Jamila Safarli

Hello! My name is Jamila, and I come from the Land of Fire and Wind – Azerbaijan. I’m currently entering the final year of my Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, which has always been my favorite subject, and I’m also a co-leader of FISO (the Full-time International Student Organization). Looking back, choosing UCT Prague has honestly been one of the best decisions I’ve made. It has given me so many opportunities, amazing experiences, and incredible people, and I’d love to share why I decided to come here.

Back in high school, I realized that science and research were what I wanted to do, especially chemistry. Before university, I had actually never been inside a laboratory, but somehow, I already knew it would become my favorite part of studying. When I was looking at different universities, I came across UCT Prague, and the amount of laboratory work in the curriculum immediately stood out to me. It sounded so exciting, and now I can say that I was right—it really is my favorite part of studying.

Another thing I really like is how the classes are taught. Since there aren’t huge numbers of international students, our lectures and seminars are usually in smaller classrooms, which makes everything feel more personal. You can actually hear the professors, ask questions whenever you want, and have real discussions instead of just listening for hours. The professors are always open to helping students, which makes learning much less stressful.

One thing I didn’t expect was that you can start working on your Bachelor’s thesis quite early, once you have some laboratory experience. I’ve been slowly working on mine for almost a year now, and it’s been really interesting. There are so many different research topics to choose from, so you can usually find something you genuinely enjoy.

I also have to talk about FISO because it has honestly been one of the best parts of my university experience. I’ve been a co-leader for the past year, and I’ve loved every minute of it. Our goal is to make international students feel welcome, help them settle into their new life in Prague, and create a community where everyone feels comfortable. FISO has only existed for a few years, but we've already organized so many fun events, met so many amazing people, and helped create friendships between students from all over the world.

Speaking of that, the international community at UCT is probably one of my favorite things about studying here. It isn’t huge, but that’s exactly what makes it feel like one big multicultural family. I’ve always loved learning about different cultures, so being surrounded by people from so many different countries has been such a fun experience. Thanks to FISO, it’s also really easy to meet new students. I also appreciate that even though there are fewer international students than Czech students, we always feel heard and supported, which means a lot.

As for Prague itself, I fell in love with the city from the moment I arrived. I love walking around without really having a destination, and Prague is perfect for that. No matter how many times I go out, I always find another beautiful street, another cozy cafe, or another little corner that looks like it came straight out of a movie.

The only thing that really surprised me was the weather. Coming from Azerbaijan, where I’m used to a lot more sunshine, the long cloudy days were definitely an adjustment. During my first year, I genuinely missed the sun so much—it felt like I was surviving on zero vitamin D! I’ve gotten used to it now, but I still get excited every time the sun finally decides to come out.

Overall, these past two years in Prague have honestly been some of the best years of my life. I’ve had the chance to study something I truly love, meet amazing people, make unforgettable memories, and grow so much as a person. I’m really grateful for everything UCT Prague has given me, and I’m excited to see what my final year brings.