Yurii Sytnichenko

Why did you choose the University of Westminster?

I first came to the University of Westminster through the international pathway at Kaplan, but it was the course itself that made me decide to stay when I had other options available. The Computer Science BSc stood out because the final-year project is a genuine practical project rather than just a written report. My own project was developed as a real partnership with IBM, which gave me valuable experience of working on an industry-focused solution.

The university’s location in London was also a major factor in my decision. Being based in such a diverse and innovative city means that many of the companies I would like to work for in the future are easily accessible, providing opportunities for networking, internships, and career development that not every university can offer.

How has your experience been studying in London?

My experience studying in London has been intense, but in the best possible way. I moved here in 2023 without knowing many people, and a few years later I have a course I genuinely care about, a project I am proud of, and a close group of friends who have supported me through everything, including the most stressful deadline periods.

London has also been an inspiring place to study Computer Science. There are always opportunities to learn beyond the classroom, whether through tech meetups, industry events, or talks happening across the city. 

It has not always been easy being away from my family, but creating a life, building meaningful connections, and working towards my goals here has made the experience incredibly worthwhile.

Tell us about your course and what have you particularly enjoyed?

What I have enjoyed most about the course is the opportunity to choose modules that align with my interests and the areas of Computer Science I am most passionate about. The flexibility allowed me to explore topics that genuinely motivated me and helped shape my career aspirations.

One module that had a particular impact on me was Applied AI, where Dr Bonmati Coll encouraged us to think beyond simply achieving high accuracy and consider whether an AI system is reliable, responsible, and effective in real-world situations. That way of thinking influenced how I approached and developed my final-year project.

I also particularly enjoyed the practical, hands-on modules. My Robotics Principles project, supervised by Dr Dimitris Dracopoulos, who is also my course tutor, achieved a mark of 98%. This experience reinforced that I thrive when applying theory to solve practical problems and develop solutions with real-world relevance.

How have you found academic support as part of your studies?

I have found the academic support throughout my studies to be genuinely valuable, direct, and constructive. I really appreciated having lecturers and supervisors who provided honest feedback and encouraged me to challenge my own thinking.

My final-year supervisor, Martin Giles, consistently provided detailed guidance throughout the year. He encouraged me not to accept vague assumptions and pushed me to support every decision with clear evidence and measurable results. His feedback helped me strengthen my project at every stage, and I was proud to achieve an overall mark of 85%.

Similarly, in Applied AI, Dr Bonmati Coll’s feedback on my coursework encouraged me to think more critically about the reliability and real-world impact of AI systems, rather than focusing only on achieving high accuracy scores. This approach helped me develop a deeper understanding of the subject, and I achieved 87% in the module.

Are there any stand-out facilities associated with your course?

What helped me most day to day wasn't one specific piece of kit, it was having lab access and a quiet space to run my project and test things properly, instead of just working off a laptop at home.

How has Zone29 - our home of careers and enterprise - helped you with your career journey?

I've mostly used CareerZone to check job listings and events while finishing my final year. It's good to know there's a proper space for career support.

Tell us about any activities that you have undertaken outside of your course

Outside the course, swimming is the big one. I was a Ukraine champion in swimming before I moved to the UK and I've kept training since. I use the free gym at Regent Street for strength work and I've also trained at the Harrow campus gym. I also made some really good friends on the course, the kind you travel with, not just see in lectures. We've been to a few other cities in the UK together and that's been one of the best parts of being at Westminster. 

Alongside my studies I worked part time as a C++ developer, building mobile apps. That let me put what I was learning on the course to use outside it too.

What would your advice be to someone considering studying at Westminster?

My advice would be not to underestimate the value of the earlier stages of your degree. It can be easy to think that the most important learning happens in the final year, but some of the most valuable experiences come from the modules that prepare you for real-world work.

For me, the Level 5 Software Development Group Project was a particularly important part of my course. Working with other people’s code, managing different ideas, communicating effectively, and resolving disagreements taught me skills that were just as valuable as the technical knowledge I gained in my final-year individual project.

When choosing a course, I would encourage prospective students to look beyond the modules themselves and consider whether the programme provides genuine opportunities to work collaboratively as well as independently. In the workplace, you need both the ability to deliver your own work and the skills to contribute effectively as part of a team.

What's the best aspect of being a University of Westminster student?

One of the best aspects of being a University of Westminster student has been the flexibility to explore different areas of Computer Science through the optional modules. They genuinely felt like opportunities to broaden my knowledge rather than simply additional requirements.

Modules such as Usability Testing and Evaluation and Mobile Application Development were not directly related to my main interests in AI and security, but I chose to study them because they offered a different perspective. They helped me understand the importance of designing software around real users and practical experiences, not just focusing on whether a system technically works or passes a test.

What’s the most surprising or unexpected aspect of your Westminster experience?

The most surprising thing was how much I ended up enjoying Client-Server Architectures. I started the course expecting AI and security to be the modules where I would perform best. Instead, Client-Server Architectures a module I initially saw as more of a box-ticking requirement, became one of my strongest subjects, where I achieved my highest mark of 97%. It showed me that I enjoy networking and systems-level thinking much more than I had expected, and it changed how I see my own interests within computer science.

Is there anything else you would like to share about your time at Westminster?

I didn’t leave Ukraine because I wanted to. The war made that decision for me, and I found myself continuing my studies in a different country rather than finishing them at home. Westminster is where that journey brought me.

Completing my degree here, with the best results I have ever achieved, means something different to me because of everything that happened along the way. Finishing this course feels much more than just completing a degree, it represents resilience, adaptation, and the opportunity to continue moving forward despite circumstances I never expected.