Jamile Dabul is an English teacher who sought out Gradeup to pursue a master’s degree abroad—in the birthplace of the English language: England. She chose to study Education at the University of York, and was even awarded a £3,000 partial scholarship by the university! Here’s her story:
“I originally had a degree in Physical Education, but I fell in love with teaching English, so I decided to earn a degree in Portuguese-English Languages. I wanted to keep learning, growing academically, and bringing new ideas into my classroom practice. I searched for postgraduate programs but couldn’t find one that truly matched what I wanted—something that involved both language teaching and the age group I worked with. I had always dreamed of studying abroad, and it was finally time to make it happen.
Leo from Gradeup played a huge role in helping me reflect and choose the right course for my master’s. There are so many options—many I had never even heard of! After several conversations, we realized that the course that best matched my profile and interests was simply Education, without any subthemes.
I decided to apply to three institutions, all in England. I read course descriptions, researched living costs, and more—it was a lot of work! To my surprise, I was accepted into all three universities I applied to—Bath, Exeter, and York. I chose York, and I have no regrets! The university’s infrastructure is excellent. They supported me while I was still in Brazil through a Brazilian “buddy” who answered my questions, and a university staff member who helped me identify the best areas to look for housing, and so on.
The first year was very difficult! Being far from family and adapting to a different culture wasn’t easy. Even the ‘British English’ accent took me a while to fully understand. However, the city is so beautiful and safe that it encouraged me to explore and make the most of everything whenever I could.
Everything was always well organized, and all the information I needed was available on the university website. They have many ways to support international students, which really impressed me. Numerous workshops were offered to help with academic writing, use of resources, and more. The library is incredibly well equipped and even stays open 24 hours during certain times of the year.
The university’s infrastructure is outstanding—well-equipped classrooms, clean restrooms, great transport, and bike racks. You can borrow laptops for a few hours, use desktops on campus, or check out laptops to take home for up to a week. There are lockers in the library too.
The library even has a small kitchen where you can make tea or coffee and heat up food (though during the COVID period there was no microwave). There’s a special study room for postgraduates with private desks in a quieter area. There are group study areas (where you can talk) and silent zones. There’s also a rest area with beanbags, books, and swings—perfect for relaxing and taking a break after hours of study.
After completing my master’s, I applied for the Graduate Visa, which allowed me to work and travel for two years. I got a job as a Research Technician at the University of York’s Department of Education. Working at the university felt like being “at home,” and I stayed there for almost two years.
I really wanted to gain experience in a primary school here in England, so I started looking for jobs as a Teaching Assistant (TA). I was invited for an interview, got the position, and began working as a TA. I’m responsible for one specific child, supporting them in the classroom and helping with daily routine adjustments. As our relationship developed and the child’s performance improved, the school decided to sponsor me as a Skilled Worker until the child moves to secondary school—just over two years from now.
My plan is to work as a TA during these two years, continue taking courses that help me in my teaching practice, and soon start working with teachers in Brazil as well, even while living here.”
Jamile also shared about the friendships she built in York, particularly one special friend:
“The one who appears most in my photos, a Chinese classmate, did the entire master’s with me. We worked together while she was still in China, helping organize an online conference for our department in the summer of 2022. A few months later, she came to the UK, and we studied and worked together for MANY hours.”
🤓🌎📚
Jamile fulfilled her dream of studying abroad and saw her life transformed, with many new opportunities opening up.
If you also dream of studying overseas—talk to us!