23 Jun 2017

Dundee student battles the odds for scholarship to New York

A University of Dundee student has won a prestigious scholarship that will take her to the United States. Rachel Main, 23, who will receive a first class honours degree in English and Film Studies on Friday, 23rd June, is one of just two students to be awarded the annual St Andrew’s Society of the State of New York Scholarship. The $30,000 prize will see Rachel, who thought that she would never be able to travel the world and pursue her love of writing, take up a coveted place on the MFA Dramatic Writing programme at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts. Rachel, from Glenrothes, became...

23 Jun 2017

Honorary degree for Baroness Eliza Manningham-Buller

Baroness Eliza Manningham-Buller, Chair of the Wellcome Trust, one of the world’s largest funders of biomedical research, has been awarded an honorary degree from the University of Dundee. Baroness Manningham-Buller joined Wellcome, a global charitable foundation that supports scientists and researchers to take on big problems, fuel imaginations and spark debate, as a governor in 2008 and became Chair of the Board of Governors in 2015. She received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree at the University’s graduation ceremony in recognition of her work to help great scientific ideas thrive for the...

22 Jun 2017

Figure skating student glides to success with first class honours degree

Michelle Callison will graduate this week from the University of Dundee after four years of juggling her studies with her figure skating career. The 23-year-old Sports Biomedicine student will collect her first class honours degree on Thursday, 22nd June, despite skating taking up much of her time. She said, “It’s been a lot of early mornings. When my flatmates were coming home from nights out, I was going out to training.  I haven’t had your normal student life. “Exams also always clash with major competitions. Last year I came out of my last exam, went into a car and drove...

22 Jun 2017

Graduate to meet her family’s hero on the Caird Hall stage

A University of Dundee student will collect her degree from the man who saved her life over 30 years ago. On February 4th 1986, Sarah Beattie was born 14 weeks premature, weighing only 1lb 5oz. Lord Naren Patel was the consultant obstetrician at Ninewells Hospital the day she was born. He is now Chancellor of the University and will cap Sarah on Thursday, 22nd June. Sarah will collect her Diploma in Legal Practice having already achieved her Law degree last year from Dundee. That is when her mum, Morag, realised their connection. She said, “I couldn't believe it when I saw him at the Caird Hall an...

22 Jun 2017

Dundee strikes gold in Teaching Excellence Framework

The University of Dundee has been given a Gold award – the highest possible rating – in the 2017 Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF). The TEF was introduced by the UK Government to recognise and reward excellent learning and teaching. The ranking places Dundee among an elite group of British universities licensed to use the TEF Gold Award for the next three years. “The award of TEF Gold is an excellent result which highlights the quality of learning, teaching and the student experience that we offer at Dundee,” said Professor Karl Leydecker, Vice-Principal (Learning & Teachin...