MA IN HUMAN RIGHTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER IN 2002-03

As a Chevening scholar, I had the opportunity to study at the University of Manchester where I completed an MA in Human Rights. Prior to my arrival in Manchester, little expectations had invaded my mindset. To me, a Master’s degree was simply the next logical step in the development of my professional career. As I look back, my experience in Manchester has helped me reach this professional goal, but it has offered me so much more as an individual. On an academic level, the University of Manchester gave me the tools to hone my research skills, writing abilities, and critical thinking. The professors – along with the administrators – were extremely personable and support was available when needed. In retrospect, that is probably one of the University of Manchester’s greatest strength; it does not possess a reputation as recognizable as other institutions, and so it does not attract students on its name alone. Rather, this institution relies on a dynamic learning environment to bring itself at the cutting edge. Thus, the students, as much as the professors, push themselves to contribute to their field of interest in innovative ways. Whether in class or in social gatherings, discussions would abound and the rapport among students was invigorating and it motivated me to often go beyond requirements. The University of Manchester having a diversified clientele, students came from all over the world with different backgrounds, which further enriched the whole atmosphere. However, the world of academia did not overshadow the UK as a cultural experience. The history surrounds you wherever you are in the UK and so one’s sense of curiosity cannot help but be heightened under such circumstances. The cities being so near to one another, I got to see many sites in a short period of time and meet other people and travelers. From the Cavern Club in Liverpool to the Lake District in northern England, the road is never without excitement. Within the confines of a small paragraph, it’s a challenge to draw a portrait of a year-long experience that fully captures what studying in the United Kingdom genuinely brought to me. The journey was rewarding insofar as the experience enabled me to learn in a way that broaden my outlook on many levels. In retrospect, that is what made the whole experience worth it and I would do it all over again if given the opportunity.