An international postgraduate journey: Moving over 1,800 miles from home to change my life for the better

Having carved a successful career in law and youth organisations in North Macedonia, Stefani came to a crossroads in her life and was keen to explore educational opportunities abroad. In our interview, discover why Stefani chose to study in the UK – and more importantly, why Newcastle! – her experience on campus and how the experience has shaped her future.

Hi Stefani! Can you tell us a little bit about what led you to make the brave decision to move over 1,800 miles away from home to study at Newcastle? 

Before moving to the UK, I lived and studied in North Macedonia and worked for a youth organisation that put me in touch with their international community. Besides the fact that I was completing my Master’s degree in Civil Law in North Macedonia, I was curious about educational opportunities abroad. At that time, most of my friends were either considering studying abroad, or had already left the country – few of them were studying in the UK, so I considered that option first.  

Some research into UK study brought me to Chevening – a programme offering scholarships to individuals with ideas to create systematic change in their countries. Chevening listed its partner universities and their programme offerings and once I read more about the International Development and Education MA at Newcastle University, I instantly knew that I had to apply. I had a background in law, but my career was already focussing on educational policies and international development, so somehow, everything naturally came together.

What was your experience of applying to the Chevening Scholarship?

When I started the application process for the Chevening Scholarship, I had no idea that it was one of the most competitive scholarship programmes in the world - with over 60,000 applicants! Out of the 1,643 successful scholars, only six of us were from North Macedonia in the academic year 2021/22.

If I had to describe the whole process in one word, it would be ‘unpredictable’. The process was long and quite complex, demanding a lot of patience and commitment. Fortunately, the Chevening community in North Macedonia is very supportive and the alumni scholars were on-hand to support new applicants by sharing their advice and experience.

The Chevening Scholarship was the initial motivation for me to start exploring the programmes offered by UK universities. However, what convinced me that pursuing an interdisciplinary programme in an international environment was the right decision for me was the strong reputation of the UK’s universities and the positive experiences of friends already studying in the UK.

These factors combined led me all the way to Newcastle University for the end of my academic journey.

What are some of your favourite memories of your time here on campus?

Looking back at my time in Newcastle, I am beyond grateful for the entire experience as it certainly changed my life for the better. I am most grateful for the support and encouragement I received from my personal tutor, Professor Pauline Dixon. She helped me settle in easily and enjoy the process of academic growth.

I forged many close friendships in Newcastle and had the academic support to work on topics I am genuinely passionate about. However, the highlight of my experience was my research on the relationship between environmental anxiety and quality of education. I worked under the mentorship of Professor Steve Humble, and I am immensely thankful for his guidance and support. I also had the opportunity to study at Bharati College in New Delhi, India, on a placement module, giving me a completely new perspective of fieldwork and research on educational policies.

Are you still in touch with friends from your university days?

Yes! I am still in touch with friends from my Newcastle days and we try to visit each other whenever we can. I feel that beyond the academic knowledge that I gained from the course, it’s these friendships that have continued to enrich my life.

Since graduating, where has life taken you?

I now work as a Programme Manager for the Westminster Foundation for Democracy in the office in Skopje, North Macedonia. My work is focused on strengthening the institutional capacities in North Macedonia and connecting them to the needs of our citizens, in particular our country’s youth.

I am part of the local team, working mainly with the Parliament in North Macedonia and the Ministry for Social Policy, Demography and Youth. Over the last couple of years, I have worked on a number of project activities. Some of my favourites include:

• Assessment of the democratic values in the educational system in North Macedonia
• Establishing a youth-oriented research unit within the Ministry of Youth
• Development of the modules for the Academy for Political Debate and support to the development of Student Debate programs (British Parliamentary Style)

These activities combine my interests in the quality of education, as well as the role of education on social development and youth engagement, making my work deeply meaningful to me.

I strongly believe that the MA in International Development and Education at Newcastle University has equipped me with the knowledge and skills for my career, alongside the experience from the non-governmental sector in North Macedonia.

Thank you for sharing your journey with us, Stefani!