University of Aberdeen

I studied at the University of Aberdeen because it is a well-known and high ranking university over the world with a high quality of research.

We all have that teacher that we remember from school that took the time with us, that inspired us with their love for their subject, that made us feel valued and capable of so much more than we even believed of ourselves. They loved their profession, and the reality is, in some way, they are probably the reason that we too want to be teachers.

The staff within the Aberdeen University Education faculty exemplify all those qualities. The postgraduate diploma is intensive but the whole department from the warm welcome at reception, to the tutors and specialist support services have made us feel part of something special.

They have supported us, believed in us and shown us through their every interaction what those special moments of teaching look like. In doing so, they have provided us with a comprehensive academic knowledge base of pedagogy whilst modelling all the practical skills that we will need as we embark on our next steps into the profession.

The course is run in a thoughtful, inclusive manner that values the importance of our own individual circumstances. The online platform used by the University is easy to use and full of useful links and course information. Any graded work combines both academic and practical elements that are focussed on providing us with layers of knowledge and understanding which will be invaluable for our probationer year and beyond. Most importantly, the department listens. They look to involve the student body and constantly try to reflect and react to feedback.

As I move on to start my probationer year in a small community school in Aberdeenshire, I am reminded that teaching is all about relationships. The Aberdeen Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Education epitomises that ethos in every way.

I was introduced to the programme by one of my peers and I really liked the way the course was structured, the duration, the flexibility and the offers available after the course. The pandemic proved that a lot of things are possible because I was quite worried about how the course would change due to the restrictions. But it could have not been better, staff were very friendly, kind, understanding and helpful from the beginning of my teaching journey to the end. Every individual’s circumstances were taken into consideration and maximum effort was taken to help us finish the course successfully. Flexibility is the key, and this programme is the best example!

This is one of the best decisions I have ever taken. It has changed my whole career and has given me a new perspective to life! I came in as a different person and I am leaving as a better person so I would like to thank the university, staff and all my peers

My name is Julia and I’m a Kindergarten Educator. I opted for online study to apply the theory taught to my professional practice in class with my students. From the start of my master's journey to the last day, all the staff at the University of Aberdeen were always kind and approachable.

I have always been passionate about the early years as they are the most crucial years of education, which is why I opted to further my knowledge through a master's programme. I am proud of myself for achieving this milestone, I hope to progress into a lecturing job as the next step in my career.

The PGDE Primary course at the University of Aberdeen is a year of thought-provoking study, made up of lectures and tutorials on campus in Old Aberdeen and two placements out in schools.

The lectures and tutorials give you a grounding in the ideas behind education. They are highly relevant to classroom life whilst placements give you the fantastic experience of daily life in school. The Old Aberdeen campus is a unique setting but it's the education staff that really make the course. All are experienced teachers who enthuse about education and the wellbeing of children. This comes through in their never-ending support for students on the course - from giving teaching tips to encouraging us to make mistakes as a way to learn.

The course is full-on for 10 months and at times is demanding, with a lot of evening and weekend work, particularly during placements, but as the saying goes - you get out what you put in. Go for it!

The advantage of my programme is that it allows me to branch into many different areas in finance, so I could become an investment analyst, go into consulting, investment banking or corporate finance.

I chose the University of Aberdeen because of its excellent reputation for research and the cutting-edge facilities. This programme enables students to acquire diverse skills in their chosen field and beyond through collaboration.

Definitely the career perspective is very bright, what I feel for me because I know what kind of knowledge I gained in this one year of experience. So I feel I am a better person culturally and also a better person in a managerial position.

The diversity of nationalities and age groups present in the participants of the MSc provided invaluable insights and perspective into the world of HR internationally, and paired with a carefully curated degree was aimed at understanding HR.

I was keen that my learning helped me to make a tangible difference to the people and cultural life of this region, and through learning from those at the Institute, I feel that I am much better able to do that.

I own a coffee shop in China and I feel that I have acquired lots of useful knowledge that I can apply to the operation of the coffee shop from my degree, such as how to approach it from a customer’s point of view and how to position the product.