SBS Blog > Town and gown: making the right decision by Mathilde Demey

Town and gown: making the right decision

By Mathilde Demey - Posted on 26 April 2017

MSc Applied Economics student Mathilde Demey talks about the programme she has chosen to do at Strathclyde and her experiences of studying and living in Scotland.

Coming to the University to Strathclyde was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my educational career. First off, the Business School was awarded the Business School of the Year by Times Higher Education (THE), which confirmed that I was getting one of the best possible educations out there.

I have really enjoyed my course so far. Although I did my Bachelor’s degree in Economics, I feel like I have gained a better understanding of the main economic principles. My previous knowledge in economics has definitely been put to the test throughout the year. In addition, I enjoy the fact that the electives we can choose from are so different (from Energy Economics to International Trade to Environmental Economics), which allows me to gain a wider understanding of how economics can be applied in multiple sectors.

In addition to the courses, it was compulsory to attend forums throughout the year, in which MSc Applied Economics graduates, or employees of well-known economic businesses, come to speak to the class about what they do, as well as about the opportunities we have with this degree.

In addition, we were provided with career sessions in the first semester in which someone from the Strathclyde career services came to discuss how we can prepare ourselves when applying for jobs once we are finished with the course. They answered any questions we had as well as providing us with tips for interviews, cover letters, CVs, and job searching. Before coming to Strathclyde, I had no idea what I could do with such a degree, but both the forums and the career service sessions have given me a concrete understanding on what I’d like to do once I complete my degree.

Strathclyde provides so many services to its students to ensure that they are in a comfortable environment to reach their highest potential.

Finally, I have fallen in love with the city of Glasgow, and Scotland in general. It is a city that is just the right size for me, and is full of culture. One of my favourite things is walking in Buchanan Street on Friday afternoon and listening to the variety of live music being played. I highly recommend travelling outside of Glasgow (Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Inverness, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park are favourites) as the country is so beautiful and full of surprises everywhere you go!

I have made friendships that will last a lifetime with fellow classmates, as well as the people I met through various sporting teams. Strathclyde offers so many extracurricular activities which I highly recommend future students take advantage of. I joined the Strathclyde tennis team, the netball social team (a sport I never heard of before coming to the UK), as well as the wakeboard club (in which I had the opportunity to go wakeboard at Loch Lomond!)

In addition, the international student society is very helpful and plans trips that students should take advantage of - I enjoyed a recent trip to the Isle of Skye with them one weekend. I find the student life here incredible, and the Strathclyde students and people in Glasgow in general to be extremely kind. After having lived in Belgium, the US and France, I have realised that Scotland feels the most like home. In fact, I hope to stay and work in Scotland if possible!