Alistair Stewart

Profile

Alistair’s story is one of breaking down, rebuilding, and learning to believe in himself again. Growing up in kinship care as a child and later spending time in residential care as a teenager, Alistair never imagined he would ever graduate, let alone achieve a master’s degree.

After a difficult time in education, returning to University as a mature student was daunting. Despite feeling like he didn’t belong and battling feelings of self-doubt, with the support of amazing staff members, classmates and student support services, Alistair rebuilt his confidence.

Alistair’s journey proves it is never too late to start again and achieve your goals. Discover more about his journey at Heriot-Watt below.

What programme did you study and why did you choose it?

I studied the MSc International Marketing with Consumer Psychology as I’m really passionate about events management and wanted to take it further and understand why some marketing methods work for different audiences, and how people connect with messages in different ways. The course felt like the perfect opportunity to combine my creative background with a deeper understanding of the psychology behind what engages people.

Can you tell us about any support you received as a care-experienced student?

When I was applying for my course, I received fantastic support from the HUB for SUCCESS, a partnership that helps care-experienced people, like myself, get in and thrive in college or university across Edinburgh and the Lothians. Through the HUB, I was able to connect early with Emma Smail, the Student Wellbeing and Transition Advisor for care-experienced students at Heriot-Watt. I already knew Emma through my role as a Senior Associate with the HUB, so having that existing relationship made the transition to Heriot-Watt feel much easier and more personal.

Emma was the first person I met at Heriot-Watt, and she guided me through the transition into postgraduate study and supported me throughout my degree. She also introduced me to Davinia Leslie, a Disability Advisor, so we could get my disability support in place before I started. That early contact and joined-up approach made the move from Napier to Heriot-Watt incredibly smooth and supportive.

As a postgraduate student, a lot of the usual funding avenues weren’t available, but Emma went above and beyond to advocate for me. With her help, I was able to access grant funding, a scholarship, and the HUB even helped me access additional support from the McGlashan Trust, all of which helped cover part of my tuition fees.

I also had regular check-ins with the team throughout my studies. I experienced a lot of imposter syndrome at first, but Emma and the wellbeing staff were incredible — they believed in me, encouraged me, and helped me recognise that I deserved to be there.

What support services would you recommend current students use, if needed?

My biggest piece of advice would be to make use of all the support available. I set up what I called my ‘Scaffolding of Support’ meetings, which brought together all of my internal and external support, including Student Wellbeing, Disability Services, my course team, and the HUB for SUCCESS. We met at the start of each term to plan ahead and again at the end of my degree to reflect. It really helped keep communications clear and ensured I always felt supported and understood.

The Student Wellbeing Services were incredible. They genuinely care about students and provide fantastic emotional and practical support. The course team and lecturers were approachable, understanding, and always willing to help, and I would really encourage students to connect with their Personal Tutor, as they are often one of your first points of contact if you need guidance or support.

The Student Union also plays a huge role in student life. Getting involved in societies, or even starting your own as I did, is a great way to build community and make the most of your time at University. The Careers Service team were also brilliant. They helped me refine my CV, clarify my professional direction, and even paired me with a Heriot-Watt alum as a mentor, which made a real difference to my confidence and employability.

Finally, the HUB for SUCCESS has been a consistent source of encouragement throughout my journey, offering practical advice and ensuring care-experienced students have the support they need to thrive.

How has the University aided your professional and personal development?

My time at Heriot-Watt has pushed me further than I have ever pushed myself before. It has made me more determined to thrive and helped me understand things about myself that I had not recognised before. I have grown so much, both personally and professionally, and for the first time I have been able to say, “Alistair, you did great,” and genuinely believe it, which is something I never thought I would be able to do.

Throughout this journey, I have built confidence, learned to lower my guard, and realised that I am a lot more capable than I ever gave myself credit for. At school, a teacher once told me that I would never amount to anything, and I think it is fair to say I have more than proved them wrong. Heriot-Watt has been a place where I have not only developed my academic and professional skills but also found belief in myself and what I can achieve.

What advice would you give to a mature student considering Heriot-Watt?

It is never too late to invest in yourself. I went to college nine times before I finally found my path, and I do not see any of that as a failure. Sometimes it just is not the right moment yet, and that is okay. What matters is recognising when you are ready and giving yourself the chance to try again.

Believing in yourself is everything. If you know you have what it takes, go for it. I doubted myself for a long time, but taking the risk to study at Heriot-Watt has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. Sometimes it really is worth the risk, and the only person standing in your way is yourself.

What are you planning to do after you graduate?

Retire! I am exhausted! It has been a long, challenging, and incredible few years, and I think I have earned a little rest. Although, if I am honest, my ADHD probably will not allow that for long. But in truth, my head is bursting with ideas and possibilities. I do not know exactly what comes next, but I do know that I am not done learning, exploring, or pushing myself just yet.

The last six years since I returned to education have been inspiring and transformative, helping me grow in ways I never expected and reminding me how far I have come. I have discovered new confidence, direction, and purpose, and I am excited to see where that takes me next.

This might be the end of one chapter, but it is definitely not the end of the story. I have still got so much more to discover and create, so for now, let us just say… watch this space.