Dania
Dania Barham
is a Palestinian student from the West Bank who came to Scotland to pursue an MLitt in International Business at the University of St Andrews as a STEPS scholar for the 2025/2026 academic year. For her dissertation, she chose to research Palestinian women entrepreneurs and how they build and adapt their businesses while living through prolonged conflict — work that let her bring her own perspective into her studies while giving voice to women from her community whose stories are rarely told. As she comes to the end of her scholarship, Dania reflects on an experience that reshaped her sense of what she is capable of achieving.In her own words:
Receiving the STEPS Scholarship gave me an opportunity that I could hardly have imagined before coming to Scotland. As a Palestinian student, studying abroad had always felt like something that was beyond my reach. The scholarship did not simply provide financial support; it gave me the chance to continue my education at one of the world's leading universities, experience a completely new environment, and imagine possibilities for my future that had previously felt very distant.Moving to Scotland and beginning my MSc in International Business at the University of St Andrews was both exciting and challenging. I was leaving behind my family, my home, and everything familiar to start a new chapter thousands of miles away. At first, adjusting to a new country, a different academic system, and a new culture was not always easy. However, the support provided through STEPS made that transition possible. Having secure accommodation, financial support, and a community of other Palestinian scholars gave me a sense of stability and belonging during a period of enormous change.
My time at St Andrews has been about much more than earning a degree. I have grown academically, personally, and professionally. My studies challenged me to think differently, become more independent, and develop skills that I know will shape my future career. At the same time, living in Scotland gave me experiences I would never have had the opportunity to have otherwise. I met people from different countries and backgrounds, built friendships, explored Scotland, and became more confident in navigating life independently.
One of the most meaningful parts of my experience was being able to conduct my dissertation research on Palestinian women entrepreneurs and how they develop and adapt their businesses while living through prolonged conflict. Being able to study an issue so closely connected to my community allowed me to bring my own perspective and experiences into my academic work while also giving a voice to Palestinian women whose stories deserve to be heard.
The STEPS Scholarship has also given me something that is difficult to measure: hope. Coming from a place where uncertainty can affect even the simplest plans, having someone invest in your education and believe in your potential can be transformative. The scholarship allowed me to focus on learning and growing rather than constantly worrying about whether I could afford to continue my studies.
As I now reach the end of my time as a STEPS scholar, I am leaving with far more than a master's degree. I am leaving with confidence, friendships, memories, knowledge, and a much clearer sense of what I am capable of achieving. I am deeply grateful to everyone who made this opportunity possible. STEPS has changed the direction of my life, and I hope that, through my future work, I can make that investment meaningful and help create opportunities for others in my community.