Taking the plunge to study abroad: how the University of Dundee’s student ambassadors can help

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There are lots of questions prospective students might have when choosing where to study. What is life at university really like? Where are the best places to live, socialise and find work alongside a degree course?

Searching the internet can only get you so far; speaking to a real student for honest opinions and advice can be invaluable. But how to find them?

The Times Higher Education function, designed in partnership with The Ambassador Platform bridges this gap, bringing together university applicants with current students to talk openly about their experiences of a specific university or subject. One such student ambassador is Vera Zhang, who came to Scotland from China to study for a master’s in marketing and branding at the University of Dundee.

“I wanted to improve my skills and I chose Dundee because it's a one-year programme in a great location,” Zhang explains. “Scotland is a friendly place with beautiful surrounding nature, and Dundee is also among the best places to study in the UK.”

Zhang became a student ambassador because she wanted to help other international students like her who might be feeling apprehensive about making the move abroad. “When I applied, I was eager to have more information about the university,” she says. “When I worked in China, my job was actually to help students there, so this opportunity felt like a natural thing for me to do.”

The Chat to Students function is simple to use and requires no downloads, which Zhang believes makes it even more appealing for students to get in touch. Visitors to the platform can search by university, country or subject and select a student ambassador who they’d like to talk to from the database.

Since signing up a few months ago, Zhang has spoken with students from all over the world, including Sri Lanka, India, Nigeria and countries in the Middle East. Ultimately, prospective students tend to ask the same questions – which just goes to show how common their fears about moving somewhere unfamiliar can be.

“People ask me about the best or cheapest accommodation, about scholarship opportunities and the cost of living in my city,” Zhang says. “They also ask more subjective things: like how I feel about my studies, and if I like the area I live in.”

“These kinds of questions are not easy for staff to answer because they don’t have direct experience of that, and it’s not always easy to find the answers online because the reality is things change from year to year,” she explains. “It’s better to talk to a student ambassador who is likely to be a similar age to you and experiencing life in the city you want to study in. It makes people feel more relaxed: they are free to ask me anything they want and I can give them an honest answer.”

To those considering studying abroad, Zhang advises: “Do your research and make sure you are confident in the language.”

Most importantly, she adds: “Be brave and open-minded and ready to embrace a different way of life. Enjoy the city, enjoy the learning and enjoy the diversity of people you’ll meet. And if you do, it will be an incredibly rewarding experience.”

To speak to student ambassadors from the .