Meet Venus, graduate of Multimedia & Creative Technologies

“Doing things that give you opportunity give you freedom. You have control.”

In the last four years, Venus has taken full advantage of her time as an international student. She has kept her 'big picture goals' in sight but learned to explore along the way.

The result? An unforgettable journey opening new doors she had not imagined.

Say yes to every new experience

Some of my closest friends are people I met through studying and travelling. Exploring different places connected me with like-minded individuals. Doing an exchange added another dimension to my student life. I’d 100% recommend it.

I spent six incredible months in Portugal, saying yes to every new experience. I started surfing, improved my skating, learned to highline, and even began enjoying spicy food. I picked up both Portuguese and some Flemish. Almost every weekend was an adventure. I even bought and converted a car into a camper and travelled through Spain and much of Portugal with friends.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned? The impossible is often just a challenge waiting to be figured out. Time and again, I’ve seen ideas that seemed unrealistic come together through the right people and shared determination.

Right now, I’m in Porto, Portugal, studying for my Master’s in AI for Sustainable Societies. It’s an Erasmus Mundus joint programme combining specialisations across three universities – here in Porto, Tallinn (Estonia), and Tampere (Finland). The programme trains us to design AI and data-driven sustainable solutions to today’s societal and environmental challenges.

Why I chose to continue studying

• I’ve always wanted a career where I can make a real, positive impact, and this programme paves the way. Sustainability evidently needs a new approach, and this course is a stepping stone to being part of that change.
• The MCT programme taught me a diverse set of skills. I realised I could build on this new knowledge and perspective with my deep passion for the world and people.
• I knew I wanted to keep learning, but I had to decide whether to pursue this in the workplace or through continued academic study. After extensive research I found this programme - it felt like the perfect bridge between my ambition to become a project or product manager and my love for interdisciplinary learning.

• I had to submit a portfolio of my work that I'd done during my bachelor’s. The MCT programme was perfect for this as we had created so much material, so I was able to add a selection -  from web design, game development, 3D modelling and animation, to videography and photography.
• I created a motivation video which was challenging but something I was prepared for, being able to implement the skills I learnt from MCT in video editing.
• The final stage was an interview. As I was so determined that this was the course that suited my interests and goals perfectly it was the only master’s I applied to. As such I put all my efforts into my application and it paid off. Out of 400 applicants, only 20 were admitted. I was incredibly happy to be one of them.

Trust in your decisions

I remember knowing at age 17 I would study my bachelor’s abroad but I came across several closed doors due to my A levels not meeting the criteria needed to study in certain countries. What I learnt from this is that if you want something, you can make it happen, and you will find a solution that best suits what you are looking for. 

It takes time, energy and can be frustrating, but in the end, the result will be better than what you initially thought was possible. When you push through one door, it leads to another. 

For example, when I graduated from school I thought I would become a product designer, but then I chose to combine my love for design with technology - and found the MCT programme.

And during my bachelor’s at KdG, I developed DigiDeus, an AI-powered content creation service, which was awarded best thesis and attracted investor interest. However, as I advanced in my master’s, I began to critically assess its long-term impact. While the idea had strong commercial potential, I realized it didn’t align with my growing commitment to ethical and sustainable innovation. 

Stepping away was a defining moment - one that reinforced my belief in responsible decision-making, even at the cost of short-term success.

Life as an international student - Make it yours!

These are the benefits of an international education from my experience:

• Personally: My continuous moving and rebuilding of my life abroad has changed how I connect with others. I’m soon to live in my 7th country since 2019! I’ve grown comfortable diving into conversations about unfamiliar or even taboo topics, realising that curiosity isn’t ignorance but rather the first step to understanding.
• Academically: Group projects thrive on discussion, and when no two people share the same nationality, those discussions become even richer. Learning in a multicultural setting broadens my perspective and challenges my thinking. Different cultural lenses lead to more creative, well-rounded solutions.
• Career-wise: If you work on a global programme, cross-cultural awareness is invaluable. Understanding how people in different regions think, their outlooks, and their values makes all the difference. I want to carry forward the lessons I’ve learned from the people I’ve met, knowing that each perspective has shaped how I approach challenges and collaborate with others.

My advice for future students

• Say yes to every opportunity possible.
• Be prepared to go out of your comfort zone - that’s how you learn and grow. I can’t say that it will be easy but by becoming more independent, you’ll develop your resilience and so many doors will open.
• Don’t overthink the what ifs. You’re young. Explore and just embrace opportunity.