GCU Student Life

It's National Best Friends day and we want to highlight 'friends for life' Kesiana and Maleeha, who shared their story with us for our campaign💙

Kesiana and Maleeha both study Diagnostic Imaging at GCU and have been best friends since starting their journey together on the course🤗

Kesiana said: "We met during Freshers and have been inseparable since. We even worked together for a bit at Ernest Jones in Silverburn! It's not even a uni friendship we've got, we're friends for life!"

GCU 🤝 providing a bestie

We're highlighting another incredible student who have went above and beyond their university degree🌟

careers hosted the GCU Employability Award event a couple of weeks ago, recognising students who have made a positive impact in the community and worked hard outside of their timetabled classes.

The Employability Award helps students stand out in a competitive job market with an award that demonstrates key skills🤝

We spoke with Applied Psychology student, Fraser Carey ⬇️

❓What motivated you to apply for the Employability Award?

🗣“I realised it is a competitive job market out there and being recognised for the extracurricular activities that you are already doing is amazing. Having a certificate of evidence to show that you are doing extra is very beneficial and the reflective process is very useful because not only can I talk about the skills I have developed in interviews but also have proof of it!”

❓Has the award experience helped you feel more prepared for finishing university and entering the job market?

🗣“Definitely! The work experience certificate was very beneficial and the way I gained those hours was online with an academic from Bournemouth University analysing qualitative data – studying the benefits of people with dementia using social media.
“I want to go into academia and research so engaging with the Employability Award has given me more confidence to go into postgraduate study and even get a PHD one day!”

❓Based on your experience, how would you describe the value of the Employability Award to other students? Would you recommend it, and why?

🗣“Absolutely – it only takes two minutes to sign up and you will probably find that you are already doing things that relate to the award and you have hours on reserve that could go towards the award. It is also very flexible with your studies, and it is a nice thing to sit alongside your degree when you graduate.”

Fabulous, Fraser💙

We’re shining a spotlight on our incredible students who have received a Magnus Magnusson Award🌟

Each year, GCU students can apply for up to £5,000 through the Magnusson Awards to support their ambitions, whether that’s volunteering, delivering community projects or launching a business idea.

One of this year’s recipients is Karen Dickinson, who is creating a public-facing podcast exploring the TV series Taggart and its connection to Glasgow. Her project aims to bring her research to a wider audience and highlight how the series reflected the city’s social, cultural and political changes over three decades.

🗣Karen said: “I am thrilled to have received a Magnusson Award, which will help me share my research on the TV series Taggart and its place in Glasgow’s story. My PhD has shown me that the series is far more than a crime drama; it reflects the city’s social, cultural and political changes over three decades.

“This Award will support me in creating a podcast that brings together research and personal voices, making this rich history accessible, engaging and meaningful for a wider public audience.”

Amazing, Karen - well done💙

Find out more about the Magnusson Award 🔗https://www.gcu.ac.uk/currentstudents/getinvolved/employabilityaward/commongoodopportunities/allstudents/magnussonawards

📢 Winter 2026 Graduation Ball Save the Date 📢

If you are due to graduate in November 2026, our Winter Graduation Ball will take place on Friday 27 November.

Tickets and more information will be available soon - in the meantime, pop it in your calendar.

Keep an eye out👀

‘Pride means being able to live a really, truly happy life’ 🏳️‍⚧️💙

As part of Pride Month, third-year Applied Psychology student Ashton McGuire shared his experience as a transgender man, speaking about visibility, representation and finding community at GCU.

He said: “I think right now, especially with the political climate, pride is very important because it isn't just like a march or anything, it is still a protest for LGBT people across the world, there is still a lot of rights that people don't have.”

Ashton has always felt like he belongs as GCU, he said: “I find that there is a lot more lecturers who are willing to be quite open about stuff. In the psychology course, we do s*x and relationships, and we talk about LGBT issues through that, and then gender and s*x as a concept as well. And again, lecturers being willing to talk about their own experiences has been super helpful.”

From the importance of Pride in today’s political climate to building confidence and authenticity, Ashton’s story highlights why support and education still matter.

