The Study Without Borders Fund: what does it entail?

We are aware that besides the war in Ukraine, there are many other places across the world where people are unfortunately living in unsafe situations, including scholars and students. Thus, two remarkable donors of the AUF established the Study Without Borders Fund in 2016. Refugee students and researchers can either begin or resume their studies or research at the University of Amsterdam.

Thanks to the Study Without Borders Fund, Mousa regained his life

For one year, Mousa Alsadah (28) roamed The Netherlands, trapped in IND bureaucracy. A residence permit and a scholarship from the Study Without Borders Fund allowed him to start his studies at the UvA. He is now a top student and wants to help migrants feel at home in The Netherlands, too. Mousa: ‘I can be myself here and feel a part of The Netherlands at the same time. I wish the same for other migrants.’

In 2018, Mousa was studying Economics at the University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He had just received a scholarship to study at an international university for a year. ‘I was eager. And somehow, I felt that I was making the right choice with Tilburg University. The learning system seamlessly blended with the University of Sharjah’s system. But I also had the impression that this Dutch university would give me a lot of freedom.’

Activist past throws a spanner in the works

For an entire year, Mousa happily and diligently pursued his BA in Economics in Tilburg. Then, just as he was about to go back home, he received the message that he could not return to the UAE, because of his activist past, taking part in a local protest inspired by the Arab Spring. But perhaps even more so because of the arrest of his mother Nassima Alsadah, a Saudi women’s rights advocate and Nobel Prize nominee.

‘So, there I was… with no education, no job, and no prospects. I decided to apply for a residence permit in The Netherlands, but that fell through because I was previously registered as a student. And when corona happened too, I found myself completely stuck.’ With some money sent by his father, Mousa was able to support himself. It eventually lasted a year before he received a residence permit.

After obtaining his residence permit, Mousa was able to study again

‘That permit meant more than just permission to stay in The Netherlands’, says Mousa. ‘It gave me my life back. I could work again. And more importantly, I could study again.’ Hungry for academic life, Mousa decided to take up new studies in a new city. He swapped Tilburg for Amsterdam and Economics gave way to Cultural Anthropology. Mousa: ‘This programme is all-encompassing. It teaches me so much. About life, but also about myself.’

Mousa has some ideas about his future career. ‘When I started studying Economics, I knew I could find a good job afterwards, but with this programme, that is more uncertain. I know I want to do something with the integration and adaptation of migrants coming to live in The Netherlands. After all, such integration goes much further than just learning the language and adopting some customs. It is about making yourself feel like a Dutch citizen. But how do you do that? That is what I want to explore.’

Mousa is 100% happy in Amsterdam

After his Bachelor’s, Mousa would like to do a Master’s in Amsterdam, because he is 100% happy here. He likes the absence of hierarchy and the openness of people. ‘The freedom to compile your own study is also something I really like. I am not someone who is easily pushed into a framework. I prefer to mould my own personality. And with all the experience and knowledge that I have gained over the past few years, I find myself getting better and better equipped to do so.’

This year, AUF’s Annual Fund draws special attention to refugee students and researchers. With a grant from the Study Without Borders Fund, we can offer them a safe place to study or work at the University of Amsterdam. Contribute to this fund, so that we can help more people like Mousa.