From Uralsk, Kazakhstan, to Antalya, Turkey

My name is Bogdan Lukyanov. I am originally from Kazakhstan, from the city of Uralsk (West Kazakhstan region). I studied at the Gymnasium of aesthetic direction from the preparatory level through 8th grade. After that, my family moved to Turkey, where I continued my education under the A-Level system at Antalya College.

The move to Turkey affected my college application, but mostly in a good way. The move itself was part of our long-term plan — to prepare for university abroad, develop independence, adapt socially, and improve my English. It all helped me become more confident when applying to international universities.

Education in the school

When we moved to Antalya, my family and I chose Antalya College because of its Cambridge curriculum, English-speaking teachers, and international student body. At first, my English improved dramatically because all subjects were taught in English, and I was constantly surrounded by students speaking it. Later on, as more students around me were Russian-speaking, my English practice became more limited to classroom settings. A-levels helped with my university application, especially in terms of language skills. However, I found that math and physics were not as rigorous as in Kazakhstan, though I believe that’s more a matter of system differences than school quality. My teachers supported me with recommendation letters and SAT preparation. They were always open to helping me review or correct written materials when I asked.

Sport and an internship in an oil field company: extracurriculars

And about my extracurricular activities. I’m a very active person by nature. Since childhood, I’ve enjoyed running, skiing, and skating. In high school, I developed a passion for basketball and volleyball, playing on both school teams. I also run in public races with my father, who is a marathon runner. I currently run 10 km and have participated in races in Kazakhstan, Italy, Belgium, the USA, and Turkey. Lately, I’ve also taken up cycling. In addition to sports, I enjoy creating presentations, working with programs, and building small technical projects.

At one point, I told my mom I wanted to become a lawyer, like her. She was surprised, knowing that I’ve always been stronger in math and physics. She encouraged me to do an internship at her company in Kazakhstan, which works in the oil and gas field services. I spent the first week in her department and realised that the legal profession wasn’t really for me. Then, with permission from her management, I was allowed to explore the production departments — upstream operations, workshops, engineers, and drafters. That’s when I truly became interested. I completed a two-month internship, and a year later, after graduating from high school, I returned for another month. That experience confirmed my decision — I wanted to become an engineer and apply my technical strengths in a practical industry.

Preparation for the college application in the US and the UK

For the US, I spent about 6–8 months preparing. After changing my mind, I quickly shifted focus to the UK and prepared everything between January and February 2025. To meet UK application requirements, I also had to travel to Izmir to take a specific type of IELTS exam. I wrote two essays for US universities and one for the UK. In the UK essay, I discussed how I became interested in engineering and why this field is a good fit for me, particularly after my internship experience. For the resources related to my college application, I worked with an educational agency that helped me organize and structure the application process. I wouldn’t say my scores were extremely high — I prepared for IELTS and SAT for about 6–8 months, and now I realise I should have started earlier.

• IELTS – 6.0 (evenly across all modules)

• SAT – 1050

• GPA – 98%

Why did I choose Brunel University?

To begin with, I dreamed of studying in the US, especially because of my deep involvement in sports, particularly basketball. I prepared seriously — collecting recommendation letters, writing essays, researching universities. However, after visiting the US in the autumn of 2024, I began to question whether I would be comfortable living that far away from home, completely alone. I also had concerns about safety and the overall environment. After weighing everything, I decided to step away from that plan, not because I gave up, but because I realised Europe felt like a better fit. I then focused entirely on universities in the UK. I applied to six institutions and received offers from all of them. Ultimately, I chose the university that combined a strong Mechanical Engineering program with good opportunities for athletic development. It was also the university that offered the most suitable scholarship. I didn’t consider other countries for the application, aside from the UK; it was only the US. After deciding not to pursue the US option, I focused solely on the UK and applied to six universities, all of which accepted me. 

Tuition costs & scholarship

The Mechanical Engineering program I enrolled in costs £25,000 per year. I applied for financial support. Initially, I was offered a £3,000 discount, and later received a final scholarship covering 25% of my tuition for the entire duration of the course. The scholarship application included an essay and had to be submitted by June 30. I received the result this month.