Academic Background & Study Abroad Goals

My name is Bibinazik Bayramova. I am from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. I studied at two schools: School No. 42 until 7th grade, and later School No. 87, which specializes in English and teaches science subjects in English. At school, I really liked biology and physics.

I always wanted to study abroad when I was a kid, especially in Europe and the UK. I first became interested when I started learning English at the age of 10. At the time, I didn't give it much importance, but as I learned more and more, it became my favorite language. Eventually, it became the key that led me to where I am right now. I began researching different programs and universities in the UK, Europe, China, and the US. I also got into good universities in the U.S. with scholarships. However, the only things that stopped me were my parents and the fact that last summer, in 2025, our visas were canceled. Although they have been reopened now, at that time, I was not able to go. Then, my brother, who was studying in Malaysia, transferred to Dubai, which led me to search for and find British and Australian universities here.

My Standardized Test Scores

Since I was planning to study in the U.S. last year, I prepared for both the SAT and TOEFL, which I took in my hometown, Ashgabat. My SAT score was not really high; I got 1250/1600, which I didn't feel was an adequate or satisfactory score for me to apply to top universities. Later, I found out that I didn't actually need the SAT. Nevertheless, here in Dubai, it helped me get exempted from some subjects like mathematics very efficiently. As our country is not English-speaking, I had to take the TOEFL to prove my language proficiency, and I got 100/120. Then, I went on to take Duolingo as well, because sending my TOEFL scores to American universities was not an affordable option. So, my advisor suggested that I take Duolingo, and I got 140/160 on the official test.

My Extracurricular Activities & Programs

At school, we had a lot of activities, and I actively participated in most of them. One of them was a charity event in which we made food with our classmates and sold it to other students. After raising enough money, we donated it to our school's charity. Following that, I joined a one-year-long program, UCA, and conducted a lot of activities and presentations there as well. I was part of the Technovation Girls Program and reached the semi-finals with my team. Later, we became mentors for the program. We hosted events such as summer and winter camps, and as main hosts, we helped with the organization of big events in the program.

Moreover, I applied to the AFS STEM Accelerators program, which educates on sustainability through technology. After being a participant there for three months, I continued by applying to be a mentor. In spring 2025, I mentored a large cohort comprising 370 girls. In addition to that, I am very passionate about climate change topics and applied to a UNICEF program in Ashgabat last year. It was highly competitive, and only 33 people were selected.

Along with that, my interests include filmmaking and video editing. I was part of a big club that we initiated in Ashgabat, where we started filming just for fun. Then, we began finding clients and boosting our Instagram. My main roles in this group project were shooting content, editing videos, and organizing events.

Application process & tuition fees

In my application to overseas universities, I didn't hire any agents to help me in the process. Through my participation in a college preparation program funded by American Councils, I got a lot of training and experience. So when I applied to other countries, I completed the applications independently. However, I did acquire a lot of information from accounts on Instagram, such as Borderless and other admissions pages.

Unfortunately, I was a little frustrated in terms of tuition fees because the universities in other countries that I applied to offered scholarships and financial aid. Unlike them, my university offered only a 15–20% discount, which covers my health insurance as well. Also, the cost of attendance at UOWD is pretty high, starting at $15,000 a year. As an easier and more flexible option, I convert money from a Turkmen bank to pay for my tuition.

Additionally, in order to support myself financially and help with tuition, I use university resources like the career center and internship opportunities, which I really appreciate about Dubai. The officers help you apply for internships and jobs. Since the university is also very prestigious, it is even easier to find internships and jobs. I also have a part-time job as a content creator. However, right now, I am mainly focused on my studies and intend to initiate some programs myself in the future.

My university life & building friendships

My current major is International Business, although I initially wanted to study International Relations. As I couldn't find that major at my university, I had to choose from business, IT, or architecture, which were the main options offered. When I looked up the International Business major on the website, there were subjects like law and many other interdisciplinary courses. That is why I really liked the curriculum and chose it. Currently, I am taking freshman subjects like mathematics and humanities. We also learn about the United Arab Emirates itself and its history. Later on, I am going to have subjects like law, management, marketing, and economics.

In university, it is actually harder to make friends due to the fact that everyone is on their own and busy. It may be difficult to find friends and build connections, but I would suggest approaching people first. What I mean is that we need to be brave, approach them, and maybe ask for their Instagram or contacts. Furthermore, there are a lot of Central Asian and Russian students at this university, which makes it easier to find like-minded people to connect with.

After graduation, I don't have any specific plans, but I really hope to do my master's degree in either Europe or the USA. Apart from that, I am thinking of creating my own business, setting up a program like AFS, or continuing my journey of creating sustainable practices and solutions to climate change.

Final note to students who want to study abroad

For the students who want to study abroad, I would say that even if you have the slightest dream or goal of studying abroad, just believe in it and move towards it. To be honest, I was very scared too because it was just a small thought when I was younger. I just wished I could study abroad, but it was merely a dream. However, you need to take action and not be afraid to go with the flow. Eventually, it will lead you to the places you want to be. If you really want it, work hard and do your best to get there. In the end, you will find your path and place. Even though I failed and had bad experiences last year, it all worked out. You can still find your place and achieve your goals somewhere else.