Aleksey Petrosov
“My participation and victory in the IELTS Prize competition are a clear example of the fact that hard work is the best assistant in achieving your goals,” Alexei Petrosov, winner of the IELTS Prize, shares with us.
Aleksey Petrosov is a second-year student at Westminster International University in Tashkent, majoring in finance. Alexey has been reading since he was a toddler. His perspectives were widened and his vocabulary was expanded through the reading. Later, in high school, he became interested in science, which prompted him to study mathematics in more depth as he sought admission to a university.
“When it was time to choose a higher education institution, I decided to try my luck at Westminster University in Tashkent. There was no limit to my happiness when I held the results of the entrance exams in my hands, confirming my admission to the university,” said Aleksey.
"I obtained 7.5 points on the IELTS test for admission to the University of Westminster. Thanks to this, I was exempted from the internal examinations in English at the university. My family and I view my education at a prestigious international university as a source of pride and a significant indicator of my efforts," he added.
Alexey’s first acquaintance with the British Council and its activities was in 2019 when he passed the IELTS test. His collaboration with the British Council started after his application for the organization’s IELTS Prize. The main selection criterion for this competition was an essay, revealing the question “Why exactly do you deserve this grant?”Applicants were required to have an IELTS certificate with at least 5.5 points.
The IELTS Prize awards £3,000 to undergraduate and graduate students, offering either full or partial financing for their education. The prize was founded by the British Council to help deserving students pursue their academic goals at English-speaking colleges and universities around the globe.
Alexey's ambition came fulfilled thanks to his participation in the IELTS Prize. His parents were able to pay his university costs thanks to the award money, and now he is obtaining an international education like his contemporaries.
"After registering for this contest, I didn't even hope to win, but just wanted to test my skills and capabilities. As a complete surprise, I saw my name on the winners' list. One thing I can say for sure is that the victory taught me to appreciate myself more, helped me recognize my abilities, and boosted my self-esteem. Despite all of the obstacles and limits, I was able to demonstrate to myself and people around me that anyone can improve their life by hard work and dedication to their education.,” - reflected Alexey.
Alexey is keen to express his “deepest gratitude” to the British Council for the opportunities afforded by the IELTS Prize. “Several years ago, I never imagined that I would be able to obtain a British education due to my family's financial position. However, this didn't discourage me, and with the assistance of my knowledge and diligence, I realized my ambition. He who seeks discovers, as the proverb says..”
“I would also like to wish good luck to all employees of the British Council as they continue to spread knowledge of the English language throughout Uzbekistan. English is the language of international communication, helping people in different parts of the world to understand each other, despite cultural and ethnic differences," - he concluded.