Mohanad Al-Murish 

I came to the University of Leeds in September 2013 to do the International Foundation Year (IFY) as it was required for me to pursue a degree in Chemical Engineering at Leeds.

The IFY helped me immensely in learning undergraduate study skills including how to write reports, essays and deliver presentations. The IFY also reinforced lots of scientific concepts (maths and chemistry) that I already studied in Yemen. 

During the IFY, I met lots of international students some of whom are still my best friends until now. Together we did lots of fun activities as that year was everyone’s first year in the UK and in university.

Some of the activities that we did together included exploring Leeds, dining out together, watching movies in the VUE cinema, playing video games, going to the Edge to work out or swim and playing football. During this year, we were exposed to British culture alongside many international cultures and that in itself was an amazing experience. 

The IFY was sometimes challenging for many students when it came to dealing with the pressure of deadlines; however, this taught the majority how to manage their time more effectively and work towards the deadline rather than working at the last minute.

There are lots of study zone spots that we could use in the university such as Laidlaw library and many computer clusters that are spread across the campus. There are also workplaces inside the University Union. The Union has a variety of eating options alongside ongoing activities throughout the week as well. 

The IFY staff were always friendly, especially my personal tutor. My conversations with my personal tutor were confidential and she always was there to listen to me and my problems both academically and personally. My tutor always gave me guidance and advice that helped in my life in general which is something that I appreciated later in my journey. 

After the IFY, I went to do BEng in Chemical Engineering at the University of Leeds from 2014 to 2017. The IFY as a whole gave me an idea of the education system and quality at the University of Leeds.

During my undergraduate studies, I worked with the IFY as a social assistant and as a school ambassador for the School of Chemical and Process Engineering during school open days. After I graduated I worked for a year as a chemical engineering research assistant at the University of Leeds between July 2017 and September 2018. 

In October 2018, I decided to undertake an MSc and Ph.D. in Complex Particulate Products and Processes. During these time I have worked as a teaching assistant alongside my studies. I help module leaders in teaching their subjects to students by helping the students understand new chemical engineering concepts in tutorials or during lab demonstrations.

I am also still working with Skills@Library as a maths support tutor. In this role, we provide support for all taught students at the University of Leeds who need support with mathematics and statistics. 

Although it has not finished yet, my overall journey at the University of Leeds helped me grow and develop both on personal and professional levels. The skills that I have gained in more than nine years at the University of Leeds will definitely help me achieve more in life.