A Manchester Business School Scholarship Success Story

Russian student Medeya Akhalaya says she could hardly believe her eyes when she found out she’d been chosen to receive one of this year’s Manchester Business School Scholarships, to support the costs of her Masters in Management in the UK. The award, which covers 50% of tuition fees, is one of a range of exclusive international scholarships available to attendees of the QS World Grad School Tour.

Here, Medeya shares her success story, recalling how childhood memories of economic crisis inspired her to study economics, not only in order to improve her own future, but to help contribute to the creation of a more stable international financial environment.

Motivated to make an impact

“I was brought up in Moscow, a multinational city with many opportunities,” Medeya begins. However, when she was just five years old, the country was hit by recession and a devaluation of domestic currency that had a lasting impact on her family and those around them. “The social situation was tough, with many people losing their jobs, queues in shops, shortages of goods and perplexity. I do not remember much, but I learnt many stories from my parents and older brothers about those times.”

She identifies these tough times as a major contributor to her later decision to study a BSc in Economics at Lomonosov Moscow State University, in the hope of being able to “make an impact on the Russian economy and prevent economic crisis in the future.” During her studies, she went on to develop her interest in the design and optimization of internal management systems, and decided to deepen her knowledge of this field by applying for a Masters in Management.

Finding a Masters in Management abroad

Having always dreamed of studying in the UK, Medeya set about researching relevant courses that would help her progress professionally and allow her to study management within an international context. “I chose Manchester Business School as it has world-class research experience and teaching facilities,” she says. “Studying at Manchester Business School will help me to gain an insight into international operations and management practice around the world, and enhance my ability to challenge business issues in the global context.”  

Having received an offer of a place on the Masters in Management at Manchester Business School, Medeya realized she was eligible to apply for school’s new scholarships for international master’s students. On the day she found out she’d been selected as a recipient, she says, “I could not believe my eyes and I can definitely say it was one of the best days in my life.”

Looking ahead to career success

Now preparing to start her Masters in Management, Medeya is looking forward to continuing to challenge herself and developing her professional skills. “I would like to work on improving business performance and perfecting systems,” she says. “Organizations need people who can motivate others and develop strategies in a dynamic and competitive environment. I believe that the Masters in Management from Manchester Business School will give me great strength in the employment market and boost my future career, providing the knowledge and skills required to deal with the diversity of management practice around the world.”

As she relishes this moment in her own success story, Medeya is keen to encourage others to apply for opportunities to study abroad, and for scholarships such as those offered by Manchester Business School and QS. “You never believe that such things happen in life, until you receive an email confirming it. This is just a great opportunity to invest in your future and make our world a better place. I would advise you to believe in your dreams, not to pass by opportunities and never give up!”