Saniya, who is living with rheumatoid arthritis, graduates today with a 2:1 postgraduate degree in Psychology (Conversion). 

At 19 years old, while studying for her undergraduate degree, Saniya was diagnosed with the chronic degenerative condition, which forced her to take a year off her studies as she couldn’t access the appropriate support at the institution where she was studying.  

“Trying to get the right support at undergraduate level was a challenge. But at Leeds Trinity, it was such a streamlined process,” Saniya explained. “I contacted the Disability team, and they quickly arranged any mitigations I needed, such as extensions and my learning support plan.  

“Additionally, my lecturers have gone above and beyond to accommodate me, making sure I wasn’t missing out when I had to skip lectures because of my health, or helping me manage the stress of not knowing when my condition might flare up. This allowed me to be the best student I could possibly be and realise my potential.” 

Encouraged by the welcoming environment at the University, Saniya was able to make the most of her studies, achieving high grades overall and an impressive 78 on her dissertation, which investigated British Pakistani attitudes to stammering. She believes this is in part due to the range of support she has received at Leeds Trinity, including counselling, money advice and disability services, which helped ease the pressures of her chronic condition. 

“If you compare my undergraduate results, where I graduated with a third because I wasn’t offered any kind of help, with my results from Leeds Trinity, it shows just how much it matters to have all levels of support in place,” Saniya said. 

The first in her family to go to university, Saniya worked as a secondary school teacher, before deciding to pursue an MSc in Psychology (Conversion), inspired by her passion to work with children with special educational needs. Her long-term goal is to become a clinical psychologist, and she hopes to begin a PhD to continue her research. 

Dr Louisa Peters, a Lecturer in Psychology at Leeds Trinity University said: “I have seen Saniya flourish at Leeds Trinity, taking up opportunities beyond the classroom like volunteering with the NHS and working with me as a research assistant. Saniya was so impressive that I asked her to lead on the research analysis and publish an article on the findings. I believe education works both ways and I can honestly say I have learnt a lot from her too as she is passionate about championing diversity and inclusivity within research and education. I am so proud and honoured to have worked with her.”

At present, Saniya works in healthcare, helping to identify a range of developmental issues in children up to two years old. Her advice for students who might need additional support is to ask for it early on and make the most of what the University has to offer.  

“Making sure you have the correct support can make a world of difference to how you feel, how well you do, how motivated you are, and how likely you are to engage in lectures and connect with your peers,” Saniya explained. “Accessing counselling and managing my stress around my RA really allowed me to focus on my studies and make the most of every opportunity, and I wouldn’t have done so well without it.” 

Leeds Trinity University offers a range of student support services, including learning and disability support, money advice, and mental health and wellbeing services. Explore how the University can assist your needs by visiting the website.