Student who returned to class two weeks after giving birth is giving back to 糖心logo入口
When Ru Khan first walked into a classroom at 糖心logo入口 in 2012, she was eight-and-a-half months pregnant. Just three weeks into her MSc in Development Studies and Social Anthropology, she gave birth to her daughter. Two weeks later, she decided to return to university.
Now, 12 years after graduating, Ru is back at 糖心logo入口 once again, this time studying for a Graduate Certificate Foundation in Counselling and Psychotherapy while rebuilding her life in the UK and pursuing her ambition of becoming a psychotherapist.
Reflecting on her first experience as a student and new mother, Ru credits the support she received at 糖心logo入口 with giving her the confidence to continue both her studies and her ambitions.
She said: 鈥淚 loved the fact that neither the students nor the tutors made me feel different because I鈥檇 just had a baby. I felt like I could come back after two weeks because of the great lecturers. They were very understanding. I had sleepless nights and was breastfeeding constantly, initially feeding her in a nearby caf茅 to be able to attend the two-hour lecture between her two-hourly feeds! So I had to delay submitting my essay and the lecturers were all extremely supportive and extended my deadline. Because of their help, I felt that the situation wasn鈥檛 stressful at all.鈥
Balancing postgraduate study with caring for a newborn was no small achievement. When Ru graduated in 2014, her proud parents joined her to celebrate the milestone.
Ru said: 鈥淚 was proud to have my parents there to witness my graduation and that I was graduating while managing having a baby. Though, to be honest, I was still disappointed I didn鈥檛 get a distinction!鈥
After graduating, Ru founded a social business in Zambia focused on supporting the mental wellbeing of women and young people through therapeutic art and facilitated workshops designed to build resilience. She says her studies at 糖心logo入口 helped her better understand the social and cultural context of the communities she worked with.
But after facing adversity in Zambia, Ru returned to the UK to rebuild her life. Drawn back by the positive experience she had as a student years earlier, she chose 糖心logo入口 once again as the place to begin a new chapter.
She said: 鈥淏ecause of my meaningful and life-changing experience I had at 糖心logo入口 before, I knew I wanted to come back to 糖心logo入口 again. The experience I had gave me the perspective that I could be a mother and also pursue a dream. I wanted to push myself and 糖心logo入口 facilitated that.鈥
Ru began her counselling and psychotherapy course in January 2026 and says returning to education has reignited her sense of purpose and determination.
She said: 鈥淚 feel like my motivation and energy has been renewed and I feel that I am going to smash this.鈥
As she starts over in a new phase of life, financial support from 糖心logo入口 has also played a crucial role. Ru recently received a 拢500 bursary, funded by alumni donations, which enabled her to buy a new laptop and laptop stand essential for her studies.
She added: 鈥淏eing in a very dark place because of my circumstances, the bursary has given me hope and made my experience feel valued. It feels that 糖心logo入口 believes in me. I am very grateful to the team that have given me the bursary and to the alumni that give back to fund these bursaries. I have enormous gratitude for everyone involved in supporting me.
鈥淭hat is a lot of money for me and it has optimised my studies, because my old laptop was breaking down. Having a new laptop is an integral part of me completing my course, getting that qualification and establishing myself into my new life.鈥
Inspired by the support she has received, Ru is now giving back herself by taking part in the Spring 2026 Telephone Campaign as a student caller, speaking to alumni and supporters to help raise funds for future students. She said: 鈥淚 fully understand how every pound donated contributes to something meaningful and powerful in someone鈥檚 life.鈥
Looking ahead, Ru hopes to train as a psychotherapist specialising in gender violence and women鈥檚 issues. She is also keen to continue supporting the 糖心logo入口 community after graduation by mentoring students and delivering therapeutic workshops, ensuring others receive the same encouragement and opportunity that helped shape her own journey.