Following in the footsteps of his grandfather and dad, but in South Korea

Family shapes who we are — whether we like it or not.

For Doniyor Khudoyarov, who hails from Tajikistan, that influence ran deep, and it’s something he’ll always be grateful for. It’s because of family that choosing to pursue a chemical engineering degree felt like the most natural decision in the world for him.

“It runs in my family,” he says. “My grandfather was a math and chemistry teacher for almost 55 years. My dad shared the same love for those subjects, even though he wasn’t a teacher. He even joined Olympiads during his school years.”

Inspired by both, Khudoyarov followed their path.

In middle school, his grandfather introduced him to chemistry and mathematics. By high school, Khudoyarov was diving deep into STEM — focusing on chemistry, physics, engineering, and math.

“Chemistry became my main subject, and I excelled at it,” he recalls. “I started preparing for the Olympiad, both nationally and internationally.”

His hard work paid off — he brought home second and third place at the national level.

Khudoyarov also holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering and Business Management from Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology. Source: Doniyor Khudoyarov

Why he moved to South Korea to study

When university applications came around, Khudoyarov decided to look beyond his home country. This time, it was his high school seniors who lit the spark.

“I had seniors who joined Olympiads and ended up at great universities abroad,” he explains. “So I set one clear goal — to earn a fully funded degree overseas.”

He sent applications to universities across South Korea, Hong Kong, Russia, the US, and several European countries, even a few in Tajikistan. But deep down, he knew studying abroad, like his mentors, was the right move.

Soon, all his effort paid off.

Khudoyarov with his classmates during his time at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology. Source: Doniyor Khudoyarov

Khudoyarov was accepted by four universities, each offering scholarships — though only one came with a full ride: the Ulsan National Institute of Science & Technology (UNIST).

“UNIST was the best choice because it aligned with my goals,” he says. “Getting a full scholarship meant I could focus completely on my studies — but I still wanted to know more about life and education in South Korea.”

He reached out to his seniors, who, by coincidence, were already studying at UNIST.

“I asked them about their experience, and they highly recommended it,” he says.

So, in 2019, Khudoyarov packed his bags and flew to South Korea to pursue a Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering and Business Management at UNIST. After completing his undergrad, he went on to earn a Master’s in Energy and Chemical Engineering.

Khudoyarov speaks six languages: English, Korean, Russian, Uzbek, Tajik, and Turkish. Source: Doniyor Khudoyarov

What you need to pursue a chemical engineering degree in South Korea

Korean. Korean. Korean. 

That’s the first piece of advice anyone will give you when studying in South Korea — especially for a chemical engineering degree.

“About 90% of international engineering students I know struggle with Korean,” Khudoyarov says. “It even gets to a point where some don’t want to stay in South Korea because of the language barrier. So, mastering Korean is essential.”

Khudoyarov is an engineer at Samsung Electro-Mechanics. Source: Doniyor Khudoyarov

Getting a Master’s degree

The engineering scene in South Korea is highly competitive — and a bachelor’s alone often isn’t enough.

“Recently, the CEOs of Samsung, Hyundai, and NVIDIA had dinner together to discuss their partnership,” Khudoyarov shares. “That conversation marked a turning point — it signals a growing demand for engineers and an even more competitive industry ahead.”

That’s why getting a master’s degree is often the key to landing opportunities in top companies.

For Khudoyarov, pursuing postgraduate studies wasn’t just about a diploma — it was about growth. His research experience during his master’s has been instrumental in his career.

Today, he’s living proof of where dedication and education can take you, now working as an engineer at Samsung Electro-Mechanics, one of South Korea’s biggest conglomerates, and showing just how far a chemical engineering degree can go.