My background

Hello! My name is Khanshaiym, and I am from Aktau, Kazakhstan, a city on the Caspian Sea coast. I studied at Nazarbayev Intellectual School. Through a competitive examination process, I was awarded the Orken Grant, which provided me with a full scholarship to pursue my education there.

Why study abroad?

I have never thought about studying abroad — or even going anywhere far from home. But that completely changed when I entered NIS. Its environment and high-quality education inspired me to strive for more. A big influence was also our seniors — many of them had offers from universities in Europe, the US, and Asia. They were really open to sharing their experiences and advice, and seeing them succeed made studying abroad feel more real and achievable.

At school, I noticed that more and more of my peers were also setting goals to apply overseas. Some were doing summer research programs, others were joining international competitions, and we all started sharing resources and motivation. I saw how studying abroad not only pulls you out of your comfort zone and broadens your horizons, but also gives you a unique chance to see yourself from a different angle, unlock your potential, and engage with a diverse community.

My sister has been my biggest supporter in this journey. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Kazakhstan and was also applying for a master’s program abroad. We had constant meetings discussing universities, building college lists, sharing tips to improve applications, and more. Eventually, we both received offers from our top universities, and now she’s studying at Columbia University.

Why Hong Kong?

To be honest, I haven’t really considered applying to universities based on the country — I focused more on the university itself. Nevertheless, Hong Kong stood out to me. It has a rapidly growing infrastructure, offers countless opportunities for students, and is considered one of the most modern cities in Asia. As someone passionate about architecture, I was fascinated by the city’s skyline — some of the most innovative, bold, and futuristic buildings in the world are there. Drawn to its vibrant lifestyle, I was also curious to learn from the people there — how they managed to build a city filled with skyscrapers I had only imagined before.

Another thing that appealed to me was the climate. It’s quite similar to my hometown, which made me feel more comfortable. I’m not the person who can easily survive in cold or harsh conditions, so the subtropical climate, green hills, and access to the sea felt familiar. Aside from Hong Kong, I also considered universities in Europe.

Why HKU?

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t look at university recognition and Reddit reviews. I researched each university from the inside out, scrolling through their websites, social media pages, and talking to people who study there (especially those from my home country). Then I decided, “It is HKU.”

It wasn’t about one particular feature, but the system as a whole.

It offered exactly the balance I was looking for: a solid academic foundation, hands-on design work, international experience, and a welcoming student environment.

One of the moments that really convinced me of my choice was during my application interview. I was nervous about introducing myself, but the professor and studio coordinator were kind, patient, and genuinely interested in my story. They invited me to ask them anything I was curious about, which confused me at first. I noticed that they took their time, asking thoughtful questions about my passion for architecture and carefully reviewing the details of my application. This interaction showed me that HKU values students as individuals and that the faculty is truly supportive.

Academically, the BAAS program focuses on design studios, history, and building technology — all areas that match my interests. HKU also provides access to research opportunities with experienced faculty, especially in areas such as urban development and historic preservation, which I had already explored in my coursework. I am also glad that they have extensive experience in collaborating with universities from all over the world, which opens the door to a global perspective for my growth.

Academics aside, it appealed to me that student life at HKU is not just about studying. Students participate in trips, cultural events, clubs, exhibitions, and group studio projects. Even hall life has its own culture, making learning more dynamic. I think being surrounded by a creative, diverse, and international student community in a city like Hong Kong makes HKU the ideal place to study my major and understand how it works in the real world.

My stats and extracurricular activities

Stats

• GPA 5.0/5.0

• IELTS 7.0

Activities

I attended graphics classes, which introduced me to technical drawing, axonometric plans, AutoCAD, and rendering 3D models. I also became interested in drawing plaster portraits, capitals from different angles, and composing figures. All that knowledge helped me build my portfolio. My role as a designer on our school’s Automated Monitoring System (AMS) project allowed me to work with experienced people and challenge myself, eventually earning a patent. While the team handled backend development, I used AutoCAD to create a 3D model of the device.

I have always loved participating in art contests since childhood. The one I included in my portfolio was in 2023, when I won first place in the “Future of My Country” competition among 21 Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools for envisioning Aktau as an underwater city beneath the Caspian Sea.

Internationally, I became one of the finalists in the “International Competition for Young Artists of the Turkic World” in 2024. In this sphere, I organized art masterclasses during our school’s festivals and at local art centers for free. It was a great joy to see children create colorful paintings that brought happiness to them and their parents.

