School of Social & Political Sciences

Author: Faith Samuel, MSc Criminology and Criminal Justice student

The road from my bedroom in India to the ancient classrooms of one of the most renowned universities in the United Kingdom is a real roller coaster ride. It navigates a seamless procession of feelings that had permeated my entire life last year, anxiety, disbelief, excitement, and enormous relief.

Hey! It's Faith here and I come from a small state called Kerala in the Southern part of India and I’m currently pursuing my MSc Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Glasgow's School of Social and Political Sciences.

The crossroads: Drowning out the noise

My entire path began at the end of my undergraduate degree. The idea of study abroad was a murmur, enticing suggestion but I needed to press the stop button. My university finals were approaching and a distraction, even a dream, was excessive.

I graduated with a good ranking but suddenly ended up in a rut. What next? Pursue a master's locally? Take a break? Work for a while? The indecision was thunderous. I needed to cleanse my mind and see what my real abilities were, so I embarked on a journey of immersion into the corporate world, to work in an outsourcing company as an SKY UK agent.

I excelled there. I liked solving the problems of the customers in the UK and asked myself whether I should simply stay. Things were going on well and the prospect of permanence was unbelievably alluring.

The unlikely sign: When Glasgow found me

As I was calmly driving to work, fate struck me. I came across an article that featured the University of Glasgow campus. I was struck with awe. The structures, the history, the very beauty of it- it was alluring.

To say the truth, I had not thought of Glasgow, or even of all Europe, before that time. I never thought I'd get in. But the sight of that campus created a desire I could not negate: what might have happened?

I had applied during my late shift at night and applied the application almost out of whim and then forgot all about it.

About two days later, the mail came: A conditional admission letter.

It was a shock. I had not held on to my high expectations and here was this unbelievable chance, triggering a monumental conflict. Work was always good, but this opportunity to go to a place that I had never thought of going to felt enormous. It was already a tight timeline, and I was concerned whether I had time to even prepare to have the next intake or not.

The push I needed

I could not dare to tell my parents; I was so uncertain. I debated it within myself during several weeks. Is it worth all to take this eleventh-hour gamble?

Then my parents at home called. They asked me randomly whether I had attempted to apply anywhere in Scotland.

I froze. Their probability of calling up and asking questions randomly about Scotland was not a mere coincidence. I interpreted this as a sign - a godly intervention of a kind as a sign. I informed them on the admission, and my dad was so shocked!

It was almost a month since that conditional letter had landed in my inbox, and I had not done anything. The clock was chiming away, already mid-August.

I resigned on the spot, flew home, paid the deposit and started the mad scramble of collecting the documents. Luckily, soon I got my unconditional offer, and immediately after that, I got the news about a scholarship! This was a huge relief and the money burden that was pressing heavily on us was removed.

Towards the end of August, we met the financial needs to submit the application to the UK visa. This was by far the most difficult of the whole journey. We had already spent enough--time and money, hope--not to be down now.

As I applied, I continued to hear bad news: other students who had applied one month earlier were yet to receive the visa. My spine shivered. Uncertainty and regret began to creep together in my head. Should I stop? Shall I wait until the next intake?

But I sucked in and jumped, just hoping.

And it was the miracle. On the third day following my application, I was mailed my visa acceptance. This quick turnaround was unbelievable to a non-priority application. It was as though everything was meant to happen and it was God telling you: “You are supposed to be there”.

Once I had the visa, time elapsed in a flash due to shopping sprees, hurried goodbyes, and time spent with the family.

September 8, 2025 - I woke up nervous and doubtful. I had a couple of hours before I was flying to a country that was miles apart in terms of norms and environment that I had been accustomed to. I had a breather, spent a morning with my family, and said my last goodbyes at the airport, desperately trying not to express my emotions.

It was a hard goodbye. I was like a child as I tried to contain my tears as I went back with my parents. But this time it was they who were abandoning me, and I was entering the great, the exciting unknown. It reminded me of the quote I saw the other day that says "The first day of school is a chorus of children’s tears; the first day of university is a silent weep from the parents left behind."

I arrived in Glasgow after an 18-hour flight with a couple of brief naps. It was late, around 8 PM. When I got out of the tarmac, I felt the chilly air. A long, deep breath made me finally sink into the fact:

This is it. It has initiated a new chapter in my book.

A photo of the flight to Glasgow.

A photo of the city of Glasgow under the sun.

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First published: 20 January 2026