The MSc in Refugee and Forced Migration Studies and my time in Oxford was a door opener: both in terms of professional opportunities and contacts, but maybe most importantly in terms of thinking. The interdisciplinary nature of the MSc course is challenging in a way that reflects the real world, both in terms of understanding the background to an issue, but also in terms of seeing potential solutions. The professors and students also reflected this interdisciplinary nature of the course: a combination of world leading academic expertise with a student group from a variety of backgrounds, many with significant experience from working in international organisations with refugees and humanitarian issues.

For me, I got my first international job during my time in Oxford. The day after my graduation I left for Egypt and crossed in to Gaza, which in 2009 was under a blockade. There I led the work of a humanitarian organisation working on health issues. Two years later I started working for the Norwegian Refugee Council, Norway’s largest humanitarian organisation. In my current position, as the Head of the Secretary General’s Office, I work on a wide range of issues. From policy and strategic partnerships, to the external profiling and missions, all with the objective of supporting the organisation’s work to protect and assist refugees and displaced people. The experiences and knowledge that I gained in Oxford have proved to be useful in my day to day job, and I would highly recommend the MSc course and the experience that Oxford brings.