˙uɐɔ I ʍouʞ I ¿sıɥʇ op I uɐƆ

I realise that there have been multiple occasions within the recent few blog posts that I've left things unclarified or hinted at things to discuss within the future. Unfortunately my memory is not great - as I'm sure I've said a million times.

I've been accepted to study my Masters and at the minute I'm in the dreaded money management aspect of the process. Unfortunately it is next to impossible to get graduate funding in the UK and even scholarships and loans are scarce. I've explained before that undergraduate degrees have always been free in Scotland to Scottish and EU students (unfortunately this does not expand to English, Welsh, and Northern Irish students) which is a truly wonderful thing and should be a policy implemented the world-over. Sadly this privilege does not expand to postgraduate degrees.

That's why it's wonderful that the government has agreed to offer a scholarship to Scottish/EU students on this particular course. I'm saving myself £3400 on tuition, half of which is to be paid by the uni and half by the gov. The major issue with money does not come from that - but rather with the cost of living.

You see, once again Scotland is different in that regard when compared to England and generally the rest of the world. In Scotland it is very common to attend a university based on location, with commuting being the most common practice and the key reason as to why I chose to attend the university I did. In fat the university offering the Masters was my first choice but I was put off by the fact that it would involve moving across the country to live alone at 17. At that point I had barely ridden a train without my parents (which is sad, but that's what happens when you don't really need to do so). Anyway to summarise, moving away to uni is uncommon for home students in Scotland.

The accommodation looks set to cost me around £5500 for the entire year, or about £110 a week (or $170 US). It honestly seems quite expensive for an ensuite room but utilities, broadband, shared kitchen and lounge are all included so maybe it's not that bad? I honestly have no idea, and have never rented in the English speaking world. Tunis was 25DT a week for a room, shared bathroom and kitchen, including electricity and wireless Internet - but that was like 1/3 of my pay a month, so God knows.

I really hope I can find a job in Dundee.

Speaking of Tunis. Eid Mubarak! It's like Muslim Christmas. But obviously without Christ.