“With determination, support, and access to education, it is possible to overcome significant barriers and achieve goals that once seemed out of reach.”
Anas Mousa graduates with a degree in Chemical Engineering from Queen’s University Belfast after fleeing the war in Syria
Back in 2013, Anas Mousa and his family, who are Kurdish, were forced to leave Syria due to war. They lived in a refugee camp in the Kurdistan region of Iraq for three years before moving to Northern Ireland.
During this time, Anas’ education was severely disrupted and he had no formal schooling, meaning that when he arrived in Northern Ireland in 2016, he spoke almost no English.
“At first, even simple everyday conversations felt difficult, and keeping up in the classroom was a major challenge. I often had to work much harder than my classmates just to understand the material,” he says.
Despite still learning the language, Anas sat his GCSEs within one year of arriving, and with a lot of hard work, he achieved strong results. He went on to study his A-Levels at Methodist College Belfast, where he again excelled and was accepted to study at Queen’s University.
For Anas, education was a way to reclaim his future after years of uncertainty: “I was determined not to let those barriers define me. I spent countless hours learning English, asking questions, seeking support from teachers, and studying independently. Over time, my confidence grew, and education became the way I could rebuild my life and create opportunities for my future.”
Anas says that his experience as a refugee gave him a strong appreciation for opportunities that many people “understandably take for granted.”
“Having lived through war, displacement, and years of interrupted education, I understood how valuable education really is. What motivated me most was the belief that learning could help me build a better future for myself and my family. Whenever I faced setbacks, I reminded myself how far I had already come.”
Since starting his degree at Queen’s, Anas has embraced student life and excelled in his studies. He has co-authored a research paper and even placed in the top 4% of 11,000 students in a UK-wide engineering competition. He says: “Queen’s has provided an environment where I have been able to thrive academically while preparing for a career in engineering. I have been able to engage with students from diverse backgrounds, develop leadership and teamwork skills, and gain practical engineering experience through academic projects and my year in industry.”
Anas is graduating on Thursday with a degree in Chemical Engineering from Queen’s University. Now working with Almac Group as a Process Technician, Anas looks forward to a career in Chemical Engineering – a pathway he says he chose because of the opportunities it provides to positively impact society:
“I chose Chemical Engineering because I was drawn to the idea of applying scientific knowledge to develop practical solutions that can improve people’s lives. Chemical Engineering plays a crucial role in areas such as energy, sustainability, manufacturing, healthcare, and environmental protection,” he says.
“As someone whose own life has been shaped by significant challenges, I wanted to pursue a career where I could contribute positively to society and help address some of the world’s most important issues.”
Beyond his professional ambitions, Anas says that he hopes his journey can encourage other young people who have faced adversity: “I want to demonstrate that difficult circumstances do not have to define a person’s future.
“With determination, support, and access to education, it is possible to overcome significant barriers and achieve goals that once seemed out of reach. Ultimately, I hope to continue learning, growing, and creating opportunities, not only for myself, but also for others who may be starting their own journey of rebuilding their lives.”
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