For many Black women, pursuing higher education abroad is a radical act. It’s a way to disrupt the status quo, especially for those from backgrounds where girls’ education and women’s ambitions beyond settling down and raising a family are discouraged. More generally, it challenges the historical exclusion of Black women from academic institutions and existing systemic barriers that continue to marginalise their perspectives.

While exciting, preparing to study abroad can also be stressful: from getting your affairs in order to navigating foreign bureaucracy, figuring out finances, and even worrying about the risk of experiencing racism. For Black student mothers, whether or not they decide to move with their families, the intersection of race, gender, and motherhood compounds these concerns. It also shapes their experiences throughout their education journeys. 

We spoke to three mothers about ambition, international mobility, and their experiences studying in the UK. The conversations revealed the importance of the proverbial village and choosing yourself amidst limiting societal expectations.