School of Social and Political Science

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What made you choose to study at the University of Edinburgh?

First, I knew that the quality of education would be very high. The reputation of the MSc International Relations programme is very good, and as an international student from the United States, I was looking to establish a well-rounded perspective by engaging in postgraduate studies at a top university in Europe. The University of Edinburgh was perfect for that!

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Second, I was interested in taking courses on the subject of foreign policy and, more specifically, Southeast Asian international relations. The MSc International Relations programme offered that, with several professors who are leaders in their respective fields teaching relevant courses that aligned with my interests.

Finally, as a student at the university, I would get a chance to live in Edinburgh! There is always something interesting to do or see in Edinburgh and with the city as a base, I knew I would be able to travel quite a lot around Scotland and the United Kingdom, which was definitely an advantage! 

What has been your favourite course? 

I enjoyed all my courses, but my favourite was probably Human Rights, Global Politics, and International Law. The subject matter was fascinating, and the professor gave very insightful lectures.

I especially liked the seminar component because my classmates and I could engage in discussions about the reading material or student presentations and debate critical questions about human rights law. Although the debates could get heated, it was always fun and interesting, and we learned so much from each other.

A close second favourite was Asia Pacific in the World, which was one of the classes that drew me to the programme in the first place.

Find out more about MSc International Relations

What are your highlights from your time at SPS? 

A very memorable highlight from my time at the School of Social and Political Science was the day I gave a presentation on universal jurisdiction with two of my classmates in our Human Rights, Global Politics, and International Law course.

We spent weeks preparing for the presentation, did lots of research and discussed the topic at length, and in the process, had fun and got to know each other better. The presentation was ultimately well-received in our course which was very rewarding.

Also, one of the best things about the School of Social and Political Science was that the professors were very accessible and encouraging. I made sure to visit Guidance and Feedback hours in my professor’s offices before essays were due, to ensure that my ideas were on the right track and to ask any questions I might have had.

Dr Oliver Turner, Dr Kate Wright, Dr Andrea Birdsall, and Dr Juliet Kaarbo were particularly helpful, welcoming, and gave great feedback on my ideas. I really appreciated being able to discuss my thoughts about course topics and essay ideas with them on a regular basis.

Did you have a part-time job?

While in Edinburgh, I had a part-time virtual internship with the U.S. Embassy in Malaysia.

What helped me balance my work and studies were two things in particular: scheduling dedicated hours for my internship and finding unique, interesting places to do my work. That way, I could still be productive, but also got to explore new parts of the city while doing so.

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On nice days, I took my laptop outside with a view of Arthur’s Seat or Calton Hill. If it rained (which it does...often!), I’d go to coffee shops or cafés across the city to do my work (I highly recommend Black Medicine Coffee Co, which has great study spaces), and sometimes I just stayed in my room, propping the window open so I could hear bagpipe music drifting down from the Royal Mile.

What does a typical weekday look like? 

My classes were always around the George Square campus area, and since I lived nearby, I had a very short walk from my accommodation. (On the way to classes, I always stopped to pet the sweet dog that ‘works’ at the comic book shop on West Nicolson Street!).

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I loved being on campus as much as possible! Between classes, I would find a quiet place to complete my readings or work on essays. The main library, the Chrystal Macmillan Building, and the Lister Learning and Teaching Centre (which has spectacular views of Arthur’s Seat, Holyrood Palace, and the Firth of Forth from the upper floors) were my go-to spots for mid-day studying.

After classes ended, I would head to the Pleasance Gym to exercise and unwind. When time allowed, my friends and I would gather in the evenings for dinner at one of the many restaurants near campus to talk about our days and plan our upcoming weekend adventures.

Aims after University 

I hope to secure employment with a US government agency or international institution in order to work in the foreign policy/international politics sphere.

My time at the University of Edinburgh prepared me well for this career path and through my coursework, I was able to expand my knowledge on relevant subjects and enhance my written communication skills.

(Written in 2021)