A Chevening scholar’s perspective: Reflections, advice and climate change
By Axelle, from Seychelles, studied Climate Change Finance and Investment
Hello! I’m Axelle from Seychelles, a recent graduate of the MSc in Climate Change Finance and Investment. I’m now working as a Senior Finance Analyst within the Ministry of Finance, National Planning and Trade in Seychelles.
Choosing to study the programme
I was drawn to the University of Edinburgh for its renowned expertise in Climate Change Finance.
My background is in accounting and finance but I wanted to specialise in climate change because this expertise is urgently needed in my country. As a small island and a developing state, we face significant challenges, and I wanted to equip my country with the right knowledge and resources. I wanted to further my studies, gain a broader knowledge of climate change itself and ultimately, have a more substantial say in policy decisions in my country. That’s why I chose to study climate change and why I returned home immediately after completing my studies.
I found the page on the University’s Degree Finder and it was so detailed. They even had the programme director’s email address on there, so I sent him an email and he responded very quickly. I was really shocked that he responded within one week and answered all of my questions.
Applying for the programme
My advice for those applying is to be honest in your application and to be as detailed as possible. Be clear why you want to study here and what your goals are. What are you doing now and how will your course help you in the future? Where do you want to see yourself in five years’ time? Be clear about the path that you want to take.
They want to see how you would potentially use what you’re learning to impact not just your community and your work, but also how you think it could impact on society tomorrow. These are the kinds of people and leaders that the University is looking for. So, be clear and be passionate about why you want to study your particular programme.
I think some people believe you have to progress quickly on to master’s study after your undergraduate degree, but it’s definitely not a disadvantage to take some time off and do something else first. There is often the belief that if you stop your studies, you might then feel lost and struggle to return. In my experience, that’s not the case at all.
One of the key points that I emphasised in my application was the fact that I had been working since my undergraduate degree. This helped build my application because I was able to link my previous study and my work experience with my motivations for undertaking a masters and could articulate how it would potentially push me further. So as long as you’re clear, methodical and honest, it should actually put you in a stronger position with your application.
Being awarded the Chevening Scholarship
I did a lot of research before applying to this course because I wanted to make sure it was right for me. Postgraduate study is a major investment – in money and time. I really researched the course in depth. I also took a lot of time to explore scholarship opportunities. I discovered the Chevening Scholarship programme and took some time to learn more about the process and I was lucky to be awarded it (I think only about 1% of those who apply receive it). It’s really competitive but because it covers fees as well as a personal living allowance, it’s definitely worth the effort. It took me a full year of preparing the scholarship application as well as applying for the university place.
I was really fortunate to receive the scholarship, which included a monthly personal living allowance but even still, I found I had to budget and plan my finances carefully.
I opened two bank accounts to help me manage this better. The first one was for all of my expenses that I had to pay like my rent and bills. The other one was for my daily expenses like groceries, shopping and my gym membership. I would take small amounts out of the first bank account and place these into the second account, to pay for my day-to-day living expenses. That way, I wouldn’t go over budget and I could enjoy the rest and feel at ease with my remaining savings.
Life in Edinburgh
I really enjoyed my time in Edinburgh. It is a very quiet and peaceful city. It has a city life, but it’s not crowded and loud. My favourite part was the fact that there are areas where you can go hiking. I climbed up Arthur’s Seat, which is an extinct volcano in the centre of the city, at least once or twice every month to breathe in the cold fresh air.
The closest park to the University is The Meadows. I loved it there during the summertime, sitting there chilling with my friends, or even studying. I think about it to this day and still talk about it often.
I often studied in the main library, and from the second floor, I could look out across the park from where I was sitting and see all this green land and really felt at peace. The people were super friendly and I actually loved the weather as well. I know some people might be a bit against the rain, but it did sometimes stop during summer!
To find out more about Climate Change Finance and Investment:
Climate Change Finance and Investment
Axelle was sharing experiences of Master’s study during our ‘Introduction to Postgraduate Study’ webinar that took place in September 2025. Find out more about our online recruitment events:
