The University of Memphis has open doors to international students of any kind, and many prospective foreign students often utilize this opportunity.
Students from countries around the globe only have to apply for a student visa to study at the University of Memphis.
Memphis has a peak population of foreign students, Clara Nunis, the assistant director for the Center for International Education Services, said.
“Our biggest concentration [of foreign students at the U of M] would be India, Saudi Arabia and China,” Nunis said. “Even the students from Bangladesh are growing.”
Some of the foreign students come to experience new culture, and the university has multiple options near them.
Rebecca Laumann, the Executive Director of CIES, said Memphis is a good place for foreign students because it allows them to learn about the United States’ southern culture.
“Students have access to many historic sites in Memphis, such as the Civil Rights Museum, Graceland and the Stax Museum,” Laumann said.
Laumann said not only do foreign students benefit from coming to Memphis, but their Memphis friends also learn about new cultures without having to travel around the world to experience them.
Some foreign students acknowledged the culture was different from what they were accustomed to, but enjoyed the new experience, nonetheless.
“I didn’t know much about other cultures,” Sandiyan Alhayali, a sophomore physical therapy major, said. “Coming to the University of Memphis has helped me learn more about many cultures, and it’s fascinating.”
Alhayali is a foreign student from Jordan, and she said it definitely took some time for her to get acclimated to the culture in the U.S.
“Sometimes it’s hard to communicate,” Alhayali said. “Most of the teachers are understanding, and they do try to help.”
Alhayali also said the environment and the people around her were what made the experience the best.
“I really like the diversity [in Memphis],” Alhayali said. “It really helps you fit in.”
Marco Riehl, a former foreign student at the U of M, studied journalism as an undergraduate, and he said the best part was studying in a new educational system and learning other people’s views and opinions.
“Classes are more interactive, and the relationship to teachers is very chilled,” Riehl said. “I never spoke to one of my German teachers with their first name.”
Riehl also enjoyed being able to take classes unrelated to his studies.
“I took a photography class, which was officially part of the journalism major,” Riehl said. “However, I didn’t have to pass it for my degree.”
Riehl found the places around Memphis are also a great way to appreciate the culture and history.
“I really enjoyed the different places to go out: Highland Strip, Overton Square and Beale Street,” Riehl said.
