Ali Kiani
Law, MCL (2019-20)
I was awarded the Omid Scholarship for the Master of Corporate Law (MCL) at St Edmund’s College, University of Cambridge. Prior to that, I had received my Bachelor of Law (LLB) at the University of Tehran in 2019. The MCL provided a great opportunity for me to study aspects of corporate law in depth from both a theoretical and practical perspective. In today’s world, corporations play a vital role in the daily lives of humans all over the world. As such, this course was very helpful to understand how laws and regulations govern the operation of corporates in different jurisdictions. Moreover, the course had a strong practical dimension to it. For example, one of the modules – called “Deals Course” – provided the chance to engage in the legal and economic analysis of actual corporate transactions and it helped me develop the requisite skills a corporate lawyer should possess.
It was very nice being a member of St Edmund’s College. The atmosphere in this college is very friendly and supportive and it has a great and diverse community. During the outbreak of Covid-19, the college did well to protect students’ well-being and to support them which I appreciated.
Having completed the MCL, I am now going to complete the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) which will set me on the path to qualify as a Solicitor in the UK.
Finally, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Omid Trust for their generous support. I hope in the future other students continue to receive this scholarship and find the chance to fulfill their potential.
Sonbol Mokhles
Architecture and Urban Studies, MPhil (2018/19)
I did an MPhil in Architecture and Urban Studies (MAUS) at the University of Cambridge 2018-2019, while I was funded by the Omid-Cambridge Scholarship. Prior to that, I did my undergraduate in Architecture and a Masters in Urban Design at Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran. I had worked for more than three years in Iran. MAUS is mainly a research-based course with lectures and seminars, during which you need to submit three essays and one dissertation in only nine months. Having completed this intense course, I strongly feel a significant development in my research skills. It also enhanced my confidence in critical thinking and networking.
Having the chance to attend various seminars and lectures has been very helpful in clarifying my research interests. Moreover, having the opportunity to attend multi-disciplinary research groups like GENUS (Global Energy Network for Urban Settlements) in CRASSH has broadened my view toward the impact of my field on people’s lives. Developing a good network with academics from similar research backgrounds is a valuable feature of my experience in Cambridge, which can open up new horizons for better career opportunities.
I am really grateful for being a member of Queens’ College, as one the most beautiful colleges in Cambridge, with high dynamism, diversity, and a warm environment. My graduate tutor at the college has been hugely supportive. College life with MCR representatives as good friends, attending interesting events throughout the year, helped to balance my social life with academic endeavours.
After my graduation, I started working on a research project by Cambridge Centre of Smart Infrastructure and Construction. Now, I have started my PhD at the University of Melbourne, fully funded by the Melbourne Research Scholarship. I am truly grateful for the unforgettable experience I had in Cambridge, which was impossible without the support of the Omid Trust. I hope to see more dreams of Iran’s top students come true by receiving this prestigious scholarship.
Makan Nojoumian
Philosophy, MPhil (2018-19)
I was awarded the Omid Scholarship for the MPhil in Philosophy at St Edmund’s College, University of Cambridge. Before this, I had studied Architecture as an undergraduate at the University of Tehran, and the MLitt in Philosophy at the University of St Andrews.
My experience at Cambridge was rewarding for a number of reasons. The research-oriented MPhil programme allowed me to engage more thoroughly with my chosen research topics through careful and thought-provoking supervisions. I chose to read and write on a variety of topics throughout the year which helped me complement my previous studies and to become more acquainted with issues I had previously had little exposure to. I completed my dissertation on ‘Moral Self-Indulgence’.
I found the graduate community, both at my faculty and at college, friendly and serious-minded, and I greatly enjoyed socialising at college and attending discussions at graduate seminars, talks and informal reading groups. I also spent some time marking and supervising undergraduate students which was great fun and an invaluable experience in preparation for an academic career. Currently, after graduation, I am carrying on with my research and hope to continue studying philosophy through a PhD programme.
Looking back, I am very touched by the award that made all this possible and I hope that other students will similarly benefit from the future Scholarships and that the community of Omid Scholars will continue to grow!
Maryam Vaziri
Economic Research, MPhil (2016/17)
My name is Maryam Vaziri and I was awarded the Omid Scholarship to study for the MPhil in Economic Research at Saint Edmund’s College in the academic year 2016-2017. Prior to coming to Cambridge, I did my undergraduate degree at the University of Tehran in Engineering Science.
