A newly-wed couple from Alberta, Canada have arrived in Edinburgh to begin married life as postgraduate students.
Judy Stang, 25, and Trent Schmidt, 26, are the first Canadian married couple to study together at Queen Margaret University (QMU).
Judy has already completed a degree in Kinesiology (the study of body movement) and Trent studied firstly as a student-athlete, then latterly as a student of Kinesiology. They have both worked with initiatives which support injured people and help them return to work.
Commenting on her postgraduate studies in Edinburgh, Judy said: ”My husband and I travelled to Scotland together so that we’re both able to complete our postgraduate studies at QMU. We both liked the idea of living in a new country and studying abroad.
”My previous experiences really directed me towards choosing a course studying occupational therapy. I’ve been a team lead for a summer camp for children with disabilities, a teacher’s assistant for a young girl with a disability and as a Kinesiologist working with people with long-term disabilities. I truly believe that limitations of a limb, joint, mind or other barrier can be turned into possibilities.”
Trent added: ”My wife and I share the passion for travelling and experiencing new cultures, and we knew that we both wanted to pursue our higher education in Scotland. At this point in our lives (not having a mortgage or kids yet), we knew studying abroad was feasible. In addition, a friend of ours from Canada began studying at QMU last year and gave us helpful insight into the wondrous experience of living in Edinburgh.
“I’ve always been extremely interested in learning about the human body, specifically in its movement. Physiotherapy as a profession was therefore always intriguing to me because it’s all about studying the body and applying that knowledge to help people. As for choosing QMU, its programme has been well known for its practical-based learning philosophy, and this enticed my wife and I to pursue our postgraduate studies here.”
