Portslade refugee Ali Mohammadi can train to become doctor

Ali Mohammadi, 22, applied to the Brighton and Sussex Medical School and was the top candidate after interviews, getting one of the highest scores.

The Iranian refugee, who fled to the UK with his brother, has lived in Portslade since moving here at the age of 17.

He has learned English and began training at East Sussex College in Lewes, studying the Access to HE Medicine course.

But unlike other medical student hopefuls, Ali was not able to get a loan to fund the training for his dream career because he is a refugee.

So East Sussex College has set up its first ever scholarship to support him in the Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery (BM BS) degree.

Iranian refugee Ali Mohammadi can pursue his dream to become a doctor at Brighton and Sussex Medical School

Ali said: “I couldn’t believe it. I started to cry. Receiving an offer in just three hours means a lot to me.

“They told me that I had the highest score out of all of the people they interviewed that day and that I was the first person they called. I was so happy, and it was an emotional moment for me.

“Coming from a refugee background, I had to learn English by myself and had to work really hard to apply for medical school in the UK.

“Four years ago, I moved to the UK, and I couldn’t imagine that one day I would be offered a place to study medicine at university.

“Since I was a child, I’ve dreamed of becoming a doctor. My mother is a radiologist and used to take me to work with her in the hospital. That is where I realised that I wanted a career where I could help improve people’s lives.”

Iranian refugee Ali Mohammadi can pursue his dream to become a doctor at Brighton and Sussex Medical School

Originally Ali is from Shiraz in the south west of Iran, but had to leave his family behind.

He said: “I live in the UK by myself, and don’t have any family here to support me.

"I was a very good student at school in Iran, but I faced enormous uncertainties.

"When moving into the UK, I was at my most vulnerable situation that I could never imagine.

"I was left alone without my parents, friends, teachers, or my culture and language. It was the people in the UK who passionately helped me to start again, learning a new language and culture.

"The best way I can be thankful to the UK for giving a safe a place to live and to show my true potential is to become a doctor and work in the National Health Service."

Ali faced problems trying to fund his studies as he is not able to apply for a loan as a refugee, so he was supported by Hayley Funnell, head of access to higher education at the college's Lewes campus.

East Sussex College chief executive Rebecca Conroy said: “Hayley made such a passionate plea in support of Ali and his enormous talent.

“I was compelled to find a way for us to support him. Our scholarship programme was created on the spot East Sussex College is here to support everyone in the community, and we will continue to do this moving forward.

“Due to lockdown, I have not yet met Ali, but I cannot wait to meet him in person and congratulate him on his huge achievements.”

East Sussex Colleg chief executive Rebecca Conroy

Ali is now focussing on finishing his studies at East Sussex College, he said: “I had an email a couple of days later from Hayley telling me that the college would like to award me with a scholarship, something they have never done before.

“I was incredibly happy and so grateful. They were helping to make my dream a reality. So throughout this course, I’ve been working hard and been determined not to disappoint them.

“My goal was to get at least one offer from a medical school, and I did.”