Kifoyatullo

I am fromTajikistan

I study BSc Computer Science at Coventry University· United Kingdom

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Studying

BSc Computer Science in United Kingdom

Career goal

Software Engineer

Hi, I'm Kifoyatullo. I successfully completed the Foundation in Computer Science. The staff at IFG helped me with UK universities and in making the right decision when progressing to university.

Ask me about

Studying Computer Science in the UK Life as a student from Tajikistan Getting into tech The IFG Foundation experience Programming side projects Choosing my course The application process Student life Accommodation Foundation year

Kifoyatullo is a former student and verified International Foundation Group ambassador

Why Kifoyatullo chose this path

“Technology is the most powerful tool for development in countries like Tajikistan. I believe software can help solve problems in healthcare, education, and economic access - fields that are critically underfunded in Central Asia.”

What attracted me

I want to build tech that makes a real difference. That means getting the best possible education first and gaining experience in leading tech environments before returning home.

My background before

I came to IFG after finishing school in Tajikistan. I was strong in mathematics but needed a UK academic grounding. The Foundation in Computer Science was designed exactly for students like me.

How I got in

IFG was incredibly supportive throughout my application. They helped me understand the UK university system, which universities suited my goals, and gave me strong personal statement support. I was accepted into a UK Computer Science programme.

Top tips for getting accepted

Your mathematics foundation is your greatest asset. Linear algebra, calculus, and discrete mathematics will come up again and again in a CS degree - invest in them early.

Common mistakes to avoid

Treating the Foundation Year as merely a stepping stone. It's also your opportunity to build real study habits, meet people, and start personal projects. Use the time fully.

My recommendation to you

If you're passionate about technology and come from Central Asia or another under-represented region, IFG gives you a serious route into the best CS programmes in the world. Take it.

What Kifoyatullo wishes they knew

Things I wish I knew before starting

How important personal projects are from day one. Employers and universities pay as much attention to your GitHub portfolio as your grades. Start building things immediately.

What surprised me most

How much community matters in a CS degree. Hackathons, coding clubs, tech meetups - the connections made there often lead directly to opportunities and jobs.

The hardest part

The cultural and academic transition from Tajikistan to the UK. The expectations around independent thinking and proactive engagement are very different. It takes time to calibrate.

The best decision I made

Joining a hackathon in my first month. It was intimidating but pushed me to apply what I was learning in a real context - and I made connections I still rely on.

Biggest misconception people have

That a strong CS student is someone who spends all their time coding alone. The best engineers communicate clearly and collaborate effectively. Those soft skills matter enormously.

What helped me most

Building things outside lectures. Even small projects - a web app, a script, a game - teach you more than passive study ever could.

What it's actually like

A typical day

An hour of coding before 9am lectures in algorithms or software engineering. Afternoons for lab sessions and group project work - currently building a web application for my final year project. Evenings for personal projects and chess.

The reality vs. the expectation

Deeply theoretical in the first year, which surprised me. Before you build things, you need to understand why things work. The maths and theory are demanding but build a real foundation.

My favourite part

AI and machine learning modules. When you start working with real datasets and training models, the potential of the field becomes viscerally real.

Most challenging part

Keeping up with everything simultaneously. Algorithms, data structures, mathematics, software engineering, and side projects all compete for the same time. Prioritisation is everything.

Where it's taken me

Skills I've gained

Python, algorithms, data structures, machine learning fundamentals, cloud platforms, and technical communication.

How it's helped my career

I'm in my first year of my Computer Science degree. The AI modules are my favourite - every week I learn something that feels genuinely useful.

Opportunities it has opened

Tech communities in the UK, research exposure through university AI labs, and growing connections in the European tech sector.

Topics Kifoyatullo can help with

Computer Science Foundation applicationsTajikistani students applying to UK universitiesProgramming study tipsCareer paths in techStudent life on a budget in the UKComputer ScienceFoundationTechStudent LifeCampus Life

Questions students ask Kifoyatullo

Is a UK Computer Science degree respected internationally?

Very much so. UK CS degrees - especially from well-regarded universities - are recognised by employers globally, particularly in Europe, the US, and the tech sector broadly.

How did you manage financially as an international student?

It requires careful planning. I budgeted strictly, cooked most of my meals, and looked for every scholarship and bursary I could find. IFG also helped me identify financial support options.

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