Patricia Lopes Da Veiga

Patricia is originally from Portugal but always dreamed of studying and living in an English-speaking country ever since her school days.

Her initial plan was to move to England to stay close to family, but she travelled to Scotland during her gap year and immediately fell in love the second she got off the train. She was completely mesmerised by the scenic views and the love for nature here. Being an environmentalist at heart, she couldn’t imagine a more perfect place in the world to pursue her passion.

When she arrived at Abertay, Patricia attended an introductory session for overseas students and made incredible friends during her first few days on campus. Even after graduating and moving to different cities, the group of friends remain close. Adapting to the famous Scottish climate took about a year, and she is still working on understanding the Scottish accent. Fortunately, people have been kind and understanding, making the process easier.

Patricia has many fond memories of her time at Abertay but a particular highlight was spending a week in a mock construction site in Edinburgh during her second year. She took on the role of project manager, overseeing daily paperwork, meetings, and coordinating with clients and contractors. The team successfully built a fully functioning onshore wind farm with three turbines, and we made great friends while collaborating with another university.

She said:

"Abertay not only provided me with a strong academic foundation but also valuable hands-on experience and work opportunities. I am truly grateful for the practical learning opportunities that Abertay offers, which have prepared me for the real-world challenges in my field."

After finishing her degree, Patricia has secured a position as a Wastewater Process Scientist with Scottish Water in their Edinburgh office as part of their graduate scheme.

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