In the sunniest Scottish town

The Scottish tertiary education system, completely overhauled a few years ago, thrilled me as early as the holidays, when I received the list of subjects (called modules here) for the first year. Of some 20 different subjects I had to select six, three for each semester. Only two are compulsory for the whole year (in my field these are UK Politics and Policy and The Globalizing World), while I selected the other modules completely independently of my field of study. It was not easy to pick them from such a wide offer, which ranged from languages to philosophy and English literature to psychology. On top of that, I also went for Spanish and history. This flexibility of the Scottish system is really unique and totally incomparable to the Czech system. As late as the end of the second year I can still decide to change the subject field in which I want to receive my degree (provided that I take the subjects that are compulsory for this field), and thus focus on a different area than the one for which I originally signed up.

As regards the school’s approach to international students, I just have to be most satisfied: special English language classes tailored to orientation and level, extra optional seminars, and, last but not least, all of the staff’s willingness to make our life in their country as easy as possible. The library, both the building and the institution, is also top-notch here. The main library has a fully automated system for lending, modern computers, and a pleasant cafe, in which you can comfortably write one of the many required essays over a cup of the hot beverage of your choice. The size of the library is remarkable, worthy of a large university. The entire book catalogue is accessible online, including options for renewing books on loan and requests for photocopies. The university library also provides me with access to various electronic resources, not only scientific and technical articles but also periodicals that otherwise are subject to charge.

Student life at the University of Dundee is highly diversified, ranging from two clubs in the students’ association (ranked fifth in the U.K. and the best in Scotland) to typically British societies that bring together students with the same interests, including the ultra-modern Institute of Sport & Exercise, which offers all possible and impossible sports (in my mind, surfing is the most attractive). Being quite busy, I decided for tennis only; its attractive, well-lit, outdoor courts should not be overlooked. Living in a dormitory is a matter of course, in particular in the first year. The dormitories have recently been modernized and offer all that an average student needs for his or her life: broadband Internet, security guards, and proximity to the center of the town. Naturally, I have also found some other advantages here, which, however, most of the students are unable to properly appreciate, for example a laundry room, and no more than two minutes on foot to reach any classroom. I have thoroughly acquainted myself with my university over the past month; I have learned about the many advantages, but also some downsides, of the town and its people. In spite of this, I am very much looking forward to the coming months and years that lie ahead of me in Dundee.