Balsam Mustafa – PhD Modern Languages

PhD graduate Balsam Mustafa researched translation, media and politics, with a focus on Islamic State in Iraq. We find out more about her experience at the University of Birmingham.

Why did you choose to study a PhD in Modern Languages?

“A PhD in Modern Languages at the University of Birmingham was an ideal choice for me because it gave me the opportunity to undertake research in Translation Studies, which is my main field of research. Unlike other similar courses at other universities, this programme covers a wide range of languages, including Arabic, as well as a variety of research areas, such as news translation, gender studies, corpus linguistics, literary translation, to name but a few.”

Why did you choose to undertake research at the University of Birmingham?

“The University of Birmingham was my first choice of study. Needless to say, it enjoys an excellent academic reputation and is known for its research rigorousness. The Birmingham Centre for Translation was particularly a perfect choice to carry out research in the field of translation studies as it has leading experts in the field, as well as in cognate disciplines, such as English language, applied linguistics, and English literature”.

What are the best things about your course?

“But for me, there was something more unique about my course. That was its interdisciplinary which allowed me to work with two wonderful supervisors based in the department of Modern Languages, and the department of Political Sciences and International Studies (POLSIS). This has widen my horizons, and given me knowledge and expertise in two different disciplines. As a result, I was able to teach on a variety of modules in these two departments during my PhD study. ”

What is life like as a researcher at the University of Birmingham?

“There is a vibrant research community at Birmingham. Even though, as a mother I had to work from home most of the time, there were a lot of different opportunities to meet and engage with other colleagues and researchers by attending workshops, seminars, and conferences organized by the department and the university. One activity, for example, was the 3MT competition where PhD candidates have to summarize their theses in three minutes. In the second year of my PhD, I participated in this competition and was a finalist. It was an unforgettable experience. Moreover, there were many social meetings and gatherings held during different times of the academic year for students and their families.”

What support have you received during your PhD?

“I received different kinds of invaluable support during my PhD. First, there was, of course, the support provided by my two supervisors, as well as other lecturers in the aforementioned two departments. Everyone was happy to answer questions, share and discuss ideas. I particularly appreciated the monthly meetings of both lecturers and researchers of translation studies where we were encouraged to share a draft research paper to receive comments and feedback. My two supervisors, in particular, have been so supportive and encouraging. Even after graduation, they have been always keen to read my research papers, book proposals, and job applications and to give feedback. Second, there was a variety of training sessions and workshops organized by the department and the college to help postgraduate researchers improve their academic skills. Last but not least, as a parent, I also benefited from the support provided by the Guild Selly Oak play scheme launched in 2017 to help student parents with their study and writing by running regular weekly sessions dedicated to students’ children. They also held termly trips to different places in Birmingham such as Cadbury World or the Thinktank Museum. My two daughters had amazing time while I was able to have a couple of precious hours of writing.”

Outside of your research, what experience have you gained and how will it help you in the future?

“I have had experience writing articles and blogs for a non-academic audience. I have written dozens of articles on Iraqi politics and Islamic State. This has been a fantastic experience as it has allowed me to develop my writing skills and to engage with a wider informed audience beyond academia.”

What are you doing now that you have graduated?

“After graduation, I continued to work as a Teaching Fellow in POLSIS. I have also been working on jobs and postdoctoral research fellowship applications. I have written a book proposal based on my PhD thesis which has now been accepted by a reputable academic publisher. Beyond academia, I am a freelance translator and have translated numerous written and spoken texts.”