'Receiving a bursary felt like being accepted into the Birkbeck community'
For international student Azusa Nakada, receiving a postgraduate scholarship has given her the support to pursue her ambitions of making an impact in the world.
Hailing from Fukui in Japan, the 33-year-old, who has a BA in Liberal Arts and Global Studies, came to the UK for her husband’s work and secured a part-time administrative role for a medical company.
Wanting to pursue her interests in international development while living in London, she decided to study MSc International Development and Social Justice at Birkbeck with evening classes allowing her to continue with her job.
She said: “I am really enjoying my studies - the lecturers are all really knowledgeable. There’s a really nice mix of people on my course from different cultures. I want to have a connection with people from different backgrounds.”
It was important for Azusa to continue her education after she went straight to work for a car manufacturer after her studies in Japan. It was here she was introduced to different cultures and emerging economies, sparking her interest in international development.
She said: “I didn’t have enough courage to do further studies at the time. I didn’t have the financial support.”
Azusa secured the Access to Postgraduate Study scholarship, made possible thanks to the generosity of Birkbeck’s alumni and supporters who believe in the university’s mission to ensure access to education is possible for anyone with the drive to succeed.
Receiving the scholarship meant that Azusa could afford the international tuition fees and could follow her ambitions of continuing her education. She said: “When I received the bursary, it felt like I was being accepted into the Birkbeck community. I am not a native English speaker so sometimes I struggle to keep up with the discussions, so having that bursary gives me that vote of confidence.”
After completing her Birkbeck studies, Azusa wants to move back to Japan and work for businesses on their environmental, social and governance strategy. She said: “I am interested in helping companies be socially and environmentally conscious. I want to support them to make the world a better place. I am excited about my future.”