Favour tells us why she decided to come to Birmingham to study MSc Development Policy and Politics.
I completed my undergraduate degree in Political Science, but I had always been drawn towards the field of development. My academic training gave me a strong grounding in political analysis; however, I wanted to understand how policy translates into real-world outcomes that shape people’s lives. Being offered a scholarship to study Development Policy and Politics gave me that balance that allowed me to engage theory with practice and political ideas with development realities.
Studying this programme at the University of Birmingham has reshaped the way I think, not just academically, but personally. The programme introduced me to the practical and policy-oriented dimensions of development. On many occasions, I was required to think beyond theory and engage critically with the challenges facing development in practice, which has strengthened my ability to analyse complex issues from multiple perspectives.
Over time, I realised that critical thinking is not something you switch on and off for essays or exams. Once learned, it becomes part of how you approach everything. This degree has consistently encouraged me to think more deeply, write more clearly, and communicate ideas with confidence. It demands clarity, depth, and responsibility in how I think and write and in doing so, it has raised my own standards.
Beyond the qualification itself, my degree represents something more. To me, my postgraduate studies signal quality, capability, and readiness. This is the ability to deliver, to adapt, and to contribute meaningfully. I know that the skills I have developed through this programme have strengthened my confidence, credibility, and flexibility, equipping me for multiple pathways within the development sector and will continue to support me as I move into the job market.
This is one of the core values of studying at Birmingham. The University’s emphasis on rigorous training, mentorship, professional development and long-term support reflects its commitment to producing graduates who are prepared, not just qualified. Its strong links to industry, employers, and alumni networks reinforces a genuine commitment to students’ futures beyond graduation. This level of academic development pushes me to higher standards and reinforces my confidence in what I can achieve.
What remains clear is that my degree is not only proof of what I have learned, but proof of what I am capable of. And this is what, more than anything, drew me to study Development Policy and Politics at the University of Birmingham.
MSc Development Policy and Politics student at University of Birmingham
