My UK Life: Palestinian student who is a vice president of Oxford Brookes students' union

In a new series, The National speaks to Arabs living in the UK about their jobs, hopes and dreams. Raghd Ibdah always aimed to study in Oxford

Raghd Ibdah is enjoying life in Oxford. Photo: Raghd Ibdah

Raghd Ibdah, a Palestinian postgraduate student from the occupied West Bank, arrived in the UK in September 2023, a month before Hamas’s attack on Israel that sparked the country’s war in Gaza.

It was stressful and difficult thinking of the danger her family was in back home while studying for her international business and marketing management masters at Oxford Brookes University.

But she was conscious of the opportunity she had, so tried to focus on her studies to the best of her ability. Most of her family were back home in Salfit. “We have a house close to Gaza,” she said.

“It was very stressful for me to keep thinking of my family situation, because of what’s happening in my country,” she told The National. “But my family sacrificed a lot for me to study at Oxford. My father and mother care about education, a lot. They said we believe in you and know that you will achieve your dreams.

“I thought I have a goal. I can’t go back. I can’t destroy everything because they sacrifice a lot for me.”

So she threw herself into her life at Oxford. Starting as a student union faculty representative, she progressively took on more roles, becoming a student ambassador and then mentor to undergraduate students.

“Then I became the vice president of education. So I was holding many roles,” she said.

Studying at Oxford is a dream she has had since she was a child, having being introduced to the UK as a 13-year-old while reading Harry Potter stories. “They filmed the movies in Oxford. I said one day I will go there, even as a student,” she said.

“I was always obsessed with Said Business School, which is a college in Oxford. People who studied there are now famous and have successful businesses. I want to be one day like them. I have big dreams and goals.”

She initially wanted to live in Oxford, but arrived late and could not find any affordable accommodation. So she moved to the outskirts of London and commutes to the university town for lectures.

She helps students in various ways in her role, which acts as a bridge between students and faculty. “I offer them workshops for different courses when they struggle with their assignments. I say 'we should do this, we should do that'. If there are any issues or problems I help them solve their problems,” she said.

She is coming to the end of her time as vice president of education for the union, but hopes to stay in the UK, a country which she considers among “the greatest on Earth”. She would ideally like to obtain a scholarship to continue her studies with a PhD course, but if she does not get that she will not be deterred.

“I went to an Arab women event recently when I asked the former British prime minister, Theresa May, 'I want to become a prime minister one day. Please give me some advice.' Many people after that came to me and said, 'You are very brave.'

“But I don’t see a difference between me and her. I see that she has a high value and also I have a high value.”

And when she dreams, she dreams big, she said. “Until now, I achieved most of my goals. And I won’t stop until I finish what I want to do here. I will get a job.

'I know how to find opportunities. I never give up. If all the world told me no, I still wouldn’t give up,” she said.