just bear in mind that you need to work harder. If I weren’t international student, I would definitely choose to study part time as I can have more time to practice and digest the knowledge, also enjoy my studying more.
My course has no work placement, but ‘Your Future Plan’ team always hold lots of learning events with guests speakers from relevant fields, and offer career advice and help. I’ll contact them soon to see If they can help me to find a part time job and have any advices for my future career as freelance children’s book author.
University location
University location
The location is great, safe and friendly. There are frequent buses and they reduce the ticket price when I show my student card. It is very diverse environment. The city is not too crowded so I feel comfortable. I haven’t found part time job yet so I can’t say, but I’ll discuss with my university If they can help me to find a suitable part time job.