My coursework, “How Does the Restoration of Historical Buildings in Kazakhstan Affect Sustainable Urban Development?” made me think critically about how architecture shapes society and earned me an A grade on the national examination.

Mentioning achievements in writing, I received 2nd place in a republican essay contest, “Discover Kazakhstan,” which inspired me to write more creative works — maybe one day I’ll show them to the world (hehe).

For over three years, I was actively involved in the MUNNISA club at my school, progressing through various roles. I served as an Officer, an Advocate (delegate of ICJ), President of the International Court of Justice, and finally as USG of the Press Department. I had the privilege of being awarded the Best Researcher Award at my first conference, where I met passionate participants from different countries. As the President of the ICJ, I led the debate process between the two sides, teaching the new format to advocates, judges, and witnesses. Along the way, I wrote several articles for upcoming conferences, created YouTube videos introducing the ICJ, conducted interviews with the UN Country Coordinator, and met with a WHO representative and a renowned law professor. Our team organized many events at school and outside of it, promoting global citizenship.

I volunteered a lot in my free time. One of the most memorable experiences was being a volunteer teacher in the “Inclusive Academy” project for four months, where I taught math to a special child with autism. This experience bonded us like siblings and made me rethink our educational system.

Then, taking part in Technovation Girls, our group came up with the idea for an app called UnYm, designed to aid the hard-of-hearing in daily life and education. Although we didn’t make it to the final, it encouraged me to enhance my skills. By attending Code Girl Summer, I learned more about frontend development. At the end of the program, our team took 2nd place in a hackathon, which showed my progress.

Another major experience was volunteering with UNESCO for half a year. Since our city does not have a local office, I contributed remotely — completing computer-based tasks like creating presentations, designing certificates, and sending out event invitations and emails to representatives. Even though I wasn’t physically present, I felt like part of a big family.

Although I was active, I prioritized my studies, maintaining the highest GPA throughout high school, taking part in math olympiads, and completing tasks before deadlines.

My college essay

Unlike U.S. universities, HKU requires a more academic personal statement. However, I still began mine with a small story about how the world led me to architecture. I wrote about the feeling of “home,” which, to me, is a space that invites people to return — to feel at home and find peace in a hectic world. I think that short introduction caught the attention of the admissions office. Along with my essay, I included a picture on the final page of my portfolio showing the place I wrote about. In my opinion, that made a big difference — during the interview, they specifically asked about that image.

Application process

I think the whole process took my entire high school years. I wouldn’t say that I had a well-structured application plan or a clear strategy. For me, the priority was to take the IELTS first. I scored a 7.0, which isn’t highly competitive but enough to meet the requirements. So, I shifted my focus to strengthening my portfolio and extracurriculars.

Honestly, most of the time I was just going with the flow, grabbing every opportunity that came my way. But not all of them were valuable — I was wasting time. So I began looking for activities that would help me grow as a strong individual, connect with my intended major, and push me to explore something new.

The hardest part was the essay. I had no idea what I should write to stand out. But I decided to trust the process and explore myself. Every day brought a new note. New insight. A walk. Khrushchev-era buildings. Trees from the rooftop… Wait, what? And you know, that’s how I got bombarded with inspiration. Kind of funny — but it worked:)

Helpful resources

Internet and my advisors. Trust me, you won’t find more detailed information about a university than on its official website. I just took my time “living” on https://admissions.hku.hk/. Even though I didn’t have an agency or mentor, my sister and best friend were always in touch. I could ask them the most stupid questions, and they never hesitated to give me clear instructions.

When it came to essay drafts, I listened to their thoughts — another person can see things differently, and it helped me understand whether I had conveyed my point. Thank you, Kami and sis Darina!

For my university aptitude tests (I had two of them), I referred to YouTube videos from accepted students who kindly shared their experiences and, of course, Reddit (my number one friend). https://www.collegeessayguy.com/ is one of the most well-known resources for guidance on writing college essays. Recommendation letters from my subject teachers also strengthened my application by providing critical insights into my academic performance.

Full-tuition scholarship

As a result of admission, I was offered a full-tuition scholarship. It doesn’t require a separate application as all eligible applicants are automatically considered by the Admissions Office.

I am incredibly grateful to share my experience at Borderless. My ultimate advice is to stay confident in every step. There may be applicants with extraordinary profiles, but yours might be exactly what they are looking for. Feel free to reach out if I can help in any way.

• Instagram: @hansh._.aiym

• Telegram: hanshi