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Student Story - Muhammad

Muhammad is a first year Economics and Finance student from Hackney and a Queen Mary Annual Fund Scholar. Thanks to this support, he has been able to focus on his studies without the constant worry of covering commuting costs and essential study materials.

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Living at home in Hackney, Muhammad travels to campus four days a week while studying for his degree. Although commuting allows him to avoid the high cost of renting in London, the expense of travel and study materials quickly became a growing concern during his first year at university.

He explains how financial pressures affected his university experience:

“Before receiving my scholarship, I was very worried about the cost of commuting each week. I often questioned whether I could afford to come onto campus as much as I needed. It was something that weighed on my mind every day.” 

Muhammad chose to study at Queen Mary because of its welcoming environment, proximity to home and the opportunities his course offers beyond the classroom.  

“Coming to Queen Mary felt right from the moment I arrived. I knew I couldn’t afford private renting in London, so commuting was the best option. My course includes a year in industry, which was a major factor for me, as I know that gaining practical industry experience will be vital when applying for graduate roles in the finance sector.” 

As he settled into university life, support from Queen Mary’s alumni community helped ease the financial pressures he faced and enabled him to make the most of his studies.

“Receiving this support was amazing and has lifted a huge burden. Some modules require books that were often unavailable in the library, particularly when the demand was high.  Now, if I need resources, I can purchase them without worrying about cost, giving me the freedom to explore topics in greater depth and fully commit to my studies.” 

Now approaching the end of his first year, Muhammad is thriving academically and looking ahead to the rest of his degree with confidence.  

“My course is brilliant. The teaching is engaging, and I’ve particularly enjoyed the Foundations of Finance module. I’m excited to explore these topics in more depth over the rest of my degree.” 

Muhammad shares a final message of thanks to the donors whose generosity has supported him:

“Thank you to the donors who give so selflessly. You have significantly eased my financial worries and given me the headspace to fully throw myself into university life. Because of this support, I can independently invest in my education and focus fully on my studies, which is a wonderful feeling.”

 

To support our students or find out more about the Annual Fund, visit: https://www.qmul.ac.uk/alumni/giving/annualfund/

 

 

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