BEng Motorsport Engineering, 2026, Turkey, Student
“I'm currently learning about different engineering disciplines. There are many more options than I initially expected. As a first-year student, I'm trying to make the most of my time and explore which areas I enjoy the most.”
“I studied in an international school in Turkey.”
I was doing the International Baccalaureate (IB) and some previous students visited the school to tell us about their university experiences. One student was studying Motorsport Engineering at Oxford Brookes, and he explained all about it. I wanted to do something close to mechanical engineering, but when I heard about the existence of motorsports engineering, I just knew I had to do that. It's like a dream come true for me!
“I love my course and the practical, hands-on learning.”
We have an engineering design module where we explore many engineering disciplines, such as CAD, Fluid Dynamics and Electronics, all of which are taught in practical sessions. I find this really valuable as a first-year student. You can experience multiple engineering disciplines to find out what you actually like and what you need to do to boost your skills and employability in that area. At the moment, I don’t really know exactly what I want to do. I’ve always been interested in the mechanical side, but now that I’m focusing more on design, I’m finding that really enjoyable as well.
“Oxford is a really nice city.”
It’s a small city compared to where I come from, but it's really historic and has many advantages. It's been fun trying to discover new experiences and places. There are board game cafés and stores dedicated to card and tabletop games, which are not very common in Turkey. Also, London is close and I've been there a couple of times. It's a centre for both motorsports and also things like comic books, which I have an interest in. I’ve enjoyed just wandering around and finding new shops to visit. I also went on some trips organised by the International Student Advisory Team (ISAT) at Oxford Brookes, including a trip to Cambridge, which was a good opportunity to explore places that I might not have visited otherwise.
“The International Student Advice Team (ISAT) were always there to help me.”
Adjusting to a new country and culture is harder than I thought it would be, but I was really supported and encouraged. Before coming to the UK, I had been out of Turkey only once - I went to Ireland on a school trip - so moving to the UK was my second experience overseas, and the first long-term experience out of my country.
There are some big differences, and some small differences as well, that shape life here and make it different from my life in Turkey. Even if it is the first overseas experience for someone, it's not impossible to transition; it just takes some time. In the first semester, I wasn't really adjusted yet, but now in the second semester I feel much more confident in my studies, much happier, and more settled. I have a friend group that I sometimes meet up with to study for exams, and that’s helpful. My biggest supporters in this process are my parents. We can always talk about things and then they will show me a way.