Jadwiga Koprowska

Name: Jadwiga Koprowska
Age: 23
Born: Poland
Lived in Scotland: 5 years

If you’re thinking about coming to Scotland to study, you’ll be glad to know that a warm welcome awaits you – thanks to people like Jadwiga Koprowska.

Polish-born Jadwiga won the Wimberley Award for helping international students to become fully involved in life at the University of Dundee.

"I don’t think I deserved it,” she says modestly. “I was very surprised – I didn’t expect it at all."

Daunting

"Throughout my degree I’ve been involved in projects to help international students – organising events, working with international societies, getting people introduced. It can be daunting coming to a new place.

"There are lots of international students at Dundee – from all over the world and increasingly from central and Eastern Europe. As well as helping them integrate and feel at home, we try to engage with the students already here, arranging exchanges and social events."

New life

Jadwiga moved to the UK aged eleven, so she knows what it’s like to start a new life in a foreign country.

And more recently she spent some time studying in Spain, an experience that enhanced her understanding of the challenges international students face while studying abroad.

"I went to northern Spain for a few months in my third year. I really felt like a traveller and I went through the whole thing again – learning the language, getting to know the people and the culture.

Fantastic

"Everyone was very helpful but you have to take care of yourself and be willing to learn. It was fantastic. I wish I could have stayed longer!"

Jadwiga is just as enthusiastic about student life in Scotland. So much so that she recently encouraged her brother to include Scottish universities on his UCAS application forms.

Friends

If you’re up for blast, Scotland is the place. Scots are very warm, they want to live life. And of course, it’s not just Scottish people you’ll meet.

"I’ve recently been working with the Dundee University Student Advisory Service and Dundee University Students’ Association to organise a week full of events for international students. Many student societies are participating and we’re going to do it every year.

"I would definitely recommend that people come to Scotland to study. I’ve made friends very quickly – a really good group of friends. Like any student, I had an active Freshers’ Week…what can I say!

"There’s just a really good atmosphere here – warm and welcoming. If you’re looking for a good student experience, Scotland is a great choice. It’s not just about the learning. The whole experience is really enriching."

Insider Info

Jadwiga says: "I’m in love with the countryside around Inverness – the beautiful landscapes. And also Loch Lomond is very beautiful."

• Find out more about Inverness and Loch Lomond
• If you like the sound of studying in Scotland, why not find out more about it?