Former NESCol computing student Aimie is now in her final year at Edinburgh Napier University and has been named Cybersecurity Student of the Year!

22-year-old Aimie Grant is from Inverallochy, a small village just outside of Fraserburgh. She was in her sixth year at school when the pandemic hit, which made her rethink her initial plan to go straight to university.

Aimie said, “Due to lockdown and the uncertainty at the time, I decided it would be best for me to stay closer to home near Fraserburgh at NESCol.

“I chose to study HNC Computing with the intention of progressing to university through direct entry.”

Breaking the stigma

Aimie completed her HNC in 2022 and was able to use this to enter second year of a BEng (Hons) Cybersecurity & Forensics degree at Edinburgh Napier University.

She said, “I see college as a really valuable stepping stone between school and university. It helped me understand what further and higher education would be like and gave me a strong foundation before progressing.

“One thing I was personally concerned about at the time was the stigma around going to college first. I worried that it might be seen as a ‘less academic’ route compared to going straight to university.

“However, looking back, I would strongly reassure any student that there are many different pathways to success, and there isn’t a single ‘correct’ route. Choosing the path that suits you best is what matters most.”

Transition to university

Although she initially applied to universities closer to home, Aimie felt ready to move away from Aberdeenshire when it came time to make her final decision.

She said, “Edinburgh Napier stood out to me as it was the first university in the UK to be accredited by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). The Cybersecurity and Forensics course particularly caught my interest, especially the forensics aspect.

“I was very fortunate to be offered a place at Napier, as the requirement for second year entry was typically an A in the HNC and I had achieved a B. I’m incredibly grateful for that opportunity.”

Aimie has felt supported throughout her education journey.

She said, “I found that the College offered more one-to-one support in class, likely due to the smaller class sizes.

“At university, there is a much greater level of independence, particularly when it comes to studying and managing your time. You are expected to take more responsibility for your own learning but there is still strong support available, through your lecturers and student demonstrators in labs, as well as dedicated services.”

New experiences at university

Throughout her time at Edinburgh Napier, Aimie has made the most of every opportunity offered to her.

She said, “I’ve had the opportunity to complete a summer internship in Australia, attend an entrepreneurial bootcamp in Germany, and take part in the university Snowsports trip to the Alps.

“I was also part of the Formula Student team, working within the driverless department, and the team went on to compete at Silverstone.

“There are so many opportunities available – it’s important to step out of your comfort zone and say yes to new experiences.”

Award wins

Now in her final year, Aimie’s hard work has been recognised nationally at the Scottish Cyber Awards, where she won the title of Cybersecurity Student of the Year!

The awards highlight the outstanding achievements across the industry, and Aimie was shortlisted alongside seven other finalists.

Last year, Aimie was also Edinburgh Napier’s Best Work Placement Student, impressing judges with her case study on her internship with Boeing Defence UK. Aimie spent a year at the company’s Bristol headquarters, working within the cybersecurity and data services teams.

She said, “That experience was really important to me and it really shaped my university journey. It also opened up career opportunities for me further down the line, including an offer to return to the same employer after graduation!”

Aimie’s advice

Aimie encourages all NESCol students considering university to throw themselves into the experience.

She said, “One piece of advice I would give to students transitioning to university is to get involved early, whether that’s through societies or sports.

“Attending Freshers’ Fair and joining a group can make a huge difference in helping you settle in and feel part of the university community.”

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Aimie’s journey highlights the opportunities that the college-to-university pathway can unlock.

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