Starting Grad School in Scotland
I arrived a week ago to Glasgow, Scotland, to start my master’s degree (!!), so I wanted to share about it & answer some of the top questions:
What I’m studying / the program
Starting at the University of Glasgow
Our CLMCE Orientation information
Getting settled in Glasgow
I am studying for The International Master in Children’s Literature, Media and Cultural Entrepreneurship (CLMCE), an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master programme.
The master’s is organized by Erasmus Mundus, which is a programme of the European Union designed to facilitate international study between universities in different countries — so students will take classes by different institutions and spend semesters in different places.
According to their site, “almost 50,000 students have taken part since 2004,” so there have now been 20 years of this overall initiative. I am in the 7th cohort of my specific program (CLMCE), and our consortium of institutions is the University of Glasgow, Aarhus University, Nantes University, Tilburg University, and the University of Wrocław.
The CLMCE programme
As the title states, my program(me) focuses on Children’s:
Literature (traditional, digital, etc) 📚 📖
Media (film, video games, etc) 🎞️ 🎮 👩💻
Cultural Entrepreneurship (publishers, magazines, museums, businesses, etc) 🏛️ 📰 💻
Here’s the breakdown of our semesters, institutions, locations, and curriculum focus:
Semester 1 (Fall 2025): University of Glasgow, 🏴 Scotland: Historical and Critical Perspectives on Children's Literature
Semester 2 (Spring 2026): Aarhus University, 🇩🇰 Denmark: Children's Literature in a Mediatized World
Optional Summer Schools (2026)
University of British Columbia, 🇨🇦 Canada: Creative Writing for Children, Indigenous Writing, Illustrated Literature (comics & graphic novels)
Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz & Goethe Universität Frankfurt-am-Main, 🇩🇪 Germany
Semester 3 (Fall 2026): Three pathway options, with different classes and placements in libraries, archives, museums, film industry, broadcasters, publishers, book / reading promotion organizations
Nantes University, 🇫🇷 France (my top choice): Management and Entrepreneurship for Cultural Institutions
Tilburg University, 🇳🇱 Netherlands: Transcultural Trajectories (translation theory & in context)
University of Wrocław, 🇵🇱 Poland: Childhood and Film
Semester 4 (Spring 2027): Dissertation (location TBD with advisor)
Graduation: December 2027 in Glasgow
Upon successful completion (fingers crossed!), we will get multiple degrees depending on our pathways. Hopefully I’ll get the Nantes study track for semester 3 since it focuses on cultural entrepreneurship, so I’d receive a multiple degree by the University of Glasgow and Aarhus University recognising credits from Nantes University.
From meeting my classmates in my cohort (appx 30 people), we seem to be a mix of people coming straight from their undergraduate program, within a few years of graduating, and some with more work experience. (I might be the oldest person in my cohort?)
And we come from a range of different countries — from my notes: USA, Jamaica, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Spain, Germany, Nigeria, Palestine / Lebanon, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, China, and Russia.
So our class discussions will be very interesting since we’re all bringing such diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to the table.
How I got here: I applied!
Jokes aside, that is obviously a critical step. I first happened upon the program page in January 2024 when I started researching grad school options in Europe, reached out in the spring and found out the fall 2024 cohort was full, got to meet the program director last summer while I was in Glasgow taking art classes, applied in October (while in Lyon taking art classes as my alternate plan), and got my offer in December 2024 for this fall 2025 start.
I also hustled a bit to try & improve my candidacy — like emailing the director to share my interest & resume and asking to meet up (which we fortunately were able to!), and I followed up by mailing copies of my Alphabet of Fun Facts book, Travel Alphabet, and Calligraphy zine to her when I got back home. I assumed it’s a competitive program, and I always want to know that I did what I could to make something happen for myself so I have no regrets for what’s within my power. It’s important not to be inappropriate or aggressive, but being enthusiastic, genuine, and putting in effort is good.
