Hear stories from international students
The Study UK blog is the home of real-life, personal stories from current international students and alumni.
Former Chevening scholar Evan from Ghana graduated with a master's in marketing with festival and event management from Edinburgh Napier University. He shares his journey of studying in Scotland, building connections, and creating lasting impact through leadership and creativity.
'I loved being a student ambassador at Napier University during my studies'.
I transitioned back into academia after about eight years working in the film industry. In 2019, I founded Accra Indie Filmfest (AiF), a festival reshaping the narrative around short films produced in Africa. I recognised the need to elevate my skills to keep pace with the festival’s growth and so decided to pursue my master’s in marketing with festival and event management at Edinburgh Napier University, a programme that I feel was made for me. It was exactly what I needed in my quest to grow the festival to become the biggest short film festival in Africa.
Growing up with my grandparents, who were masterful storytellers, I was captivated from an early age and always knew I wanted a career in the creative industry, though the path to getting there wasn’t initially clear. That changed when I was admitted to the University of Ghana and placed in the School of Performing Arts. My passion flourished there, and I honed my skills as an actor, director, and producer.
'The Chevening Scholarship can fund students to live and study in the UK for one year'.
Last year, I had the unique opportunity of being awarded with a prestigious Chevening Scholarship as a creative from Ghana. Within the last year or so, I had the opportunity to live and study in the UK, and Edinburgh specifically, and my life changed dramatically. A lot of people have the misconception that the Chevening Scholarship is only for those working in the realm of science. However, it’s actually for everybody who has a track record of contributing to social change in their home countries, including creative professionals.
The Chevening Scholarship offers you the chance to be fully funded to live and study in the UK for one year. You have the opportunity to choose your programme and university, there are no age restrictions, and you have the opportunity to join a world-class alumni network of over 60,000 people globally.
Chevening is an amazing programme and is worth every single minute of time that you invest in the application process. Authenticity is critical in the application process. Everyone has a different story, and being authentic in communicating your stories of leadership, what leadership means to you, and how your journey has impacted others within your community is essential.
'The truth is, the weather is nowhere near as bad as it's been described to me in the past'.
To begin with, the first thing that surprised me was the sun. Until I came to Scotland, I did not know that it can be sunny here, but not hot outside. I once just wore a T-shirt because it was a sunny morning, and was surprised that I wasn’t warm enough. I learned my first lesson after that. As for the weather, I quickly learned the Scottish saying: ‘There’s no bad weather, only bad clothing’. The truth is, the weather is nowhere near as bad as it’s been described to me in the past.
'Edinburgh is a buzzing metropolitan city with lots going on'.
Every corner of Edinburgh feels like a scene in a movie, with its own unique look and feel. The Royal Mile and Princes Street are incredible, and on sunny days, I love to lay in the grass in The Meadows. The atmosphere is just breathtaking.
Edinburgh also balances serentiy and excitement. My student accommodation was located at Slateford Road in a very quiet and calm environment. But if I wanted a livelier vibe, all I needed to do was walk about fifteen minutes to the city centre, and suddenly, I’d be in the midst of a buzzing metropolitan city-centre with all the energy that comes with it. Did you know that you can find clubs with great hip-hop and Afrobeats vibes in Edinburgh?
During my studies, I organised the Edinburgh Napier African Festival'.
Building friendships and connections in Scotland came naturally. I found it quite easy to integrate. I am a people person and do not struggle to interact with people. On my first day at Edinburgh Napier, I was struck by the number of African students. That inspired me to found the Napier African Students Society, creating a home away from home. During my studies, I organised the Edinburgh Napier African Festival, which attracted over 500 students from diverse cultural backgrounds. We had games, food, music, African fabrics, and so many activities that brought people together. It was one of the highlights of my time there.
'I've felt so welcome here'.
Joining clubs and societies made it even easier for me to make social connections with others with shared interests. One of my favourite memories from studying is being part of the hockey team. My teammates called me ‘GOAT’ (read: Greatest of All Time). It’s a phrase used to describe someone who’s exceptional at what they do or has achieved legendary status in a certain field, but can also be used when someone is just really good at something like a hobby or a sport. I also picked up tennis, starting as a beginner and quickly progressing to an intermediate level.
'Edinburgh is an amazing city and the festivities for New Year are especially exciting'.
I was behind the creation of the Napier Student Film Festival. Edinburgh as a city boasts several festivals, tourism, and cultural events that provide opportunities to engage through volunteering. However, there were concerns from some of my classmates who were struggling to find opportunities to volunteer in these festivals and events. I made it a point to ensure that the university owned a festival that could directly provide students with the opportunity to participate in its organisation.
Within a month of the call for entries, the festival received over 200 short films from students in 45 universities worldwide. We ended up selecting 24 short films which included animation, documentaries, and fictional narratives that addressed several themes ranging from loneliness, family ties, global warming, injustice, love, and more. The festival also became an avenue for Edinburgh Napier to involve its partner universities in the Americas and Asia. Four film students from universities overseas were invited to participate in the festival, which added a global dimension to the event.
It was a proud moment for almost everybody, as not everyone initially believed that devising, organising and running a festival in about three months would be possible. But, we did it, and I was highly proud of the outcome. Even better news is that the university plans to keep it running.
'Being invited to represent my university in London made me feel deeply valued'.
One of the proudest moments of my time in Scotland was being invited to represent Edinburgh Napier University at the House of Lords for an event organised by the All-Party Parliamentary Group as part of International Students’ Day celebrations. I was awarded a certificate of achievement for being an outstanding international student, recognising my positive contributions to my university and local community. The experience was surreal, from seeing Big Ben to walking through security to the inner workings of the building stress-free. It was a day that made me feel deeply valued as an international student.
'Winning the election and being entrusted with leading the student body has been so rewarding'.
Later, I became president of the Edinburgh Napier Students’ Association. Becoming president was never part of my plan. I initially said no, but after much encouragement, I applied just before the deadline. Winning the election and being entrusted with leading the student body has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. The support I received from lecturers and fellow students during the campaign still leaves me in awe.
'Studying at Napier gave me confidence as a leader'.
My dissertation provided the avenue to dig deeper into the community of independent and emerging filmmakers across Africa and beyond. I interviewed renowned filmmakers, emerging filmmakers who participated in Accra Indie Filmfest, and policymakers about the festival’s representation and what it means for the industry. It was incredibly insightful and gave me a firm foundation for the next phase of the festival.
Beyond that, studying at Napier gave me confidence as a leader. Part of it was the elimination of fear—fear that my skills and experience couldn’t go beyond my immediate confines. That fear is gone now.
'We all came for a reason, and we must make our time here count'.
One important thing or advice I would like to give to international students is that our perspectives matter, and it's essential for us to integrate into the local community for our personal growth and development and that of the community itself more widely. I am sure we all came for a reason, and we must make our time here count.
Whether you’re considering Scotland for its unique blend of history and modernity, or dreaming of joining a community that will challenge and inspire you, I hope my journey shows what’s possible. It’s been a journey of growth, friendship, and discovery—one I will treasure forever.
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