Studying at Keele through an Article 26 Sanctuary Scholarship

I am forever thankful to have had the opportunity from Keele to proceed with my education!

First of all, I arrived in this country in February 2011 with my family, speaking no English. From a very young age, I have faced many challenges and had to overcome many barriers. To be able to continue with my education, applying for the Article 26 scholarship was the only option left as I was struggling due to being an asylum seeker. Thus, when selecting universities, Keele was my initial choice because the university campus seemed ideal for someone like me who had never experienced city life. For this scholarship, I wrote an additional personal statement and faced an intensive interview which was a friendly experience.

By some miracle, I was awarded a scholarship from Keele. I am forever grateful and blessed to have an opportunity to prove myself and fulfil my goals. Thus, once again a huge thank you for allowing me to study at Keele University as coming to university was a dream come true for me and it is something I could never imagine because of the circumstances I was facing. I always wanted to study at Keele because of the diverse community that would make me feel comfortable, warm and safe. I knew I could easily mix in the community. Studying at Keele is a fantastic opportunity for me as this has changed my life since I have been able to build a level of confidence and maturity as well as a strong bond with a diverse range of people.

I have been privileged with the opportunity of higher education because this scholarship has opened many doors for me, and helped reach my goal to become an immigration solicitor in the future. I now feel more self-confident, independent and safe. Without this scholarship, I wouldn’t have been standing where I am standing today as nothing would have been possible for me to achieve. Keele has enabled me to fulfil my aim of becoming an immigration solicitor and being a representative for those who need a voice in the justice system. I am thrilled to study here because I believe my current course has provided a platform to strive and put my hard work into practice. Studying at Keele has enabled me to grow many valuable skills as well as gaining multiple diverse experiences which will significantly benefit me to accomplish my career aspirations.

Additionally, I have become more open-minded about the world around me. My interests, both academically and personally, have become more refined because I have learnt to embrace myself whilst studying at Keele, as a result of meeting like-minded people and learning to not care so heavily about what people think.

This opportunity is a crucial aspect of my journey because the support offered means I don’t need to face any difficulties while completing my education. From my experiences over the past two years, I have developed a desire in me to support others. This year I’m in my final year studying LLB Law. I have chosen to study Law because I believe I can be the voice and hope for those suffering during legal battles. I love attending my lectures and tutorials as the notes are precise and content is extremely interesting. Also, staff members are always willing to provide extra support. My experience has been excellent so far and even during my toughest times, my tutors provided the help I needed to push through and complete my first and second year. Lastly, I cannot thank Keele enough for giving me all the confidence and motivation to succeed in life. My life has been transformed from the shy little girl from a low-income household to the confident, independent girl. I will eternally be grateful to Keele throughout my life.

Applications for the Article 26 Sanctuary Scholarship for 2021 entry are now open. Find out more here.