Vienty Sabrina

In Edinburgh, I was privileged to be taught and trained by dedicated scientists, who introduced me to advanced topics in the field. Moreover, students at the school were facilitated by resources and support to complete the coursework and meet the expected academic standards. For instance, tutorial classes with the lecturers effectively assisted me in understanding how to perform problem-solving related to the topics that we discussed in the lectures. High variations in coursework and my MSc dissertation research also shaped me to become a more competent scientist. Beyond academic experience, I enjoyed living in Edinburgh as a city, as it provided me opportunities to connect with people from various backgrounds and nationalities who work and study in the city, explore the city’s well-reserved nature (Blackford Hill’s located next to the King’s Buildings Campus), and attend exciting events in the city (e.g., Edinburgh Festival Fringe). My time in Edinburgh granted me rich experiences and built me to be a more persistent person, both in academic settings and beyond.

Your Experiences Since Leaving the University

A few weeks after the MSc programme had finished, I reflected on my next steps. After listing the perks and limitations of each option that I could take, I decided to explore the work opportunities in the fields related to my skill set. 

Obtaining an MSc from the University of Edinburgh provided me with higher chances in the job-seeking process, as many job opportunities that I applied to require a Master’s education level in Chemistry/Life Sciences and the university is highly acknowledged for its good reputation. However, I admit that the job-seeking process requires serious preparation and the ability to present ourselves. Utilising the resources from the university’s Career Services, I improved my applications and finally secured a job as a Patent Scientist in one of the largest Intellectual Property (IP) firms in the Asia-Pacific region.

Being exposed to up-to-date technologies, especially in the Chemical and Life Sciences field, became my main reason for choosing this work opportunity. Furthermore, promoting innovations through IP protection is very interesting for me, as I learnt that this affects the business process in new technology developments. My work provides me with an opportunity to learn more about IP strategy in various countries and how to draft patent specifications. My technical knowledge in chemistry mainly helped me to understand the technologies and communicate them well to the patent examiners. I frequently worked closely with technologies and processes that were mentioned by my lecturers at the University of Edinburgh, thus my MSc study significantly helped me to perform my work better, while my work experience provided real applications of the things that I learnt in classes. In the meantime, I aim to expose myself to more scientific ideas while also planning for my next steps, and working in the IP firm gives me exactly this opportunity.

Alumni Wisdom

Enjoy the process of learning at the School of Chemistry, although sometimes it might feel challenging. There is a chance that you’ll miss the journey later, so I hope you enjoy it. Studying in Edinburgh is truly rewarding despite the difficulties and struggles I faced. Plan and execute well, try to avoid skipping lectures or tutorials because it could signify demotivation. I also found encouraging and supporting each other motivated people significantly. Hopefully, you’ve found your support system in Edinburgh (the Student Support team and activities will be helpful for this, please try to get involved). Best of luck 😊