Read the full story on GCU Student Newsroom ➡️https://www.gcu.ac.uk/currentstudents/news/pride-means-being-able-to-live-a-really,-truly-happy-life-meet-ashton-mcguire

Massive congratulations to Rachael and Ross, who tied the knot last Saturday! 💒💙

Our team, along with the wider student community, would like to wish you both a lifetime of love, happiness and fun memories together. We hope your special day was everything you dreamed of all the way in Greece 🇬🇷

We look forward to seeing Ross back at work next week to hear all about it.

Congratulations once again, and here's to your exciting new chapter!🫶

🗣 "I feel like I have the time and chance to grow here."

Lovely words from Syed, who features on this week's 💙

Syed moved here from Lahore in Pakistan and is grateful for the chance to study his Masters in Accounting, Finance and Regulation 🙌

He said: "I heard from my family members living in Edinburgh that Scotland is an awesome place, so that’s why I made my decision to come here.

“I’ve been studying here for a year and really enjoy it. The staff are good and help me whenever I need any support with my coursework.

"In Pakistan I always felt like I was cramming and trying to memorise information during my previous degree, but I feel like I have the time and chance to grow here. That’s been such a big part of my experience at GCU.”

Thanks Syed! We're glad to have you here 🫡

Interested in sustainability, fashion, design or creative reuse? ♻️🧵

Glasgow Caledonian University will host the UK–SA Design Workshop: Crafting Circular Futures: Cultural Innovation and Sustainable Design for Inclusive Economies.

📅Thursday 11 June
⏰9:30am–3:30pm
📍Annie Lennox Building W201

Bringing together partners from the UK and South Africa, the workshop will explore how creative practice, repair, reuse and inclusive design can help shape circular economies and more sustainable futures.

The day will include:

➡️Expert talks and roundtable discussions
➡️A hands-on upcycling workshop creating sensory “worry objects” from repurposed textiles
➡️Discussions around sustainability, accessibility and social innovation

The event is open to staff, students, makers, designers and anyone interested in circular fashion, inclusive design, community enterprise and sustainable living.

🍴 Lunch will be provided for registered participants.

Register via Eventbrite here 👉 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/crafting-circular-futures-tickets-1990376025271?aff=oddtdtcreator

For more information, contact Dr Lindsey Carey at 📩[email protected]

Meet your 2026/27 Full Time Officers🤩

new Full Time Officer Team have recently started their posts and we want to introduce them 😎

👋Say hi to:

Chinenye (Nenny), your President for 2026/27! 🏆

AND

Hamza Ahmad Siddiqi, Onyinye Peace Nweze and THANKGOD Obiani who will serve as your Vice Presidents. 🎉

This dedicated group are ready to advocate for your needs, drive positive change, and enhance the student experience at GCU💙

It's time to introduce the Academic Representative of the Year, Lexy!

She won one of GCU Students' Association STAR Awards, celebrating the hard work and dedication put in throughout the year⭐

❓How did it feel to be recognised at the STAR Awards?
🗣 “I was honoured to have been even considered for the award, and I'm extremely happy, grateful, and still a bit surprised that I received it. The night of the awards ceremony was also great, and I loved getting to see the other award nominees and winners.”

❓What does this award mean to you personally?

🗣 “It lets me know that I've been going along the right track while I've been a rep and that I was actually alright for the role. I am not the best at determining if I'm doing good enough, but I know that I always give my all, and this's helped show that it's actually been enough and that I should keep at it.”

❓What inspired you to get involved in this area?
🗣 “A friend had recommended that I apply for being a Department Rep, and upon looking into it more I figured it could be an opportunity for me to better be able to help others with any issues they were facing. Beyond that, getting to see "behind the curtain" as it were with how areas of the University work were intriguing to me. I knew that I'd give it my best, and if I did get the role then those choosing would've thought that I could do it, so I decided to give it a shot.”

❓What advice would you give to other students about engaging with extra-curricular activities at university?

🗣 “If you're interested in trying something new, being able to help support others or guide changes, or meeting a whole lot of great new people, and you haven't already taken on too much for yourself, then I encourage you to give it a shot. The time that you have at Uni is limited, and as others (and now I) have said, that time flies by, so why not take the chance and make it that bit more interesting!”

Well done Lexy! You're a star⭐

Read more about this year’s winners 👉 https://www.gcustudents.co.uk/articles/star-awards-2026-winners