I Came for a Master's... and I’m still here
It all started with a dream (and probably too many films)
If I'm being completely honest, one of the reasons I always dreamed of studying in the UK was because of the films I grew up watching. The cobbled streets, historic buildings and cosy cafés looked nothing like where I grew up in Mexico, and I always wondered what it would be like to actually live there.
That dream became even stronger when one of my university lecturers told us about her Master's degree in Edinburgh. She described her experience so enthusiastically that I started thinking, what if that could be me one day?
At the time, studying abroad still felt impossible financially. Then I found Across the Pond.
The recommendation that changed everything
My advisor was the person who first suggested that I look at the University of York. I had honestly never heard of it before.
She took the time to understand what I wanted from a Master's degree, explained the funding options available, and encouraged me to apply for scholarships I didn't even know existed. Thanks to her advice, I received the Be Exceptional scholarship alongside funding through FIDERH, making something that once felt impossible suddenly feel achievable.
She supported me from the moment I started researching universities until I arrived in the UK, and I'm incredibly grateful for everything she did.
The moment York felt like home
I still remember stepping into York for the first time.
It's difficult to explain, but I instantly had this overwhelming feeling that I was meant to be here all along.
Four years later, I'm still living here.
York has this unique combination of history and warmth. Walking through the city often feels like being inside a Christmas film, but what has kept me here isn't just the beautiful streets—it's the people. I've found York to be one of the friendliest places I've ever lived.
Some of my favourite places are Museum Gardens, York Art Gallery and The Golden Ball, where I met members of the local Latin American community who helped make the city feel even more like home.
A Master's gave me much more than a degree
I originally came to York for one year.
Instead, I built a life here.
I've made lifelong friends, started my career in the UK, and grown both personally and professionally in ways I never expected. Looking back, studying abroad wasn't simply about getting a Master's degree, it was about finding a place where I truly belong.
-Denisse
