Alumnus Topu tells us his journey of discovery in Dundee, which began at International College Dundee

Graduate Fayzuddin Topu, now a postgraduate research student at Queen’s University in Belfast, studied Computer Science with us at the University of Dundee and graduated in 2021, then going on to complete an MSc in Cyber Security Engineering at the University of Warwick in 2022.

Before progressing to the second year of his undergraduate degree, Topu spent his first year studying at International College Dundee (ICD), which offers an alternative way for international students to begin their studies, learning core subject knowledge while being supported in developing academic English and university-level study skills.

We caught up with Topu to find out more about his ICD and Dundee journey.

Let’s go right back to the beginning; what brought you to study at the University of Dundee?

Honestly in Bangladesh, where I come from, Dundee is not very well-known. The only time I had heard of Dundee was with Bangladesh sometimes being referred to as ‘Dundee of the East’, because Dundee is historically famous for Jute production. I was thinking about where I wanted to study, and this historical connection is what led to me to investigate the University of Dundee.

I found out that Dundee is a very small city and that’s exactly what I was looking for. Dundee is one of the best cities in the UK for travel as it is well connected and so central. It also has a lot of sunshine compared to other parts of Scotland.

I investigated the available courses as I wanted to study computer science; I really liked that there was a lot of module options to meet my needs. Very fortunately, I then met one of the ICD representatives and learned about the ICD pathway. Normally it's very hard to get a direct entry to a UK university from my country.

How would you describe your experience at the International College Dundee?

Without ICD, it would have been a very hard journey for me to learn at the University from scratch. The ICD is a fantastic place and helps international students to adjust to the UK Higher Education system, improving their English learning and language skills. 

In the second year of my degree, I had a very close friend who got direct entry to year two and he struggled. For me, it was very straightforward and an easy transition as ICD prepared me for the UK education system; the expectation on students and the class culture is different to that of my home country. 

As I progressed through my postgraduate degree and then into my PhD, I started to see the benefits of ICD even more. I developed a lot of skills there and they are still helping me to be a better academic to this day. The ICD provided me with a strong foundation of knowledge and experiences that I needed to succeed, and my teachers and tutors even helped me with my confidence!

What other skills and experiences did you gain from ICD that have supported you in your academic career?

During my time at Dundee, I had the opportunity to tutor. I was helping new students in ICD, and I also did a lab demonstration at the University, in the main computer science lab, which was such a good experience for my CV. I developed skills in how to teach online, as well as general teaching methodology. It was thanks to ICD and the University of Dundee that I was then awarded a teaching fellowship at the University of Warwick.

What three words or phrases would you use to describe Dundee city?

Unpredictable weather. Very beautiful, with scenic views. Very calm days.

My favourite place to go was beside the River Tay and to sit on the riverbanks and feel the calmness. When I returned to Dundee for my graduation ceremony, I felt like I was going back home. It really is my second home.

Can you tell us a little bit about your PhD project?

I'm currently doing research in the field of cyber security, especially network security. My topic is related to disaster recovery and I'm working on a protocol to help disaster rescue teams with establishing a secure communication network, where the normal network infrastructure is down. They can use that network securely, without any concerns. My project is funded by the UKRI and I'm almost at the end of my second year at Queens University in Belfast.

If you could describe your Dundee experience in one or two words, what would that be?

That is a hard question. I would come back to Dundee anytime. I have lived in three cities in the UK and if anyone asked me which city I would want to go back to, it would be Dundee and especially the University of Dundee.

What is it like to be a University of Dundee alumnus and be part of the alumni community?

It's really feels like a proper community. The University send us important information about what is going on and keep us in the loop with news, activities and opportunities.

Dundee has maintained a very good connection with me and recently, I have enjoyed the opportunity to contribute through alumni volunteering. I'm lucky to be part of a community that I can contribute to.