Studying abroad after leaving your home country can be a life-changing experience. It offers an opportunity to broaden one's perspective, challenge oneself, and gain new skills. As an international student, I am Sarmad Tariq from Pakistan made the decision to pursue a master’s degree in digital marketing management at the esteemed University of Wolverhampton. Little did I know that the journey ahead would not be without its challenges.
University support to international students
The early days in the UK were a cultural shock for me but very exciting due to the wonderful landscape, infrastructure, and university. For Asians, the weather is not just an issue in their daily routine for moving or traveling but also disturbs them severely from a health perspective especially if they are careless like me. Keep in mind, in all those scenarios your university can play a great role when you are fighting on multiple battlefields of weather, studies, work, and health. That was the time when the University of Wolverhampton proved to be a saviour for me. A very peaceful environment, freedom, excellent academic and moral support, and tremendous on-campus facilities make me feel like home at the university.
Scholarships at the University of Wolverhampton
The University of Wolverhampton offers a variety of scholarships to international students to support them in pursuing their academic goals. I was fortunate enough to be awarded the Global Opportunity scholarship, and attending the scholarship ceremony at the university was a fantastic experience. During the event, I had the opportunity to meet highly experienced university staff, talented students from various parts of the world and learn more about the exciting academic opportunities available at the campus.
Phenomenal academic team at university
Digital marketing and other modern technical courses require frequent updates due to the rapidly changing digital technologies. Every module in my course was designed according to the modern requirements of technology and job market. Faculty members at the University of Wolverhampton have played a pivotal role in shaping my learning experience as all the tutors are highly qualified and experienced in their own domains. In my first semester, I completed modules of “Entrepreneurial and Digital Marketing” and “Strategic Marketing”. These modules provided me with an in-depth understanding of the practical applications of digital marketing, emphasizing the importance of soft skills in addition to technical expertise. Dr. Emma Edwards and Lisa Burbidge are exceptional lecturers and accomplished professionals, supporting all students with their assignments by arranging more support sessions. They also arranged several seminars and events with industry experts, giving us a glimpse into the industry and potential career paths.
In the second semester, I had the opportunity to learn from two exceptional tutors, Robert Harris and Imran Khan. Their passion for the subject and their deep knowledge of the industry have been truly inspiring. Their practical guidance, combined with the theoretical knowledge imparted in my coursework, has helped me to develop a nuanced understanding of the digital marketing landscape. The search engine and social media marketing course by Dr. Imran Khan was particularly challenging because of its technicality and practical implementation. I learned a long set of technical skills in that course, including keyword analysis, Google Analytics, growth audit, social media, and personal branding.
On-Campus Facilities
The University of Wolverhampton is fully equipped with on-campus facilities that leave no room for complaints. From mental health support to physical and extracurricular activities, from library services to add-on sessions about course modules, language support, research, referencing, and anything else that students feel they need is so smoothly available and usable. Students can access all university library resources online or on-campus, and they can also access other libraries by using the SCONUL service offered by the university. University Libraries provide a wide range of services to assist students with research and referencing, typically staffed by trained professionals who are available to help with any questions or issues encountered during the research process.
Career Development
Although the Digital Marketing Management course is designed to fully prepare graduates for the relevant job roles in the market, the university has also designed a complete roadmap for career development with the help of academic staff and in collaboration with major industry players. Dr. Imran Khan regularly arranging digital marketing bootcamps and seminars to provide students with hands-on experience and practical knowledge, empowering them to tackle real-world marketing challenges with confidence. They invites top-notch digital marketing professionals to share their success stories and provide insights on the latest digital growth trends.
Digital Marketing Assistant at Student’s Union
Working at the Student Union has been an incredibly fulfilling experience. It has given me the opportunity to apply my knowledge of digital marketing and develop my soft skills. Nirmla Devi, the CEO of the Student Union, has been an exceptional mentor who has fostered an environment of inclusion, diversity, and community within the university. Interim Marketing Manager Linda Atchison has been a great source of support and guidance throughout my tenure at the Student Union. I have learned a lot from her about managing social media, standards of writing, and content sharing in the UK.
Conclusion
My long-term goal is to become a digital marketing executive, leading a team of professionals in the development and execution of effective digital marketing strategies for online businesses. I am confident that the knowledge and experience I have gained through my master's degree and tremendous support from the lovely academic staff make my journey very smooth and comfortable for my career.
Wonderful, Sarmad, you did a good job. I am proud of you.