International student Bukola left Nigeria to study a master’s in Business Leadership and Management at RGU just after learning she was pregnant. She shares with us the ups and downs of her academic journey juggling her studies, pregnancy issues and being a new mum with the help of our staff and support services.
I always knew that I would pursue my postgraduate studies abroad and had it all planned out. I would spend a considerable amount of time gaining work experience, and when I was ready, I’d study a course that aligned with my passion and work experience. Little did I know, however, that my journey at Robert Gordon University (RGU) would take an unexpected turn. I would be pursuing my master’s degree while pregnant.
Two days before our move to the United Kingdom from Lagos, Nigeria, I found out I was pregnant. While I was extremely excited about the blessing, I worried about how I was going to navigate being in a foreign land, studying my masters full time, being pregnant, and working remotely in a fintech organisation as Director of Operations. What gave me assurance was knowing that, despite my fears, I was capable of striking a balance. I was ready for the new experience and eager to start my master’s programme.
Commencing my studies at RGU
When I started classes at RGU, one of the things that struck me the most was the plethora of resources and support available to students online and offline. Once I completed my registration and settled in our new home, I went through the RGU website and got directions on what to do as a new pregnant student. I registered with a GP and began my monthly check ups and scans. When my course leader, Dr. Eleni, found out I was pregnant, she congratulated me, and I was immediately issued paperwork to complete a risk assessment and pregnancy support plan.
Then came the challenging moments
Being pregnant has its great and not so great moments. One of the challenges I had was having to get up for classes in the very cold and windy Aberdeen mornings when all I wanted to do all day was sleep. Thankfully, I never for a day missed my classes, even though there were online resources and class recordings.
At 6 months pregnant, which would be in the second semester, I started to experience memory loss, one of the very common pregnancy symptoms. I would go into the classroom, and when the class was over, I would completely forget what I was taught, even before stepping out of the theatre. That freaked me out a lot. I feared that I would perform poorly during my assessments.
At 9 months pregnant, things started to go downhill in the middle of my assessment writing. I was dealing with symptoms of preeclampsia and was unable to submit two of my assessments before the deadline. Thanks to RGU’s course extension policy, I put in a request for extension, which was immediately granted. This gave me one less thing to worry about in such a difficult health scare period. I was able to complete the remaining assessments and had distinctions in all four courses. Five days after I submitted my last assessment, my baby boy was born.
Nursing and writing my research project
One of the hardest things a woman can do is enrol in a university programme while nursing a baby. It is not for the faint hearted. However, the varying academic resources and support RGU makes available to students were extremely helpful, coupled with being married to a kind and supportive partner. This was not easy, as we both had to make sacrifices to enable me to have a few hours of study time daily. This strategy helped my research to be a lot more in depth than it would have been and gained me a distinction in my project.
Reaping the fruits of my labour
In September 2022, I began my master’s journey, having planted a seed in my academic aspirations and a seed in my womb. In December 2023, I became a proud graduate with an MSc degree in Business Leadership and Management and a cherished baby boy in my arms.
No matter the challenges or surprises life throws your way, overcoming them is within reach. You might find yourself pregnant like me, battling an illness, or just being extremely swamped with work and studies. Rest assured, it is absolutely possible to gracefully handle all that life throws at you and still excel in your academics. Of all the university options I had, choosing RGU was undeniably the best academic decision I made.
Bukola Osuntuyi
4 responses to “Studying at RGU through pregnancy to motherhood”
Congratulations Bukola! I have a similar experience with you but I had to pause for a year because I couldn’t go for placement which was to start shortly after the birth of our daughter. I have just resumed and on my final placement counting the days to dissertation! 🤗
Hi Onome, thanks for sharing your story as well! Congratulations on the birth of your daughter and all the best for the rest of your studies. 🙂
Congratulation to Bukola Osuntuyi. Of a truth, having two “Masters” concurrently is extremely a daunting task and also an amazing achievement. You did it safely and successfully, Bravo!
Thanks to the available support resources from RGU and the solid support system from home.
My warmest greetings to our little Master.
Thank you for your comment Gabriel!