Shannon, from the USA, graduated from our MSc in Sustainability and Environmental Studies in 2020. Here she tells us about her experience.
Why did you choose to study at Strathclyde?
I have always wanted to travel to Scotland, so before I finished up my bachelor’s degree, I looked at potential universities that would have the degree I wanted in Scotland. I found the University of Strathclyde and their Sustainability and Environmental Studies program.
The course looked fun and the campus was in the middle of Glasgow, so I could do lots of exploring as well. My family and I were so excited when I got accepted, and we spent hours online looking at the Strathclyde campus and everything there is to do at the university.
What aspects of the MSc course did you enjoy the most and why?
I enjoyed working with other students on our group projects the most because it was a great way to make friends, learn about each other’s diverse background, and the projects were interesting. Back in the U.S., I had group projects too, but at Strathclyde, most of my projects were group projects. We had to rely and help each other to work on the assignment, but it was fun at the same time.
What are your plans on completion of your degree?
I am currently working on my PhD in forestry back in the U.S. After that, I hope to become a university professor.
What type of opportunities did your course involve e.g industry projects, site visits, guest speakers?
My course had lots of guest speakers, especially in my Circular Economy class.
I have never heard of circular economy before and it was amazing to see the concept of zero waste was put into practice in the real world. It was also cool to see how my degree could be put to use in a creative way.
In my Pollution and Rehabilitation of Degraded Ecosystems class, we went to a beach to look for microplastics and trash that washed up. It was interesting to see thousands of incredibly small pieces of plastic become part of the sand of the beach. It was a way to see how even the smallest human action effects our environment outside of campus or in the city.
As an international student, what advice would you give to potential students thinking about studying an MSc at Strathclyde?
It might be a little scary to go abroad for a whole year, or more, to attend university, but it is completely worth it. Glasgow becomes a second home and the friends you make at Strathclyde are going to be lifelong.
