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Student profiles from Sub Saharan Africa

Kulsum Jina
Kulsum Jina

Kulsum Jina, MPharm, Kenya

I love the friendliness of the staff and students here and the community feel there is about Aston. It has been so easy to make so many good friends. There is also a great mix of student nationalities on campus so I have met students from all over the world. The teaching method is excellent too with an interesting mix of lectures, workshops and practical work. I also like being so close to the city amenities. For me, Birmingham has everything! It is a fun city and I live in a lovely, supportive community. The cost of living is much lower in Birmingham than it is in London so going out is much cheaper. I really love it here.

Sheillah Chimungeni
Sheillah Chimungeni

My course is very good and challenging, it’s more then I had expected! There are different facilities here that I have never seen before or been exposed to. There is a very mixed group of students from a range of different countries and backgrounds and this has opened up my mind and taught me to think more extensively. The way people relate to others is really welcoming, when you walk into a room no-one is judging you which makes it really easy to fit in.

Think Aston! 1. It’s a well ranked university, both generally and in specific subject areas. 2. Birmingham is the second largest city in the UK with good living costs and transport systems within.

I have been to France on a residential trip and this was great. We worked with students from a University from Spain and the class in France and were able to see at what level we were working at compared to them. I realised that the major difference between us and them was that we had been encouraged to discuss topics much more than them, our contributions were well prepared and expected from our colleagues.

Yaw Kwateng
Yaw Kwateng

Yaw Kwateng, MBA, Ghana 2009-10

I did not know how much pressure I was going to be under on the MBA, I do not get the time to do anything! But this teaches you to manage your time, the university supports you with this and you come to learn that nothing is impossible. Aston MBA graduates take on the world, the sky's the limit!

ClaudiaHalm
Claudia Halm

Claudia Halm, MSc Finance and Investments, Ghana    

Read about what I think of Aston below.

The MSc in Finance and Investment at Aston really appealed to me as certain topics in the modules are not covered at other universities. The Business School is well known and after graduating l hope to work in Banking and Finance.

I went to Education Fairs in Ghana and found them really useful. I met representatives from other UK universities but felt Aston University offered the most opportunities and experience. The staff are really helpful and supportive, I would recommend Education Fairs as they provide a lot of useful information.

As the campus is located near the city centre, you are able to walk to the main train station which can connect you to all the major cities in the UK including London, Nottingham and Manchester.

Ahmed Rufai Abdul Rahman
Ahmed Rufai

Ahmed  Rufai Abdul Rahman, MSc Biomedical Science, Commonwealth Scholar, Ghana

Click on the tabs to read about my experience at Aston.

Deciding to come to Aston was quite an easy choice. The programme l chose has some great modules and the laboratory standards are very high. After graduating l will also be able to choose from a wide range of career prospects.

The staff during the application process, the lecturers and my personal tutor have been really helpful and approachable.  l am particularly impressed by the Blackboard software which makes studying much easier. Blackboard contains lecture notes, videos, journals, staff details and a lot more.

I am really enjoying Birmingham city too. As a football fan l will soon be going to Aston Villa’s football ground to watch a match. There are a lot of great buildings around too and the new Bullrings curved silver building is impressive.

There are also people from many countries studying at Aston and in Birmingham which has made settling into my programme easier.  This will be a very interesting and exciting year.

Perpetua
Perpetua Akonor-Mills

 Perpetua Akonor-Mills, MA Translation Studies, Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Winner, Ghana

Read about my experience of Aston below.

I am passionate about Translation and really enjoy some of the more specific modules on my programme which other universities did not offer. When applying for the course, staff at the school were really helpful and always tried to give as much information as possible. The service was very high.

I prefer Birmingham to other cities I’ve visited as it is not as cold or crowded here. As the University is in the city centre getting to the shops is also really convenient.  

I’m also really enjoying staying in the new accommodation as l’m living with just girls which is nice. 

As a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship winner l will go back home when l graduate and work in the Translation industry or maybe teach at a university. The UK system of more independent learning and responsibility is a great idea.

