“I chose to study in Abu Dhabi for its safety” – NYUAD’s full scholarship winner Mukhlisa Mamatova

Eighteen-year-old Mukhlisa Mamatova is currently a first-year student at New York University’s Abu Dhabi campus. She was awarded a $340,000 scholarship to cover her education costs. In an interview with Kun.uz, Mukhlisa spoke about the academic environment and the quality of education at the university.

Mukhlisa studied up to the 11th grade at School No. 166 in Tashkent region. In 2024, she was accepted into the Interactive Media program at NYU Abu Dhabi.

"Since childhood, I’ve been passionate about drawing and crafting things by hand. The field of interactive media aligns well with my interests, so I decided to pursue my education in this area. The program I’m studying now combines computer technologies and communication tools. It involves developing mobile applications, computer programs, games, websites, and multimedia products such as animations, logos, videos, AR, and VR," she explains.

Mukhlisa received a $340,000 grant from the university, which fully covers her four-year education and living expenses.

“The scholarship covers tuition, accommodation, meals, and even the cost of two round trips to Uzbekistan each year. A specific amount is transferred to our food cards, which can only be used to buy meals. This system ensures students eat healthily and don’t spend the money on other things. Additionally, separate funding is provided for internships, exchange programs, conferences, sports competitions, and art festivals. Daily transport, textbooks, school supplies like laptops or tablets – these are all covered too,” she says.

Speaking about NYUAD’s academic system, Mukhlisa highlights the high caliber of professors and their teaching methods.

“The uiversity hires professors through a rigorous selection process. You can clearly sense their depth of knowledge even in casual conversations. They also hold ‘office hours’ outside of class, where students can meet individually to ask questions, exchange ideas, and seek advice on projects. This approach keeps students engaged and ensures they gain practical experience alongside theoretical knowledge. Many of the faculty are world-renowned scholars whose research is internationally recognized. This gives students the opportunity to explore topics deeply and think on a global level,” she notes.

According to Mukhlisa, NYUAD allows students to take a second major or a minor in addition to their primary field of study – such as combining interactive media with psychology. Students also have the flexibility to plan their own class schedules, which allows them time for research, internships, or other extracurricular activities. As part of NYU’s global network, students can also study at other campuses for a semester or two.

Discussing campus life, Mukhlisa emphasizes the strong safety measures in place, including 24/7 surveillance.

“When choosing a university, safety was my top priority. I didn’t want to study in the U.S. because I felt its social environment didn’t match my personal values. For me, social stability is essential, which is why I chose NYUAD. The campus has modern dormitories, and students live either in single or shared rooms with two to three people. Rooms are equipped with air conditioning, Wi-Fi, personal lockers, study areas, kitchens, and lounges. The university cafeterias serve food from various cuisines, so everyone can find something they like. One of the biggest advantages is that halal meals are available,” she adds.

She also points out that the university has a psychological counseling center.

“When I first arrived, I struggled to adapt during the first semester. I had never lived away from my family, so I missed my parents a lot. Living abroad taught me independence. Back home, my mom used to handle everything – from preparing breakfast to managing clothes. Now I do it all myself, which helped me learn time management. Moving abroad right after high school was a challenge. Our school didn’t have intense academic workloads, and some subjects weren’t taught properly due to a lack of teachers. At university, however, expectations are much higher, and success requires a lot of effort and dedication. Adapting to this environment wasn’t easy,” she reflects.

During the interview, Mukhlisa also shared her thoughts on challenges in Uzbekistan’s education system, such as weak competition in the job market, and offered advice for students applying to universities like NYUAD.

The full interview is available on Kun.uz’s YouTube channel.