The VUB is one of the most international universities in Belgium. More than a third of our students come from abroad. But who are they, what drives them, and how do they experience life in Brussels? In this new series, we introduce you to our international students. Today: Deniz from Turkey, a first-year Master’s student in Applied Computer Science.
“I moved to Brussels almost 18 years ago. After graduating as a mechanical engineer from Middle East Technical University in Ankara in 2000, I joined Toyota straight after completing my military service. I began my career in the purchasing department, supporting the expansion of local production. In 2007, I was given the opportunity to move to Toyota Motor Europe’s headquarters in Zaventem. I was single at the time and had few commitments, so I gladly accepted. Belgium was completely unfamiliar to me then. The cultural differences were significant, and adjusting to the Western European weather was an extra challenge — I suddenly went from ‘sun every day’ to ‘rain on many days’,” he laughs.
Extension of a passion
“During my first three years in Belgium, I continued working in purchasing, just as I had done in Turkey. After receiving a permanent contract, I had the chance to work across different departments. For the past three years, I’ve been part of the Production Engineering Innovation team. I currently oversee the digital transition of our company’s production processes, driven by the rapid evolution of digitalisation and AI. Programming has long been a personal hobby, and my current role is a natural extension of that passion. To deepen my expertise and strengthen my understanding of the scientific foundations of computer engineering, I wanted to follow a programme that was both academically strong and practically oriented. I found that at the VUB. Last year, I started an English-taught Master’s in Applied Computer Science, which fits my interests perfectly. I’m fortunate that my company supports me in pursuing this degree.”
Doing homework together
Deniz combines his studies with a full-time job at Toyota. “I’m very motivated, so it’s not a midlife crisis,” he laughs, “but it is quite demanding.” He explains that he met his wife in Belgium in 2014 and is now the father of two young daughters, aged eight and ten. “Combining parenthood with a full-time job and a Master’s means I’m living against the clock at the moment. I’m spreading the programme over three years, but I have to admit I currently have little to no free time. Fortunately, my family is incredibly understanding and supportive — we even do homework together: the children with their schoolwork and me with my Master’s courses.”
Much older
Despite the demanding schedule, Deniz has no regrets about returning to university. Still, he felt nervous before his very first class. “I’m naturally much older than most of my fellow students, so I wasn’t sure I’d feel at ease straight away,” he says. But those worries disappeared as soon as he arrived on campus. “On my first day, I saw a sign on one of the buildings that read ‘fertility comes from outside’. That message struck me immediately — you could feel the openness of the VUB everywhere. As the name Vrije Universiteit Brussel suggests, freedom and diversity are woven into the university’s identity. You see multiculturalism on every corner of campus.”
"As the name suggests, freedom and diversity are woven into the university’s identity"
He also values the relationship with the academic staff. “I get on very well with the professors, even though many of them are younger than me,” he laughs. “When I studied in Turkey years ago, the relationship between lecturers and students was much more formal. You said hello and that was the end of the conversation. Here, lecturers are approachable, supportive and genuinely interested in your progress. That makes a huge difference.”
Multicultural
Language was a bigger challenge at first, he says. “When I arrived here, I spoke Turkish, English and a bit of French. That combination wasn’t ideal for fully enjoying cultural life. I like going to the theatre, for example, and in Brussels that usually means French or Dutch.” Luckily, his multicultural family makes things easier. “My wife is from Lithuania and speaks fluent French, so she often helps me overcome language barriers. I don’t worry about my children at all. They already speak Turkish, Lithuanian, English, French and, of course, Dutch at school. They’ll be just fine,” he says with a smile.
Deniz with his family
Be brave
Deniz has clear goals for the future. “I hope to complete my Master’s successfully and put everything I’ve learned into practice at work. Right now, I already feel half Belgian. For my children, Belgium is home, so I can see myself retiring here one day. But first, I want to finish my studies.”
He hopes students — wherever they come from and whatever their age — take advantage of that openness. “If I can return to university after so many years, with a full-time job and two young children, then anyone can pursue their dreams. Don’t limit yourself. Be curious, be brave, and trust that every small step counts. You’ll be surprised by what you can achieve when you simply decide to begin.”
Kom jij studeren aan de Vrije Universiteit Brussel?
Maak je keuze uit meer dan 100 bachelor- en masteropleidingen, krijg les van wetenschappers en professoren en bouw aan je identiteit en je toekomst. Wij dagen je uit, leren je kritisch nadenken en geven je een vliegende start in je vakdomein.