Magdalene pursued her dream to study at Queen’s after overcoming several obstacles placed in her way.  

In 2019, Magdalene was working as a Lecturer at a Teacher Education Institution in Nigeria when she applied for sponsorship to further her education. The sponsorship scheme offers hundreds of academics working in tertiary education the chance for postgraduate studies locally and internationally.   

Magdalene researched international universities and having found Queen’s to be the number one for Educational Leadership, she applied for sponsorship.  

Magdalene was offered a place in 2020 but due to the pandemic, she requested a year’s deferral, which was approved by both the University and sponsor. She paid her initial deposit and started to prepare for bringing her 12 and 7 year old daughters to Belfast, where she planned to enroll them to school for the year.  

In September 2021, a new policy came into effect which made any non-science students exempt from the sponsorship scheme, meaning she could no longer be supported to do the course.  

Magdalene was devastated as she had her heart set on coming to Queen’s. She knew it would put her in good stead for her career but also knew it wouldn’t be financially viable for her and her daughters to come to Belfast. After speaking with her family, they encouraged her to come on her own to do the course.  

Magdalene listened to her daughters and decided to chase her dream. Initially she began the course remotely, giving her time to finalise the arrangements before arriving to Belfast in November 2021.  

Magdalene says: “It wasn’t an easy journey but I’m so glad that I weathered the storms and made it here. Queen’s gave me the option of paying my fees in instalments, which was a huge help. And I am so grateful to my family, especially my daughters and my husband for their support. I did it for myself, I did it for them and I did it for anyone who thinks they can’t achieve their dreams. 

“I am so excited to be graduating and will take home a whole lot of memories from my time here. I met so many amazing people and look forward to returning to Queen’s in the future, maybe next time with my daughters.”