After almost a decade in retail, a sector I didn’t enjoy, I was desperate to do something like science but at 30 wasn’t sure if I had any options. I asked at University of Dundee and saw a career advisor who referred me to Dr. Lynsay Pictiering in their science department who recommended the course at D&A College! I immediately applied and here I am. I’m learning lots of detailed biology, chemistry, maths for science and English communication skills, as well as doing tons of practical work in the lab. My favourite is biology theory and I find chemistry the most challenging but I’m getting there. I was surprised at the level of detail classes go into, but I’m super happy with the bonus knowledge. The tutors are so friendly, motivational and supportive – they make me feel like an equal rather than ‘just a student’. I’ve fried my brain for every unit but I feel very proud when I pass those assessments and I’ve since applied to University of Dundee to study plant sciences; I actually hope to move into a related career. D&A has provided the best all round experience, I’d highly recommend!

I finished 6th year, left school, didn’t know what I wanted to do except to keep studying, and it turned out college was the best option for me. My favourite part is chemistry but the course includes so much, it’s hard to pick – it also provides a lot of freedom and I’m proud of what I’ve achieved. Maybe I’ll join the RAF after finishing, or maybe do something science based in the future.  The staff are all really nice people who’ve supported me up until now and I know whatever I do will make them proud.

I hated school, I just did,  it wasn’t for me. BUT I did like science and I wanted to be more educated in it. So thanks to science futures, I studied for a HNC with D&A College. It’s a great mix of chemistry and biology that’s going to set me up for the future where I want to study drug development at university. There’s a lot of freedom compared to school, and honestly I just liked the course itself.

I studied English for 2 years to further my career goals and then applied for the HNC, where we’re doing loads of things but it’s all subjects I like so I can’t pick one thing I liked best but if you asked me my favourite, it’s the accomplishment of achieving my goals and furthering myself – the teachers and peers are a big plus too of course! It feels great to be able to speak to them as native speakers in English, I feel like I’ve come so far… far enough I even won 2 top prizes last year which has totally given me the power to go further and never give up! I want to go to uni after this and find a good job I really love so that ultimately I can help people become healthier through science. And of course, I’m thankful to every teacher who dedicated time to me and never gave up me – because of that I’m able to believe in myself and gradually achieve my goals.

I applied for uni as an independent student in April 2019 but you need a higher science or SWAP for entry so it seemed out of reach. I love biology, was surprised I like chemistry and as for maths skills, ha! But the best part about coming to college is the staff and classmates for sure, as well as the content on the course itself. I even got a 100% pass in chemistry – BIG surprise! So for the future, I really want to study Forensic Science at Abertay or maybe RGU, and move into a well paying job to provide for me and my family. Science Futures helped me see that.

As a child in Estonia, I loved watching English channels and was fascinated by the variety of English accents. My friend, who moved to Dundee, often shared her experiences, making me eager to move there too. However, financial constraints and school commitments delayed this dream. My grandmother spotted an advertisement for Dundee and Angus College, they were opening a new campus and offering a free ESOL course and I knew this was my chance to convince my family to move to Scotland, which we eventually did with my sister’s help.

Starting at the college was daunting, especially as my sister and I were the youngest in our class. Interacting with diverse classmates, like an elderly man from Poland, broadened my perspective but the teachers were incredibly supportive, boosting my confidence and helping me improve my English and the college’s events, especially the career fair, were memorable and instrumental in shaping my career aspirations.

I received several awards for my dedication, including the “Ede and Ravenscroft Prize” and the “Dundee Science Centre Award” and currently, I’m pursuing an HND in Biological Sciences at Kingsway campus and plan to study biomedical science at Abertay University. Overall, I’m just super grateful to the teachers and staff for their unwavering support.

When I first came to Scotland, I was determined to start learning English, as it is not my first language. I was struggling with understanding people, finding a proper job and communicating at all! Moving to Scotland with a limited knowledge of English was the reason why I did an ESOL course at Dundee and Angus College, which helped me build my confidence and speak freely to others.

The reason I came to Scotland was because of my family. I still remember how I used to feel so ashamed and not to believe in myself, but this totally changed when I started my journey at D&A College.

By learning various subjects like Biology, Microbiology, Biomedical Pathology, Human Metabolism, Chemistry and Mathematics, I have come to know about how the human body functions, the way it interacts with drugs, and responds to different way of treatments, how bacteria grow and respond to different environmental conditions, and how to perform a range of scientific calculations.

I would say that my favourite part of all the scientific courses I have taken is having the chance to work at the college’s laboratories. I have liked every aspect of the time I spent at Dundee and Angus College. I’ve met very nice people there, who have become some of my closest friends.

The teachers are very nice, helpful and know how to deliver even the hardest information in a way, that makes everything so interesting. They were really encouraging and made me believe in myself. Before coming to study here, I was sure in one thing- that I was passionate about Biology and Chemistry. But having the opportunity to study at the college, made me realise what career I would like to pursue.

I initially didn’t consider college as an option upon leaving school when I was 18. I ended up being disappointed with my grades when my results came in, so I looked into possibly resitting some exams with the college. Upon doing a little research, I found the National Certificate in Applied Sciences and applied as soon as I could as it immediately piqued my interest. Almost 3 years later, I’m now at D&A studying my HND and absolutely loving it!

I’ve learnt throughout my experience at D&A that it is a much better atmosphere than school, you get to really know your lecturer and it really helps you throughout the course/courses you’re studying.

I loved coming into campus to see my classmates and being able to interact with my lecturers.

I am extremely proud that since studying at college, I have become a STEM Ambassador.