I moved to the UK in 2020 from Iran to start my Master of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Oxford, thanks to a scholarship from Mica and Ahmet Ertegun. It was my first time studying abroad and quite overwhelming. However, being part of the Ertegun international community really helped me settle in; Ertegun House became the main hub of my social and academic life and there was a sense of cohesion with lots of peer and academic support.
Ertegun scholars share a love of the humanities and are encouraged to celebrate each other’s differences, backgrounds and cultures. During my time there I was able to host a Persian New Year event, which was very comforting while being away from home.