Ayo Ajayi
Ayo Ajayi

Ayo Ajayi, MBA, Nigeria

The Aston experience has inspired me and if I were to do an MBA again I would come back to Aston.

 The MBA has allowed me to see things differently and to start my own business. It has given me a lot of insight. I call it a journey to knowledge, the Aston experience is inspiring. I have learnt about new ideas, innovation, corporate and social responsability and a whole host of other concepts.
The MBA team that support us have been helpful and very friendly and Birmingham is a wonderfully diverse city.
Babafemi Banjo
Babafemi Banjo

Babafemi Banjo, MBA, Nigeria 

I have learned that the reputation of Aston Business School opens a lot of doors and I am sure the name on my CV has secured me some of my recent interviews.

Before speaking to the university’s representative in Nigeria I had never heard of Aston University. After learning some more one of the major reasons I chose Aston was because it offers African students scholarships to study the MBA. I receive a 50% fee reduction and was also able to secure a further £5000 through the Ferguson Trust scholarship. I also chose Aston University because it is outside of London, where I think there can be too many distractions from studying.

I hope to start my own business within 5 years and I know that the MBA has equipped me with the tools and confidence to be able to achieve this successfully. The course has touched on every aspect of management and with a distinction in an ABS MBA the sky really is the limit for my future.

Oyankinsola Coker
Oyankinsola Coker

Oyankinsola Coker, MBA, Nigeria

I believe the Aston MBA will bring me to the attention of the right people and open up new avenues for me.

My first degree is in architecture so it was difficult to get people’s interest when I wanted to discuss IT matters with them. I believe the Aston MBA will bring me to the attention of the right people and open up new avenues for me. Because of the IGS (International Graduate Scheme) I intend to stay on for a year after I graduate and gain some valuable work experience.

If possible I would like to stay on in Birmingham after that. Eventually, my ambition is to set up my own IT Consultancy firm. I love Birmingham! I was hesitant about coming to Birmingham in the first place as I thought it was a small place in the middle of nowhere but now I totally love it. I actually prefer Birmingham much more than London and I appreciate the lower cost of living and added space that you get here. Eventually I would love to live and work here.

Pauline Osasona
Pauline Osasona

Pauline Osasona, MBA, Nigeria

My time at Aston has been amazing! I came to Aston as a raw material and I am leaving as a finished product.

I chose the Aston MBA mainly because of the duration of the programme, being 1 year long. I have a family so I didn’t want too much time away from them. I selected the Aston MBA after researching the TOP MBA website. Also, I was impressed by how quickly the MBA team responded to my email and telephone enquiries. They were always polite and prompt. So far, all my expectations have been met.

I describe Aston as being like a mini-world. You get to meet so many different people from other cultures as there is such a good, diverse mix of nationalities but you also get to meet lots of British students too. It is easy to fit in and feel part of the student body. The orientation programme helped as well. Finally, I was lucky enough to be awarded a scholarship for which I am very grateful. My time at Aston has been amazing! I came to Aston as a raw material and I am leaving as a finished product. Studying here has really broadened my outlook on life. It has helped me so much and makes me consider everything differently and not to accept only one answer. In particular, I have found studying business ethics most enlightening. I would like to stay on under the new IGS scheme which allows me to stay for one year after graduation to gain some work experience. I hope to work in a sales & marketing role and ultimately run my own business.

Ronald Ugiomoh
Ronald Ugiomoh

Ronald Ugiomoh, BSc Computer Science, Nigeria

The quality of teaching is very high; I have found good standards along with steadily available resources for learning.   I like the city centre location of Aston and from Birmingham it easy for me to travel around the country.  The diverse range of students at Aston is great.  On my course we get to work in groups with students from different backgrounds, this has been fun and has improved my social skills.  I was involved in Freshers’ fair during the student welcome week and have joined some societies, becoming the president of the African and Caribbean society.

Uchenna Oyali
Uchenna Oyali

Uchenna Oyali, MA Translation Studies, Nigeria

I must confess that coming to Aston University for studies is one of the best things that have happened to me as a student, an academic and a professional translator.

