From Central Africa to Edinburgh: My journey of adaptation and academic success
David Krame Kadurha, an MSc Student in Operational Research with Data Science, is from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In this blog, he shares how he has adapted to studying in Edinburgh.
By David Krame Kadurha
Hey everyone! I’m currently doing my MSc in Operational Research with Data Science, and what a journey it’s been. This was my first time not just in Edinburgh, but in Europe entirely – quite the leap from central Africa where I’ve lived mainly in the DR Congo and Cameroon.
I fell in love with Edinburgh’s ancient vibes and chill atmosphere
Even before I left home, I’d seen pictures of Edinburgh and thought, “Wow, this looks like an incredible place to be”. But experiencing it firsthand was even better. There’s something magical about the ancient architecture combined with the fact that it’s not overwhelmingly crowded. It gives you this sense of profound beauty and tranquility – exactly what you need when you’re pursuing serious studies. The quiet, beautiful atmosphere motivates you just by being there.
Coming from central Africa where temperatures are pretty consistent and definitely much warmer, arriving in Edinburgh was tougher than expected! I had no idea how much weather, and the change in the Scottish seasons, could actually impact your mood and energy levels. At first, I genuinely thought something was wrong with me.
Talking to people at the University was a game-changer. The support network here is incredible – dedicated staff helped me understand how to adapt and what strategies work. It’s amazing how much difference it makes when you know you’re not alone in figuring things out.
Small things that made a big difference
One thing that struck me was how respectful people are here in general (for example, usually saying sorry even when you think nothing is wrong, queuing anytime it’s necessary, respecting the time, trying to include everyone). At the uni, for example, everyone’s professional whilst maintaining a level of friendship which favours openness, and creates an amazing learning environment.
Coming from a French-speaking country and having mainly been consuming American English in many of my language learning sessions before, it requires sometimes some effort to change and tune the ear to British English. And usually even with an accent (a kind of French accent in my case, I guess) the city is used to people from around almost everywhere, so that you don’t really feel different, and actually, usually people make an effort to focus on what is the idea you really try to convey and respectfully ask when something isn’t clear. And at the same time, lecturers come from many countries which forces many to speak in a standard way.
And can we talk about university accommodation for a second? As someone completely new to the city, finding a place to live could have been a nightmare. But the University’s managed accommodation really is a good option – it makes settling in so much smoother.
Edinburgh’s hands-on teaching approach
The teaching here is impressive in many ways. Instead of just sitting through endless passive lectures, you’re constantly engaging with the material through tutorials and assessments. You get time to really explore and dive deep into subjects. It’s the perfect balance of independence with the right amount of guidance to help you give your best.
What sets the University apart is how they care about you as a whole person. Yes, you’ve got these renowned, enthusiastic lecturers feeding your mind, but there’s also an entire support ecosystem – wellbeing services, personal student advisors, people to talk to about literally anything, not just academics.
I think Edinburgh has cracked the code on creating high achievers without that brutal, pressurised competition you often hear about at top universities. You’re pushed to do great work, but it doesn’t feel like you’re in some gladiatorial arena. It’s more like doing your best work in a psychologically healthy environment. It’s changed my perspective to see an example of how you can maintain incredibly high standards whilst keeping people sane and happy.
After a year here, I think being successful comes down to three things: discipline, hard work, and being honest with yourself. Discipline means having a clear schedule and actually sticking to it. I’d say if hard work gives you 50% of success, being disciplined delivers the other 50%. Hard work is obvious, but it’s about maintaining quality effort, not just burning yourself out. Being honest with yourself is the tricky one – you need to be honest with yourself about when you need help, which is tough when you’re used to being a high achiever. The system here is set up so you can get support in whatever way works for you – professors, tutors, Student Cohort Leads, other students, online platforms (even anonymous options), tutorials… This combination pushes you to give everything you’ve got whilst also being smart enough to step back and try different approaches when needed.
Getting to design 70% of my own degree
One of my absolute favourite things about doing an MSc in the School of Mathematics is that you basically craft 70% of your degree yourself. Only 3-4 courses out of 11 are mandatory, which means you can choose courses based on your actual interests and goals. I’ve been able to dive into game theory, reinforcement learning, and machine learning and pattern recognition, for example – some of these weren’t even organised directly by my school originally! Now I’m working on my dissertation, and again, it’s designed to give you freedom whilst ensuring you meet regularly with your supervisor to get the most out of the experience.
Building new habits
Any habit – even ones you’re convinced you don’t have – can be developed step by step with consistency and the right support. I’ve found that here, whether I was figuring out Scottish weather, getting used to a completely different academic system, or just pushing myself harder in any area, building good habits has helped me to succeed. The whole journey from central Africa to Edinburgh has been wild – challenging for sure, but also really transformative. If you’re thinking about making a similar move, honestly, it’s doable. You just need to be ready to adapt and take advantage of all the support that’s available.
