Success Stories of University of Bradford Graduates

From global leaders to social impact pioneers, University of Bradford graduates are ruling over the world around us. Let’s explore where they’re now in their lives.

University of Bradford Graduates

Where are they now?

Political and civic leaders

• Mo Ibrahim, entrepreneur and African telecom magnate, studied at Bradford and later launched the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, promoting good governance across Africa.
• Rinchinnyamyn Amarjargal, former Prime Minister of Mongolia, is another alumnus who led his country after studying at Bradford.
• Kamlesh Patel, Baron Patel of Bradford, a master of social care and regulation, holds major roles including Chair of Social Work England and Chancellor of the University of Southampton as of 2024.

Peace, conflict and future leadership

• Mehrân Karimi Nasseri, the Iranian refugee who gained fame living in Paris airport, studied at Bradford before his story inspired “The Terminal Man” and a Hollywood film.
• Alumni like Sonya Bachra‑Byrne (MBA 2023) and Laura (MSc Midwifery 2011) show Bradford’s strength across health and leadership sectors.

Business, media and science

• Melih Abdulhayoglu, founder and CEO of Comodo Group, a major cybersecurity company, is a Bradford graduate.
• Crawford W. Beveridge, former EVP and chairman of Sun Microsystems, also studied here and rose to the top of tech leadership.
• Alex Brummer, a well‑known journalist and Jean‑Jacques Burnel, bassist of The Stranglers, are creative talents from Bradford’s alumni fold.
• Alumni such as Uzoma Onyema and Ali Maysara are already applying data science in global tech firms.

Academia and social innovation

• Dame Janet Finch, former Vice‑Chancellor of Keele University, represents alumni excelling in higher education leadership.
• Lord Patel of Bradford has also authored national reports and helped reform mental health and substance misuse services across the UK.

Bradford ambassadors today

• Mahendra Patel (BPharm 1980; PhD 2006) serves as a global alumni ambassador and sits on the board of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. He’s the first BAME board member and a champion for health research in the UK.
• Deepa Thomas‑Sutcliffe (MBA 2021) works in strategic communications at the Cabinet Office and hosts a social impact podcast. She regularly appears in Bradford Alumni Office features.

How is Bradford able to produce such impactful graduates?

• With a global alumni community of over 156,000 in more than 175 countries, Bradford fosters lifelong connections and career support via Bradford Connect and the Bradford Graduate Talent Programme.
• Career and Employability Services remain available up to five years post-graduation. This continuity sets Bradford apart in supporting its graduates’ career transitions.

What do these graduates gain?

• Access to unique benefits, events, and a 10–20 % discount on postgraduate tuition fees post‑graduation.
• Alumni ambassadors like Mahendra Patel actively engage with current students, enabling networking, mentoring, and career inspiration.

Your story of success can also be a part of this amazing cohort of Bradford graduates. Don’t give up on your dreams; you got this!