I am doing an MA in Translation Studies, funded by the Commonwealth Commission and Aston University. And from my experience over the past eight months that I have been on this programme, I must confess that coming to Aston University for studies is one of the best things that have happened to me as a student, an academic and a professional translator. The professors go out of their way to keep us informed of current trends in the practice of and research in translation and interpreting. One very outstanding part of our programme is that, in addition to the theories, we are made to have a feel of what it means to be a professional translator or interpreter by forming and running (simulated) translation companies, which entail searching for clients and doing actual translation jobs.

We also have a lot of seminars and workshops by professionals in the field, at times in conjunction with the leading professional associations like ITI, who give us some first-hand idea of what the field really looks like and ways of making it into and staying on top of the market, as well as seminars by scholars who share their on-going researches with us. And guess what, it is fun!! Believe me. Indeed, if you want a degree in Translation Studies or Languages in general, then Aston University is your best bet as you’ll be empowered to face the world with much confidence.
Farrel Elliot
Farrel Elliot

Farrel Elliot, MBA, Sierra Leone

When I decided to apply for an MBA I wanted a school with accreditation. I had learnt about the importance of the AACSB accreditation when I was studying in the Netherlands. I applied to Columbia University in the United States and to Aston and another UK university. My first criterion was the accreditation and Aston had the triple accreditation. I was surprised by the reasonable price for a school with this accreditation. I visited both of the UK institutions that I had applied to and asked questions. At Aston I met with the MBA Programme Director who gave a presentation about the rankings, the school and the value for money. That was excellent. The deciding factor was when I was offered a scholarship from Aston.

The MBA has given me a very rounded perspective of the difference facets of business. My reason for doing an MBA was to put my experience in perspective. I wanted to gain an academic understanding of my previous experience and understand issues better. I can now bring this to my next job.

Ssemata Andrew Sentoogo

Ssemata Andrew Sentoogo, MSc Psychology of Health and Illness

Where from/ Nationality: Uganda

Previous University: Makerere University Kampala

I did my Bachelors Psychology degree at Makerere University and then took a 1 year gap year in which I volunteered at Zion Baptist Church which also hosts Jimmy’s night shelter in Cambridge. I have also done  research work with Cerebral Malaria Research Collaboration at Mulago National Referral Hospital.

I wanted to do health psychology in 2008, but I didn’t have my papers ready in time. In January 2011 I went to a British Council Education Exhibition in Kampala where I met Liza who told me about Aston University and the Scholarships available.

The scholarship motivated me; there were lots of incentives, and lots of interesting research on the website, which the School of Life and Health Sciences is involved in.

I used the services of UNISERV which Liza recommended; they helped me process my application.
The people here and the staff are very friendly and helpful. The resources and facilities here are excellent.

I have 2 possible plans:

1. I want to do a PhD, I am quite happy to do it here at Aston; I would like to get involved in  health psychology and Neurological research.

2. I would also like to go back to Uganda and get involved in research and activities which require psychologists; I would like to help people.

There is a lot of technology advancement here for example you can enrol online and order books from the self-service. Virtually everything is computerised. There is 24hour access to services which is a lot different from my country. I very much appreciate the input that is put into research here as in my country there isn’t the resources.
Neville

Neville Mvo Ngum

Course: MSc Molecular Toxicology
Where from/ Nationality: Cameroon
Previous University: University of BUEA

I studied a 4 year bachelor degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences at the University of BUEA. I also did a 2 year master degree in Chemical pathology which I am waiting for the final results in December 2011.
The student teacher ratio for my course is quite good; there is alot of communication between myself and the lecturers
 Aston University is quite small. It has a high employment rate after graduation. There is a good student to teacher ratio. It is close to the Bullring, just 10 minutes walk which is good for me. The facilities for my course here are also excellent.
I want to go back home and work with cancer patients to reduce the amount of people who develop serious cancer. I also want to work with people who have metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity.
Blackboard is good because you can access lecture notes before the lecture, this is not available in my home country. It is also easy to directly talk to lecturers where as at home this is a lot harder.
I am interested in sports, and would like to join the Aston Health society; I am also interested in playing tennis.
Aston University is a place where you feel homeliness and it’s quite convenient for studies.