Charity shares her MA Social Work Salford journey

Choosing Salford and apprehensions along the way

"I moved from Nairobi, Kenya to the UK for my master’s, after doing a bachelor’s in mass communication from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, a public university in Kenya.

Moving to a new place in itself was a life-changing decision. Moving out of your comfortable environment has its own share of pros and cons. There was a consistent feeling of being homesick, but I was amazed to witness the warmth and welcome by the University.

I had a 5-year gap between my bachelor’s and master’s degrees but in that time, I’d been involved in two non-governmental organizations. One in Kenya and another one in Tanzania. Both of them support children and young people whilst spreading the importance of family-based care and reintegration. These experiences were invaluable to my application as you need to show that you have some work experience in the sector or a related field.

After my experience of supporting children and young people in Kenya, I became passionate about this line of work and I decided to pursue it academically. While researching the courses offered at various universities, I became fascinated with the structure of the course at Salford. When I dug deeper, I was amazed by the testimonials of graduates.  The course at Salford was exactly what I needed to learn about social work. It is very well structured and has the necessary support in place. I also discovered more about the fantastic placement opportunities provided to students, in addition to in-depth theoretical teaching in the classroom."

Support while being at University

"Being at Salford is a wonderful experience.  The University provides a safe and reassuring space to international students through easy access to support. I have felt highly supported and cared for by the University’s programmes like the ‘Minorities Student Collective’, which highlights the importance of diversity and inclusion on campus.

Furthermore, there is a dedicated team, askUS  at the University to offer assistance on various important but usually overlooked things like opening a bank account, advice on how to settle in, placement opportunities, and registering for a GP."

Life at Salford

"As well as being a part of an informative academic course, I had an amazing experience working with the university’s placement team to secure a placement. I did my placement at a local community initiative in Manchester which supports people affected by homelessness or at risk of being homeless. The role gave me a fantastic opportunity to learn about the services offered by the local government and the volunteers in the community. Plus, it gave me the chance to incorporate theory into practice.

My most memorable times have been chilling with my friends around the campus and taking walks in the peel park on a nice weather day. The diverse campus and convenient commuting have added to my experiences."

Advice to other International Students

"I would honestly advise future international students to be as calm as possible while moving to Manchester and choosing Salford. Utilise the support offered and take advantage of all the resources provided, such as the library, and the willingness of lecturers to offer tutorial sessions when you need them.