The MPhil programme is a thorough study of core and advanced areas in economics, which has helped me gain a better understanding of economic phenomena and be able to analyse economic problems in a more complex setting. In addition to the rigorous modules offered, the MPhil programme includes a final dissertation. For my dissertation, I researched the dependence of the second-generation immigrants in the UK on their ethnic network for integrating into the labour market throughout the financial crisis of 2007-2008.
In addition to the academic life, I have also greatly enjoyed the college life. Saint Edmunds College has a very supportive environment and a diverse community thus providing an exceptional opportunity for socialising and participating in various activities.
Upon the completion of my MPhil course I was awarded the Ajit Singh Cambridge – INET Scholarship and the Cambridge Trust INET Scholarship and I am currently reading for a PhD in Economics at Cambridge University.
In the end, I wish to thank the Omid Cambridge Trust for this opportunity and I hope many other Iranian students continue to benefit from this scholarship.
Tahmineh Mokhtari
Architecture, MPhil (2015/16)
I have always had a passion for design but a passion for Architecture is something that has evolved from a combination of this passion with an interest in Science. I completed my bachelor degree in Architectural Engineering in University of Gorganand graduated in 2015 with multiple awards during the course. My interest in Environmental Architecture and Engineering alongside with my passion for sustainability led me to apply for an MPhil course in University of Cambridge, Department of Architecture. I received full scholarship from Cambridge Trust (partly supported by Omid Trust) for my MPhil study in Cambridge University in 2015.During my time at Cambridge, I fulfilled both great academic and social life. My research included thermal characterisation of a traditional vernacular dwelling in the north of Iran, with an aim to develop architectural elements for climate responsive buildings. I achieved excellent results in my MPhil course and completed a thorough thesis under supervision from a number of best experts in this field. In addition, I extremely enjoyed my social life in Emmanuel College where is one of the oldest colleges in Cambridge but has one of the liveliest and the most supportive environment. The range of activities in the college provided me such a remarkable opportunity to widen my horizon along with meeting great people from all over the world. After graduating from University of Cambridge in 2016, I started working in an award winning Architecture Company where I have been given the opportunity to buildup my career as a responsible architect toward built environment. In conclusion, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Omid Trust Scholarship for its invaluable support to make such an exceptional opportunity possible. I wish to see more of talented Iranian students as Omid Trust Scholars in the future.
Modjtaba Shokrian Zini
Pure Mathematics, MASt (2014/15)
As far as I remember, I came to like mathematics because of the challenges that its problems offered. My journey in math started with participating in competitions like the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) which was a great experience; after four years of doing math in high school, I won a gold medal in the IMO 2011. I was then directly admitted into Sharif University of Technology (Tehran) where I studied Pure Mathematics.
As a result of the courses I took during my BSc, I found interest in Geometry and Topology and aimed to broaden my knowledge in these fields. During my last year, I also became interested in the flourishing connections between Physics and Computational Complexity, i.e. Quantum Computation and Quantum Information Theory.
As I was still unsure about my future field of research, I decided to apply to the University of Cambridge, and specifically to Part III of the Mathematical Tripos. Part III provided an amazing set of courses, both in Mathematics and Physics. But I also needed a scholarship to support me during the program. The scholarship system in Cambridge was, at first glance, very complicated and many of the scholarships had eligibility conditions which were not in my favor. That was when I found the Omid Cambridge Scholarship and the complete support that I could receive as an Iranian citizen. I applied and was admitted to the program, fully-funded by the Omid-Cambridge Scholarship initiative.
During my time at Cambridge, I submitted an essay about Quantum Hamiltonian Complexity and took different courses in Geometry (like Complex Manifolds) and in Topology (like Homotopy Theory). The courses were heavier and more stimulating than I expected and I learned a lot this year. Fortunately, I obtained a Distinction in the end!
As for the non-academic experiences, I would like to mention the great environment of the historic city of Cambridge. Also, the college system, which I had not encountered before, was among the interesting things I found in Cambridge. Finally, I would like to make a special mention of St Edmund’s College, which has been a very supportive environment for me throughout.
I will continue my studies in mathematics at University of California, Santa Barbara and start my PhD in Mathematical Physics in late 2015. This field requires a broad background and Part III has helped me a lot in this regard.
As the first Omid scholar, I hope that the Omid Scholarship continues to provide support for more students. I am looking forward to see a large and diverse community of Omid Scholars in the future!