This is also the only Master’s degree I applied to. When I found it, it felt like the right fit for me & for this moment in my life. If I hadn’t gotten in, maybe I would have applied again or to another Erasmus Mundus program (now that I know what they are). Who knows, but it doesn’t matter, because I’m here now & happy to explore this opportunity!
If you know me, then you know how well and uniquely this combination of topics & travel captures my background, experience, and interests.
I previously shared my full application for the program (if you’re interested), but here are some of the key points:
My background in art, marketing, and education (both academically & professionally)
Aspirations to innovate in educational storytelling by combining creative content with impactful social narratives
Past creative projects (An Alphabet of Fun Facts, Travel Alphabet) and art courses (ESMA in Lyon)
Desire to be able to comprehensively conceptualize & create engaging media for children (and all ages)
I also ended it with a very honest personal note, which feels even more true to me a year later:
In a world that is often overwhelming and, frankly, depressing, I find curiosity & education to be a light in the dark — for myself, and for spreading hope & opportunity to others.
My passion for learning, reading, traveling, and visiting cultural institutions is fulfilling & empowering, but not everyone has the same access to the quality education and positive cultural experiences that I have enjoyed. I am committed to challenging gatekeeping practices and finding innovative ways to make literacy, learning, and cultural engagement accessible to all.
The CLMCE programme will allow me to deepen my understanding of these issues and work toward real-world solutions that bridge gaps in literacy, education, and cultural representation. With the skills and knowledge I gain through CLMCE, I aspire to become a leader in creating educational content that is engaging, inclusive, dynamic, and transformative.
What I want to do
For my application, I mentioned that my dissertation might explore the role of multimedia and experiential design for cultural institutions and digital platforms, looking at how combining traditional and digital methods can make information more accessible and appealing to diverse audiences, especially (or starting with) children.
That said, I don’t have a specific outcome or goal in mind yet. I don’t know if that is what I’ll do for my dissertation, and I don’t know what I will do after this programme ends. I am very curious to see what it’s like to be back in the classroom and at a master’s level.
Whichever pathway I am in for the 3rd semester will also have a big impact on my courses & internship placements and likely what I do for my dissertation. And I want to be open to influence — the whole point of this (to me) is exposure to new ideas, ways of thinking, and professional pathways.
So my goals as I start this (which I know I will need to remind myself of when I feel challenged, frustrated, or distracted):
Enjoy being a student and studying at a master’s, postgrad level — it’s such a special experience and I feel so honored to be here
Dive deep into my studies but also take a step back to reflect on what I’m learning & doing as I go; keep a holistic, big picture perspective
Take advantage of opportunities offered by the programme, partner universities, and placements — academically, professionally, and socially
Meet people and expand my network
Pass my courses and receive the degree!
CLMCE Orientation
The CLMCE Director Evelyn Arizpe and other faculty & staff members welcomed us to the programme with an induction on Monday, September 15th.
As part of our introductions, we all shared a favorite book from our childhood. I said the Little House on the Prairie series and Oh, The Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss since it is also a special book for me that my dad often read & even gave me a copy as a college graduation gift.
They briefly outlined the classes we’ll be taking this semester, including our choice of a language. For our in-person U of G classes, we will also have some students who are in the M.Ed in Children's Literature at U of G.
1st Semester (University of Glasgow): Historical and Critical Perspectives on Children's Literature
Texts for Children and Young People (U of G)
Children's Literature: Critical Enquiry (U of G)
Cross Boundaries: Children's Literature and Other Media (Tilburg, online)
Literature and Publishing Industry for the Early Years (one week course delivered by Dr. Christina Correro)
Language (I chose Danish Beginner level, which will be online)
They also shared some postgraduate study expectations and information, which I appreciated. We had several meetings throughout the week, but as anyone who knows me knows — I love information and notes, so it is helping me transition into student mode and feel more prepared to start vs just dropping straight into it.
