Boztepe went to Hong Kong for graduate education and pioneered the establishment of the Turkish Student Association

Sultan Boztepe, a 2024 graduate of the Department of Political Science and International Relations at Üsküdar University Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, achieved a significant international success through her master’s education in Hong Kong. While completing her master’s degree at Hong Kong Chu Hai College within the scope of the “Social Sciences in International Relations for Belt and Road Countries” program, Boztepe also pioneered the establishment of the Hong Kong Turkish Student Association, which brings together Turkish students in Hong Kong.

Boztepe, who graduated from Üsküdar University with an English-medium education, also pursued a Double Major Program in the Department of Sociology during her undergraduate studies.

Deciding to take her academic journey to the international arena, Boztepe stated that the process developed unexpectedly and very quickly, adding: “I thought my visa would not be approved. I was not psychologically prepared. My visa was issued on the 9th, and on the 13th I was in Hong Kong. It was a very sudden process.” Boztepe also emphasized that the support provided by Üsküdar University was decisive in this journey.

“Being in Asia was very instructive for a political science student”

Stating that she pursued her master’s degree in Hong Kong under a state-supported Belt and Road Initiative scholarship, Boztepe noted that studying in Asia fundamentally changed her perspective. She said, “Going to Asia instead of Europe was very challenging for me, but as a political science student, seeing a different system on site was incredibly instructive.”

Boztepe stated that her greatest motivation during this process was the support of her professors at Üsküdar University.

She promoted Turkish culture in Hong Kong

During her education in Hong Kong, Boztepe did not limit herself to academic studies alone.

In cooperation with the Consulate General of Türkiye and the university administration, she also organized events aimed at promoting Turkish culture. Sharing her experiences, Boztepe said:

“We organized a Turkish Culture Day. Turkish flags, brochures in Chinese. Our consulate provided tremendous support both financially and morally. The university administration was also very pleased with this interest.”

Boztepe added that these events increased interest in Türkiye.

The Hong Kong Turkish Student Association was established

Boztepe stated that despite the increasing number of Turkish students in Hong Kong, there had been no structure bringing them together, and that this need was met with the establishment of the Hong Kong Turkish Student Association. She said, “As of 2025, the number of Turkish students in Hong Kong has reached its highest level in recent years. There was no structure here to keep us together. The idea of ‘let’s come together and establish an association’ was born this way.”

Emphasizing that the main aim of the association is to make Türkiye and Turkish culture more visible in Hong Kong, Boztepe stated that the organization would operate as a consulate-supported and student-based structure.

“Loneliness abroad makes a person mature greatly”

Drawing attention to the fact that life in Hong Kong is mentally quite challenging, Boztepe said that this process gave her great self-confidence.

She added that moments of deep loneliness, and times when even reaching one’s family is difficult due to the time difference, mature a person tremendously.

“We are now entering the Chinese century”

Speaking about her future goals, Boztepe said that she wants to work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, specialize in China, and advance in academia. She stated, “We are now entering the Chinese century. We need to understand China. There are very few people working in this field, and I want to fill this gap.”

“I returned with the feeling that I can do anything”

Addressing young women in particular, Boztepe emphasized that studying abroad greatly increases self-confidence. She said, “I was very scared when I left, but now I returned with the feeling that ‘I can do anything.’ I want more female students to go abroad, improve themselves, and contribute to their country.”

She thanked her academics

Sultan Boztepe thanked Prof. Havva Kök Arslan, a faculty member of the Department of Political Science and International Relations (English), and Instructor Güler Kalay, Deputy Director of the Center for Political Psychology, for their support during this process. She stated that the academic and institutional support provided by her university played a decisive role at this important turning point in her life.