Sarah was repeating her A-Level attempts and felt hopeless at a certain point. Then she found out about NCUK IFY through social media. Enrolled and achieved A*A*A* in the NCUK International Foundation Year, and is now studying Architecture at the University of Western Australia…
Sarah Zerin always had a dream. A dream that most of the Bangladeshi students have but getting into that seems hard. Same goes for Sarah. For a while, it felt like time was slowly taking that dream away from her.
She always knew she wanted to study Architecture in Australia.
Her O-Levels at Bangladesh International Tutorials went well. She had a clear picture of what she wanted her future to look like. She was confident and decided to go along with her dream.
But then… came her AS Levels.
Things didn't go the way she had hoped. She struggled with her results and had to sit for her exams again. And then again. With every retake, another year seemed to slip away, and eventually, Sarah found herself asking a difficult question: “How long will it take for me to finally meet the university requirements?”
She had already spent years trying to complete her A-Levels. Spending several more years on the same path didn't feel right anymore. Also, with the years that passed, her age would soon take away the opportunity to apply to a university in Australia.
It wasn't like she had stopped dreaming. She was simply running out of time to reach that dream.
Australia was still where she wanted to go. Architecture was still what she wanted to study. But the longer she stayed stuck in the same cycle, the more uncertain that future began to feel.
Then, almost unexpectedly, Sarah found MIE Pathways on Instagram. For the first time in a long time, she saw another possibility.
What if there is another structured yet faster pathway?
She discovered the NCUK International Foundation Year. NCUK International Foundation Year (IFY), also known as the NCUK Foundation Year, is an A-level equivalent nine-month programme. This programme is designed to prepare students for university.
It not only builds students' academic knowledge that will help them in their university journey but also builds their confidence. It is perfect for students whose plan is to study at a globally top-ranked university.
Currently, NCUK has 80+ top-ranked universities in the UK, Australia, the USA, Canada, Malaysia, New Zealand, and many more. It includes the Russell Group of Universities, Group of 8, U15, and basically every student’s dream university.
It was a genie’s lamp for Sarah. Came exactly at the right moment. She didn't need another reason to wait. She needed a strong way to move forward. So… she made the decision.
Sarah finally joined MIE Pathways and started her NCUK IFY in the Engineering stream. This time, she wasn't looking back at the years she had already lost. She was looking ahead.
Sarah’s Journey at MIE Pathways
The journey wasn't always easy. There were classes, assignments, exams, and plenty of hard work. Sleepless nights, an unhealthy amount of coffee to keep up late at night and study, taking stress before every exam and praying that everything goes well as planned.
Still, Sarah didn’t have to face everything alone. There were also teachers who supported her, friends who became part of her journey, and a team that kept helping her move toward the next step.
Slowly, the uncertainty started to fade away. And then came the result that changed everything.
A*A*A*A*.
Nine months after starting her NCUK IFY journey, Sarah had achieved the result she had worked so hard for.
The dream that once felt like it was slipping away was suddenly within reach again.
The University She Had Always Dreamed Of With The Highest Amount of Scholarship
Sarah progressed to The University of Western Australia with the highest amount of scholarship that UWA offered. It was the power comeback of Sarah within just 9 months. She is now studying a Bachelor of Environmental Design in Architecture (B.Env.D.).
Why did she choose the University of Western Australia? Well, it’s a Group of Eight university. It is ranked 77th by QS World University Rankings. It is located in Perth, Australia. One of the best universities with a higher employment rate. One of the best universities for research-based subjects and so on…
The same future she had once worried she might never reach.
“I chose the University of Western Australia because it is one of the Group of Eight universities and has very good opportunities for architectural subjects. As I was always interested in this subject, that's why I chose the University of Western Australia.” - Sarah Zerin
Sarah received an AUD 12,000 scholarship per year. It is the highest scholarship amount she received through her progression.
She hadn't expected it. She was surprised. The girl who once struggled to pass A-levels got the highest scholarship amount that a top-ranked university in Australia offers.
After everything she had been through, seeing that scholarship offer must have felt like more than just a financial achievement. It was proof of how far she had come.
She didn't have to figure it all out alone! Sarah's journey to Australia came with its own challenges, especially the visa process. The time she applied for an Australian visa was a very tough time. It went from level one to level three. It was another challenge she had to face.
But this time, she had people beside her. The progression team at MIE Pathways supported her throughout the process, helping her navigate the steps towards Australia.
Looking back, Sarah describes her overall experience at MIE Pathways warmly. She remembers the teachers who were supportive throughout the nine months. The friends she made. The people who helped her keep moving.
And most importantly, the opportunity that allowed her to take a different route towards the future she wanted.
Today, Sarah is living the life she once worried she might lose. She is in Australia. She is studying Architecture. She is studying at a Group of Eight university. And she earned A*A*A* along the way.
Her journey wasn't perfect. There were retakes. There were setbacks. There were moments when she had every reason to feel like she was falling behind. But Sarah didn't let those moments decide where her story would end.
She found another route. And sometimes, that's all it takes. Not a different dream. Not giving up. Just finding the right path to reach it. Sarah's advice to other students was simple:
“Students who want to target top-ranked universities within a short period of time can start their journey with NCUK and pursue their dreams like me. So, if I can, you can also.”
Today, the future that once seemed uncertain is no longer just something Sarah imagines. It is the life she is living. And at MIE Pathways, we couldn't be prouder to have been part of the journey that helped her get there.
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