Marwa Al Ghafoor

Why Birmingham Dubai?

When I graduated from high school, I knew that I wanted to study in a UK university that was highly ranked and accredited. Since the University of Birmingham Dubai offers the same UK-level degree as I would get if I were to study in the UK, it seemed like the most convenient and obvious choice for me. I was also suggested this university by my high school counsellor, who told me about the quality of education and high reputation of the university.

Campus Open Days

I attended one Open Day, and I liked the campus and environment, so I applied that same day and later accepted my offer and scholarship.

During the Open Day, I went on a campus tour and met with admissions officers who helped me through the application process.

Why I chose to study Accounting and Finance

As an accounting and finance student, I realised that the Birmingham Business School had a high ranking and was well-established. When it came to thinking about my future and how I would build my career, I was recommended through counsellors and family members to choose a UK Russell Group university, like Birmingham, as it would stand out to employers worldwide.

My Birmingham Dubai experience

My experience at the University was great! In my first week on campus, I had already met so many friendly and helpful people, some are still my closest friends even after I graduated. The University has a strong sense of community, which I realised quickly and meant that the experience was memorable and important to me.

In my opinion, the workload wasn't too intense but did gradually get more difficult each year, as expected. There was a lot of support from professors in the form of revision classes and office hours that helped me achieve the grades I wanted.

Events and traditions on campus got better and better each year. My favourites would be Global Day and National Day since it's filled with activities, photo ops with friends, food, etc.

Welcome weeks are also very fun, and I attended as a club organiser in my last year. It was a great opportunity to meet new people and have a good time with friends.

Birmingham Dubai’s impact

I used the careers service to help me build and improve my CV. I also attended different career fairs that the University hosted, and I actually landed an internship from one of them. It was also useful in getting me used to talking to employers and improving my communication skills.

Moreover, I applied and got a job as a marketing student worker at the University. This helped me improve my finances and gave me a great, longer-term job experience that I could add to my CV and talk about during interviews with employers.

My achievements

I am proud of the first-class honours degree I achieved once I graduated, since I put a lot of time and effort into my studies during the three years.

I’m also grateful for the student job I had as a marketing intern, which added to my skills and introduced me to supportive and experienced people.

My journey from Birmingham Dubai

Right after graduating, I spent some of my summer working abroad in Spain in a new department that I wanted to explore. This was thanks to the Go Global programme that the University offers with exclusive help and funding as a Birmingham student. It was a very exciting and enriching experience for me. It helped build my CV and made me aware of where my career path lies and where I want to be in the future. There were many choices for volunteer opportunities, courses and internship placements that I could choose from and apply to with the help of the University.

Also, I pursued an accounting qualification (ICAEW). This was recommended to me by professors to boost my position in the job market and enhance my educational and professional expertise. Being a University of Birmingham Dubai student meant that I had exam exemptions, making the process very simple for me. This qualification supported me in landing a good placement after graduation.

Advice for students

One piece of advice I would give to prospective students is to attend the different days of Welcome Week because it is probably the best time to make friends and meet other new and current students. Signing up for different clubs and attending the sessions they hold is a great way to put yourself out there and meet people.

One thing I wish I had done differently is apply for a student worker job earlier in my University life, since there are various opportunities available.

For academic tips, I would suggest managing your time and assignments effectively since tasks can pile up quickly.