Sophie(26)

After my master's in artificial intelligence in Groningen I was looking for a PhD position. In the Netherlands these are scarce and extremely competitive. Through a former professor I heard about a funded project at the University of Glasgow in natural language processing. I applied, had an interview via Teams, and two weeks later had an offer with a full scholarship.

As a PhD student I needed a Student visa, not a Skilled Worker visa. The university is a licensed Student sponsor and arranged my CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies). The visa application cost £490 plus the Immigration Health Surcharge, which for students is reduced to £776 per year instead of the standard rate. I had my biometrics taken in The Hague.

Scotland has a separate education system. PhD programmes here last four years instead of three as at many other British universities. My scholarship covers tuition fees plus a monthly stipend of £1,200 tax-free. That's not much for the UK, but Glasgow is surprisingly affordable compared to London or Edinburgh.

Student life in Glasgow is fantastic. The city has a raw energy — the music scene is legendary, the people are incredibly friendly and the West End around the university feels like a village within the city. I live in Hillhead, walk to my lab in ten minutes and pay £650 per month for a spacious studio.

The NHS in Scotland is freely accessible for students thanks to the IHS you pay with your visa application. I registered with a GP on Byres Road. What struck me: mental healthcare is better organised than in the Netherlands — the university has free counselling and the NHS offers faster access to psychological support than I was used to in Groningen.

After two years I'm halfway through my PhD and seriously considering staying in the UK after graduating. The Graduate visa gives you two years to find work after your studies without sponsorship. My supervisor has already spoken about a postdoc position. Glasgow feels like home — the humour, the warmth of the people and yes, even the rain.