Expectation of proactive learning
Research skills: be independent
High level literacy and professional referencing
You will be presented with opportunities: it's up to you to take advantage of them (events, conference online, postgrad events, networking)
You're a student but stepping into role of researcher, more emphasis on original research
Bridge from student-ship to scholarship
CLMCE is about specializing over 2 years
Pick up useful skills beyond academia
When the sun is out, drop everything and go outside ☀️
Remember to read!! 📚
A few slides from our induction and pathway presentations:
School of Education Postgraduate Induction
University of Glasgow
I went to the School of Education Postgraduate Induction on Tuesday, and of course I took notes! Again, I personally really appreciate getting information and having some sense of what’s available, even if I can’t use or pursue it all yet.
And I know from having NOT been a student & away from academic institutions for so long that it is is SO wonderful (and rare!) to have so many resources & so much support available.
University of Glasgow
Established in 1451
Ranked in top 100 of world universities
Named the university of the year in 2021
School of Education is in St Andrews building and motto is "Inspiring education for all"
Our postgraduate experience
Focus on knowledge, research, and community
Masters postgraduate (PGT) characterized by independent learning where we are expected to find the answers — develop searching skills & our own voice
Glasgow
The friendliest place in the world
Scottish Gaelic for dear green place
3rd oldest subway in the world — locals call it "clockwork orange" 🟠 because it’s a single circle loop & orange
UNESCO city of music
Resources
Student support officer (SSO)
Disability services
Student learning development = academic support, AI advice, etc
Academic writing skills program AWSP (compulsory for all new UofG students)
Career & Employability
Student Representative Council
International Student Support
I also went on a campus tour on Wednesday, which was helpful to get more familiar with the area, important buildings, and insider tips for where to study, get food & coffee, and how to use the local transportaiton.
Moving to Glasgow
This is my third time in Glasgow — I first visited in 2017 when I flew in for a few days and then rented a car to do a solo road trip around Scotland, which I loved. I hadn’t heard much about Glasgow, but I quite liked the Kelvingrove Museum (which I now know is in the University of Glasgow campus area!) and the overall vibe of the city.
Fun fact: my airbnb host here in Glasgow worked for the BBC and ended up interviewing me on air for her show later that trip while I was in Edinburgh!
I got the idea in my head that I’d like to come take art classes sometime at the Glasgow School of Art, so when I decided to do my creative summer sabbatical in 2024, it was top of my list, and I found 3 weeklong classes here:
Introduction to Drawing & Painting
Portfolio Prep
Fiction and Picture Book Illustration
I really enjoyed the art classes and being in the city a bit longer, and I had already found out about the CLMCE program and was hopeful I’d get to come back as a grad student. And voila! Here I am :)
Even with that familiarity, housing wasn’t particularly easy to find, largely because student housing here in general is competitive, and CLMCE students are only here one semester, from September to December. So I ended up choosing the one accommodation option the school coordinated for us, which is essentially a dorm (it’s called flats, but no). It’s not that cheap, but I do have a private bathroom, my “flatmates” who I share a kitchen with are also other postgrads in their 30s (two in a different Erasmus master’s and one in a PhD here), and it’s within a 10-30 min walk to my classes on campus.
I arrived to Glasgow on Sunday after a short flight up from Paris (I had flown in from Miami on Friday). After bringing my suitcases to the dorm, I took a bus to Ikea and spent a few hours shopping to get dishes and other essentials, and then back to wash my bedding. Even so, I woke up with horrible allergies for Monday and meeting everyone, which is just so typical of my body. It wasn’t the best to have demon red weepy eyes, and of course that transitioned into a cold. But after several more loads of laundry & cleaning and a new air purifier, I’m getting more adjusted & settled.
This weekend I didn’t do too much, but I did spend a few hours poking around campus some more. On Saturday, I went to the University Library, exploring all the floors & study spaces, and worked up on the 8th floor as I went through our course Moodles to figure out assignments & build my to-do list. Today I went to the JMS center and found a spot on the 7th (?) floor to slowly work on this blog post. In both cases, I enjoyed beautiful golden hour views of campus.
And that is the end of my first week in grad school in Glasgow.
