What our students say

Alexandra Borqeaud dit Avocat, MSc Global Security, 2018-19

 

I had a two-week backpack trip to Scotland in 2017 that convinced me to return here, this time for a longer period of time, as I had fallen completely in love with both the place and the people. I already held a LLM in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights from the Geneva Academy, and was working for the Swiss Department for Foreign Affairs' Global Gender Issues Unit at the time, but realised I was increasingly interested in security issues, specifically in the intersections between the legal aspects of armed conflicts - with which I was already familiar with - and their political causes and implications. By 2018, I had decided to pursue a second Master's degree in Scotland, and was delighted when I came across the MSc Global Security at the University of Glasgow, as it encompassed all the areas I wanted to study.

Martijn Bravenboer, Netherlands (2016-17)

'The Global Security programme has offered me a challenging but very interesting and fulfilling time. It has helped me to further develop my academic skills and in-depth understanding of international security issues. I was lucky enough to be allowed to join the 2 year part-time programme, supported by my employer. As the only part-time student in my year, a great deal of self-initiative was required to complete all courses for my pathway in the one day per week I was able to come to campus. I am very grateful that University’s teaching staff have been most flexible and facilitating towards my (sometimes demanding) personal needs. The multidisciplinary courses are of high level, and led by engaging and motivating lecturers. Most useful to me, however, were all the classroom discussions with a very interesting mix of nationalities and backgrounds. The diversity in military and non-military classmates, from all over the world, helps to approach security issues from a different point of view and creates a broader understanding of both human security and state security perspectives. The relative small size of the course allowed for much genuine interaction and valuable debates. The reputation of the University of Glasgow as a world top 100 university adds to the overall experience of being a student here, and its long and rich history can be felt when walking on campus. As a ‘one-day-per-week’ student I have unfortunately not been able to enjoy the full advantages of the university facilities, but I can say I was seriously impressed by the modern University Library! The quality of the learning environment and the quantity of books available is simply astonishing. In conclusion, much devotion, and a high level of motivation and self-initiative are needed to complete the programme whilst working full time, but the quality of the course is more than worth it. I would do it again without any second thoughts.'

Akira Takahashi, Japan (2016-17)

'I had offers for postgraduate study from several world-leading institutions, but the Global Security programme at the University of Glasgow seemed the most attractive to me. In particular, I liked that the programme offered a range of pathways that would suit each student’s research interests. I eventually chose the Social and Cultural Perspectives pathway, which offered a range of courses that I found most helpful for my postgraduate training. These courses exposed me to a wide range of conventional and unconventional security topics, such as gender violence or the plight of the refugees. Overall, the courses that I took at the University of Glasgow were extraordinarily exciting and deepened my knowledge of contemporary security challenges. Thanks to the knowledge and skills I acquired within the programme, I got a job as policy advisor/secretary to an MP in the Japanese National Diet. At the moment, I am involved in the design of security policies for the Japanese public health sector. Beyond acquiring strong theoretical and methodological skills, at Glasgow I also made many friends from all over the world. They have all inspired me and helped me broaden my horizons. It is beyond any doubt that Glasgow has provided one of the best experiences of my life!'

Alicia Varner, USA (2016-17)

'Global Security has some of the most dedicated, knowledgeable, and passionate lecturers and staff I have ever had. Each lecturer clearly enjoyed the classes they were teaching and that translated to us, as students, being much more engaged with the information and work. In every seminar, we were challenged to think critically about the material and ask questions. The lecturers never ceased to encourage us to think more and to never stop talking about the material we worked with in each class.The convenor and the programme support staff went above and beyond to ensure that students had their questions answered promptly, that relevant and engaging guest speakers were scheduled, and that students had the best possible experience. They worked with us at each step to gain feedback on courses for both immediate and future improvement and dedicated themselves to providing the best resources for students to utilise in completing their degree.The University itself, situated in the heart of West End, is a beautiful campus that promotes diversity and provides exceptional services to all its students. Glasgow is an amazing city that has a vibrant food and social scene. There seems to be a cosy and friendly café at every corner and a new restaurant to try every weekend. The people are the friendliest I have ever met and the pride they have for their city and their football teams is apparent in speaking with them for even the shortest amount of time. Not only is Glasgow a beautiful place to stay in but its proximity to Edinburgh is ideal. For those who are more nature inclined, you can hop on a train and be at Loch Lomond or any number of other picturesque sites within an hour. This University and this city provided me with an education, a chance to meet so many new people and make so many new friends. It was a world-class experience for me and I would recommend that anyone thinking about going abroad for their postgraduate degree to come here and experience everything that Glasgow and the University have to offer.'