The Department of International Studies is (generally) where students come to fulfill free electives. However, most find that they enjoy the classes they take there, often returning for more. The department provides students a break from their academic schedules, gaining new perspectives and expanding their knowledge. In class, the professors provide students a platform in which they can voice their opinions and engage in an open dialogue. It allows students from different fields a chance to elevate their intellect and broaden the depth of their knowledge. When taking a class in the department, students are left with a more holistic educational experience.

Due to the size of the Department of International Studies, students are able to gain a better academic experience for several reasons. This is partially due to the ability of professors and students to develop more personal relationships. These relationships extend beyond an academic one and allow students and professors to know each other beyond a classroom setting. Professors are given a chance to take a personal interest in each and every student, providing them with the necessary tools to pursue their goals and intellectual passions. The faculty are more than just educators, they are mentors that mold students ensuring that they develop both academically and personally. Whether students take a class or major in the field, they leave having gained something, be it knowledge, friends, a mentor or all three.

My four years at AUS were incredible and the Department of International Studies (INS) made my university experience all the more worthwhile. From its diverse courses in socioeconomic development to foreign policy and philosophy, to its professors and the overall supportive environment,  the INS department made my years at AUS memorable and enjoyable. The INS department did not only offer me an excellent education, but it further provided me with opportunities where I was able to practically implement what I learned in the classrooms, gain professional experience, and enrich my skills. Such matters not only helped me land internships and jobs, but also allowed me to develop and grow as a well-rounded individual.

During my years in the INS department, I was an active and proud member of the Model United Nations (MUN) community. MUN enabled me to discuss and research specific topics of high relevance and importance to today’s world, including environmental and socioeconomic issues. Later on,  I joined the AUS UAE Moot Court team, where alongside my bachelor’s degree in international relations, the department provided me with the opportunity to focus on a field I was extremely passionate about: international law. The Moot Court program was extremely organized and intense to the extent that we INS students stood in courtrooms before some of the world’s best law students and won cases! 

I owe most of my success to the INS department. As a result of the excellent education offered by the department and the practical experience I gained, I was able -- though I was merely a junior undergraduate student --  to land training positions in two of the region’s most renowned law firms, complete a DIFC Courts certificate, and publish my first legal article at the mere age of 21. Moreover, during my senior year at AUS, I was able to land the position of Student VP of the International Law Students Association, being the first Middle Easterner to ever hold this position. I am currently completing my post-graduate degree in law in the UK and working as a probono advocate, researcher and translator at organizations that seek to help refugees and immigrants. Once I am done, I aim to return back to the UAE to kick-start my career in any field relating to legal services, international relations or communications. I believe AUS and the INS department properly equipped me for my career.