How Bayo learnt to love Scotland and decided to stay

Bayo studied Finance & Investment Management at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, United Kingdom. During his time at university he fell in love with the city and decided to make it his home.

Tell us about your studies in Scotland.

I graduated from the MSc Finance and Investment Management programme at the University of Aberdeen in 2010.

Why did you choose to study in Scotland?

I knew I wanted to study for a Masters degree to develop my knowledge in Finance. There were only two Universities in the UK that offered the course I was interested in applying for (one was in Aberdeen, Scotland). I had never been to Scotland before and that was a great reason to choose Aberdeen.

Which experience stands out from your time as a student in Scotland?

The thing that stands out the most for me was the welcoming people. I made many good friends and I had a nice neighbour which made the move easier for me as I had no friends and family in the area when I arrived.

How did you get along with the locals?

I got on well with the local people in Aberdeen. As earlier said, I had a nice neighbour. Initially, I struggled to tune into the accent and recognise people as I felt they all looked similar. But eventually I settled in, got used to the accent and was able to recognise my friends. Also, the vicar of the Anglican Church I attended helped me to adjust to my new environment.

You decided to stay in Aberdeen. Where do you work now?

I work as an External Auditor in the public sector.

What made you stay in Aberdeen?

It’s a peaceful place, and I made wonderful friends whom up till today are still my friends. Most importantly, I meet my then girlfriend who is now my wife. So, to sum things up, Aberdeen is home for me.

How does work life in Scotland compare to elsewhere?

To be honest, work is the same everywhere. Because Aberdeen is not a very large and busy city it is easy to get to and from work without lots of traffic and difficulties. In comparison to where I grew up and started my working life, Aberdeen is a big change as I am able to walk half an hour to work instead of sitting in traffic for 5 hours to get to and from work.

If you had to sum up your experience in Scotland in one sentence:

Best decision I made, and wonderful place to live.