What our students say
What our students say . . . .
Postgraduate
Shota Tohara, Master of International Relations
Shota undertook his studies as part of his placement in Malaysia with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan.
“Diversity” – I believe this is a key word which most describes MA-IR
at UNMC. If you feel nervous just because you do not have an IR
background, there is no reason for you to worry about it. The students
of MA-IR at UNMC come from a variety of countries, have diverse
background, and thus can see a subject from different perspectives,
which always spices up discussion in a class.
Not only the students but also lecturers contribute to making the
curriculum of PHIR so attractive. All the lecturers are passionate,
friendly and approachable, while they have diverse teaching methods and
expertise. This “diversity” among its students and lecturers taken
together makes the experience at UNMC distinctively colourful.
Studying at UNMC was of course not always just fun and sometimes I
faced challenges as well. Being an Asian student, who was used to listen
to lecturers’ “one-way talk”, it was particularly challenging for me to
take part in vigorous discussion and seminar in the class. In addition,
in the class, I was given a lot of opportunities to consider
challenging and yet intriguing questions thrown by the lectures. Through
this, I was able to see the world from various different viewpoints,
which I believe is the most precious thing I could learn at UNMC."
Lee Yan Neo, Master of Science, International Development Management
Lee Yan Neo graduated with a BSc in TESL 10 years ago and now
runs a tutoring centre teaching English in Johor Bahru. A self-sponsored
student, she makes her weekly commute to University of Nottingham
Malaysia to attend her lectures for MSc in International Development.
“Aspiring to venture into a career as a scholar, being a student in
University of Nottingham Malaysia has opened my mind towards the endless
academic pursuits that one can desire and achieve in one's lifetime.
Coming from an English Language Teaching background, the professionalism
and expertise of the lecturers helped me grasp concepts with a critical
mind. The MSc in International Development is built upon a
well-researched selection of relevant modules to encapsulate the
necessary academic and practical skills needed in the field. I am truly
grateful for the opportunity and the guidance that I have received from
my professors and the camaraderie formed amongst my classmates who come
from a diverse countries and backgrounds. The knowledge and skills I
have acquired during my time at Nottingham has helped me build a strong
theoretical and research background that will be invaluable to me during
my doctoral studies in the future.”
Carla Prowse, Master of International Relations
Carla Prowse is from Sydney, Australia. Her undergraduate degree
was a Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications) from the University
of Sydney, where she majored in History and Political Science. After
working in public affairs in the private sector and for the Australian
Government, she decided to take her postgraduate degree in International
Relations through UNMC to further her knowledge and skills in the area.
"The Masters course at UNMC offers the study of international affairs
in a truly international setting. Teachers and students alike are from
around the world which offers unique perspectives and insights into
global affairs. This dynamic environment has enhanced my learning
experience.
On a practical level, the MA International Relations course offers
interesting and relevant units in the field, including development
studies and NGOs. The subject choice, along with the support and
quality of the teaching staff, makes this programme an excellent choice
for those seeking to learn more in this field."
Mirjam Resch, Master of International Relations
Mirjam Resch comes from Regensburg, Germany. After completing her
undergraduate studies in the UK and France, she was part of the first
cohort of the MA International Relations at UNMC.
“Studying in Asia was not anything I had considered before, but when
the opportunity arose, I thought ‘why not!’. I had never been to
Southeast Asia and was not sure what to expect, but I came with an open
mind and ready for an adventure. I was not disappointed. Malaysia is a
fascinating country full of life, colour and contrast, and the Southeast
Asian context provides a multitude of ready case studies for anyone
with an interest in international relations. Learning with and from
students from a wide variety of cultural and educational backgrounds has
been an immensely enriching experience for me and has helped me look
beyond my Western views and values. Small classes and enthusiastic
teachers provided for a personalised and stimulating learning
environment which would have been difficult to find at any university in
Europe. Living, studying and travelling in the region has opened my
eyes to realities text books can never adequately convey and has left me
with many unforgettable experiences. In retrospect, I can say that the
year spent at UNMC has been a formative one for me and has equipped me
with the professional and personal sills to succeed in a truly
international environment.”
Undergraduate
Farah Norzam, BA (Hons) International Relations with Mandarin
Farah studied high school in Kuala Lumpur and while at
Nottingham was a leading member of Phir-Nott and also participated in
“The Perdana Fellows Programme” in the Ministry of Tourism and Culture.
"Studying IR at University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus (UNMC) has
given me a unique learning experience that has shaped who I am today. It
is unique due to the small size of the school and the ‘open door’
policy practiced by all of our well-qualified lecturers. Also,
interactions in class are always insightful as my class was made up of
people who grew up in different parts of the world, ensuring that
discussions are diverse and often filled with fresh perspectives.
Due to our close proximity to the city center, Kuala Lumpur, we have
been fortunate enough to be invited to and attend high level seminars
and conferences such as the Roundtable Conference on
Malaysia-Cambodia/Laod/Myanmar Relations towards Strengthening ASEAN
through Multi-channel Dialogue and Global Movement of Moderates: Raising
ASEAN Value through the Concept of Global Movement of Moderates. Our
student society, PHIR-NOTT also played a vital part in ensuring that I
made the most out of my degree. We were given the liberty and
responsibility to manage student events in PHIR with full support from
our Head of School. My involvement with PHIR-NOTT strengthened my
soft-skills as I dealt with events as well as peoples from various
levels and backgrounds."
The existence of 3 Nottingham campuses allowed me to be a 'tri-campus nomad'.
In my 3 years in UNMC, I have been fortunate enough to be selected to
go to Nottingham’s International Summer School in Ningbo, China and
Nottingham’s Inter-Campus exchange programme in the UK where I attended
the Commonwealth Youth Action Event. This gave me a truly international
dimension to my international relations degree and allowed me to embrace
the 'knowledge without borders' spirit of our University.”
Mo Xiang, Wong, BA (Hons) in International Relations with French at the University of Nottingham
Mo Xiang comes from Petaling Jaya, Selangor in Malaysia. He was
previously an ASEAN School-Based Scholar and completed his
Singapore-Cambridge GCE Advanced Level at Hwa Chong Institution
(Singapore) under the Integrated Programme.
“My BA (Hons) in International Relations with French at the
University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus has been a challenging and
exciting undertaking that has certainly resulted in a fruitful three
years. Studying at the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus allowed
me the freedom to explore my research with expert supervision.
The strength of the school lies in the people we have: the academic
staff, students and support from the administrative staff. The academic
staff are all experts in their field, and the relative small size of the
school has cultivated a close knit family that allows us to have closer
and direct interaction with our lecturers.
Beyond the classrooms, I participated in conferences, lecture series
and high level seminars that continuously challenged me with ideas and
thoughts. We were given the liberty to initiate new activities, panel
discussions and we even undertook a visit to the ASEAN Secretariat.
As part of the first graduating cohort of the School, it was a
humbling experience of self-discovery growing along with the school as
it expands and ventures into new heights.”