Our city is celebrated for its rich history and vibrant culture and within it the University aims to provide opportunities for people from all walks of life.

Among our diverse student community is Faryal, a recent graduate whose inspiring journey epitomises our commitment to social responsibility and accessibility.

Faryal’s story begins in Afghanistan, where her family faced immense challenges due to political and social unrest. Seeking a better future for their children, her parents made the courageous decision to emigrate to the UK.

Her father Sardar took up a job as a bus driver, often passing by the University. “Every time I saw people graduating, I was in tears,” he said. “I dreamed that one day my children would be here and we were going to be celebrating.”

Growing up in a working-class community in Manchester, Faryal juggled school with caring responsibilities – her mum spoke little English so needed support with translation and had health conditions. Despite these challenges, she was determined to make the most of the opportunities her parents had sacrificed so much to give her a better life.

“My dad was really smart,” she said. “When there was no electricity at home he would sit under a street lamp to do his homework. He had big ambitions but then the war started and he was conscripted. They had to leave everything behind to come to the UK. They worked from the bottom up and I’m really proud of everything they’ve managed to achieve. The least I could do was to work hard and graduate so he knows they didn’t leave everyone behind for no reason.”

As one of five siblings, paying to put all of them through university was not something Faryal’s family could afford. From as early as Year 7, Faryal received invaluable support through University’s Gateway programme then the Manchester Access Programme (MAP) in years 12 and 13. This initiative aims to help young people from underrepresented backgrounds achieve their dreams of higher education.

Faryal’s dedication paid off when she secured a place at the University to study law, where she has now passed both of her Solicitors’ Qualifications Exams. Her journey was not just a personal triumph but a collective victory for her entire family.

When she graduated, she said it felt like her whole family achieved something significant. She gave her graduation cap to her mum and dad to wear for photos as it was a moment of immense pride for all of them. “I sat the exams, but in reality, the degree is my whole family’s degree. It’s not just my hard work.”

Faryal’s father echoes this sentiment: “It was my dream. That’s the moment every parent wants to see. It was not an easy decision to leave our country, but thinking about my children’s future made it worthwhile.”

Faryal said: “The university recognised people who came from different backgrounds that were less represented at university would often have challenges in their way preventing them from studying and reaching their potential.

“The University definitely shaped me as a person and allowed me, through various support, to really understand my potential and achieve my goals.”

After graduating, Faryal stayed at the University, completing an internship with the Access and Success Team. Here, she worked on the same MAP initiative that had once supported her, inspiring a new generation of students from similar backgrounds, allowing her to give back and champion other young people aiming for university and helping them see that higher education is within their reach.

There are many opportunities to explore options for study at the University for prospective students and their families with two open days on September 28 and October 12.

 For more information 

• Visit our undergraduate webpages
• See here to register for one of our open days
• Find out more about Manchester Access Programme