“
My overseas placement
would not have been possible
without the financial support
that I received through the
Moffat Trust Scholarship.”
T
HE QUEEN MARGARET LEGACY programme (QMLP) supports educational
exchange opportunities for Queen Margaret University (QMU) students at
our partner institution in Hungary, Corvinus University, with the programme
delivered in partnership with the Hungarian Embassy in London and QMU. These
transcultural learning opportunities are made possible through generous donations
from programme supporters.
Launched in November 2014, the QMLP
commemorates the lasting historical and
moral legacy of QMU’s namesake, Saint
Margaret, and recognises and embraces
the shared legacy of Hungary and Queen
Margaret University.
Alexandria Brown, a fourth year QMU
Public Sociology student, never imagined
that she would study abroad. But when
an opportunity to spend a semester in
Budapest through the QMLP presented
itself, Alexandria knew that it was just too
good to let pass by.
Touching down in Budapest, to freezing
early January temperatures, Alexandria
admits that she felt a bit like a ‘lost lamb’.
Getting used to an entirely new currency
didn’t help either. What she didn’t know
then was that the next five months were
going to be some of the best of her life.
Wasting no time in getting to know the
city that would be her home for the next
few months, Alexandria used her first day
to walk around the Pest district. She spent
time admiring its impressive architecture
and observing local customs, such as
friends greeting each other with a kiss on
the cheek, and the popularity of scooters
for getting people from A to B. With her
apartment located in the city’s Jewish
quarter, Alexandria found herself in awe
of the breath-taking synagogue on Dohany
Street – the largest in Europe. She also
discovered the city’s famous ruin bars,
where she would end up spending many
an evening in the company of new friends.
Upon arriving at Corvinus University on
her second day in Budapest, Alexandria
was immediately taken by the beautiful
gothic stone building in front of her.
Although the first few weeks were a bit
overwhelming, Alexandria found her
modules in Organisational Sociology,
Terrorism and Political Violence, and
Society and Culture in Saudi Arabia to be
fascinating. She was relieved to find a wide
range of social sciences books – in English
– in the university library, too.
Alexandria also found that - despite some
language barriers with other students
on her course - shared personal values
and political beliefs helped her to bond
with her classmates. This would prove
extremely useful for her life outside of
university too as she only met three other
people from the UK during her time in
Hungary and none of them were studying
at the same institution. However, this did
prompt Alexandria to venture outside of her
comfort zone and encouraged her to join
the Erasmus Student Network, where she
would end up making friends with whom
she still keeps in touch with today. Back at
the university, the prospect of an oral exam
seemed daunting as it was something she
had not yet done back home in Scotland,
let alone in another country. Although the
exam posed challenges, Alexandria was
delighted to find that not only did it boost
her confidence and public speaking skills,
but she also got an ‘A’ for her presentation.
Reflecting on her time in Budapest,
Alexandria said: “I was thrilled to go to
Hungary for a variety of reasons; social,
academic and personal. I am not the typical
person who goes on an exchange, and it
was never something that I believed was
in my grasp. However, thanks to the Queen
Margaret Legacy Programme and Corvinus
University, it all became possible, and I
would urge anyone who is presented with
an opportunity like this to grab it with both
hands! We only regret the things in life we
didn’t do.” ❒
QMYOU / Supporting Student Development
25