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| Syrian asylum seeker says masters degree is a 'dream come true' | Syrian asylum seeker says masters degree is a 'dream come true' |
| (25 days later) | |
| Mohamed Hady Taresh fled to the UK from Syria with his wife and daughter in 2022 | Mohamed Hady Taresh fled to the UK from Syria with his wife and daughter in 2022 |
| An asylum seeker from Syria has received a masters degree after having to flee his home country and abandon his studies there. | An asylum seeker from Syria has received a masters degree after having to flee his home country and abandon his studies there. |
| Mohamed Hady Taresh graduated with a first class masters degree in cyber security from the University of Gloucestershire on Friday. | Mohamed Hady Taresh graduated with a first class masters degree in cyber security from the University of Gloucestershire on Friday. |
| Mr Taresh was forced to leave Syria in 2013 because of the ongoing civil war. | Mr Taresh was forced to leave Syria in 2013 because of the ongoing civil war. |
| He said: "It's a dream come true and especially in these circumstances and the challenges we faced." | He said: "It's a dream come true and especially in these circumstances and the challenges we faced." |
| Mr Taresh arrived in the UK in 2022 seeking refuge and a better future for his wife, Jollanar and their five-year-old daughter Alice. | Mr Taresh arrived in the UK in 2022 seeking refuge and a better future for his wife, Jollanar and their five-year-old daughter Alice. |
| He had a 10-year career working in various IT management roles in Syria, Lebanon, Egypt and Cyprus. | He had a 10-year career working in various IT management roles in Syria, Lebanon, Egypt and Cyprus. |
| But with an armed conflict displacing millions of people, Mr Taresh said coming to the UK was a "life or death matter" for his family. | But with an armed conflict displacing millions of people, Mr Taresh said coming to the UK was a "life or death matter" for his family. |
| Mr Taresh achieved a first-class degree in cyber security | Mr Taresh achieved a first-class degree in cyber security |
| "I remember the day that we had to leave the city [Raqqa] because the city [fell down] in a very dramatic situation," he said. | "I remember the day that we had to leave the city [Raqqa] because the city [fell down] in a very dramatic situation," he said. |
| The family fled to England and arrived at a hotel in Cheltenham in middle of the night. | The family fled to England and arrived at a hotel in Cheltenham in middle of the night. |
| "My wife was scared because we came in the middle of the night," he said. | "My wife was scared because we came in the middle of the night," he said. |
| "[But] the moment we wake up, it was something magical, because of the green landscapes of the countryside and the feeling that we are safe right now." | "[But] the moment we wake up, it was something magical, because of the green landscapes of the countryside and the feeling that we are safe right now." |
| "I rebuilt myself from scratch," said Mr Taresh | "I rebuilt myself from scratch," said Mr Taresh |
| Mr Taresh was not legally permitted to work in the UK while his asylum application was processed by the Home Office, so he decided to return to education. | Mr Taresh was not legally permitted to work in the UK while his asylum application was processed by the Home Office, so he decided to return to education. |
| "I rebuilt myself from scratch," said Mr Taresh, who became the first postgraduate student to be awarded the University of Gloucestershire's Michael Perham Sanctuary Scholarship. | "I rebuilt myself from scratch," said Mr Taresh, who became the first postgraduate student to be awarded the University of Gloucestershire's Michael Perham Sanctuary Scholarship. |
| The scholarship helped him to cover living expenses by providing support such as food vouchers and travel tickets to and from campus. | The scholarship helped him to cover living expenses by providing support such as food vouchers and travel tickets to and from campus. |
| He received a first-class master's degree in Cyber Security, which he received at the university's graduation ceremony at Cheltenham Racecourse on Friday. | He received a first-class master's degree in Cyber Security, which he received at the university's graduation ceremony at Cheltenham Racecourse on Friday. |
| "This is the moment that I was dreaming about. I can't find the words to express what I feel right now," he said. | "This is the moment that I was dreaming about. I can't find the words to express what I feel right now," he said. |
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