Hadi and Taha hail from Iraq and are both currently studying MSc Orthopaedics at Chester Medical School.
Read about their experience at University of Chester below:
Tell us about your academic/professional journey before you arrived in Chester
Hadi (pictured left): I gained a Bachelor's degree in Medicine and General Surgery from Mosul University in 2017. I then began working for the government healthcare system and finished three rotational training years before enrolling onto an orthopaedic residency programme.
Taha: I graduated from Mosul University with an MB ChB degree in 2017. Since then I have been practicing medicine for more than three years in my home country.
What made you want to study at University of Chester?
Hadi: The quality of teaching and research. By studying at Chester, I knew I would get the opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge needed to drive my career forward. In addition to this, I discovered that Chester Medical School collaborates with a number of external bodies including hospitals and this was a big selling point for me.
Taha: Gaining a degree in the UK is highly favoured back in my home country and Chester ticked all the right boxes.
How did you feel about moving to the UK? Was it nice to have your twin brother for support?
Hadi: At the airport border, where I first set foot in this incredible country, I was astounded to see people of all nationalities, colours, religions, tongues, cultures, and ways of life gathered together in one location. At that point, I told my brother that we could regard the UK as the global capital. It's really a great chance for us to get to know a lot of different people and discover the various ways they go about doing things.
The experience of being with my brother is fantastic. At first, we would feel homesick, but at the same time, we could support each other. We want to return to our country with MSc degrees with higher grades to make our parents proud of us.
Taha: Being away from home was difficult, but we tried to address this by interacting with people from various backgrounds and cultures. This gave us different experiences and took us out of our comfort zone which really helped us!
What did you like about the programme?
Hadi: The course modules! A flexible approach that is driven by the students and takes into account my specific area of interest is used in all of the modules' assessments. The modules enhance my research abilities whilst providing evidence-based therapeutic management of orthopaedic diseases and exploring potential new therapies.
Taha: I like the fact my programme is provided by a team of orthopaedic surgery professionals with advanced academic and clinical training. I’ve gained lots of new perspectives and new ideas, especially in evidence-based medicine.
What do you like about the city of Chester
Hadi: It is simply the ideal location for living and studying due to its abundance of culture, history, arts, entertainment, and outdoor activities.
Taha: The River Dee, one of its many historical landmarks, as well as the magnificent medieval city walls, dating back to Roman times.
What was it like studying with your twin brother?
Hadi: Having a twin brother to study with is a blessing. We’ve studied together at all levels, from elementary school right through to Masters level! It’s been an interesting experience.
Taha: While we frequently collaborate and share ideas, we also occasionally engage in friendly competition, which can heighten our desire to outperform one another.
Would you recommend the University to other international students?
Hadi: Absolutely! Chester is a fantastic University and city for international students. There are many options for accommodation and the atmosphere is incredibly welcoming.
Taha: Yes, I would highly recommend the University to other international students. Chester was recently ranked as one of the best in the UK for international students by WhatUni? so I know I’m not alone in thinking this.
