Ihor Pylaiev graduated in the summer with a first-class degree in Mathematics and has now joined Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for postgraduate study.
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Two-time International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) gold medallist, Ihor is one of three Ukrainian students who joined the College in October 2022, and it all began thanks to an email sent by compatriot Sviatoslav Denyskov.
When Russia invaded the Ukraine in February 2022, Sviatoslav realised that education prospects would be severely disrupted and he emailed top universities worldwide to ask to be considered for a place.
Only two institutions responded - and one of them was Christ’s.
Dr Emily Tomlinson, Director of Admissions said:
“When I heard about these outstanding students, I realised that the war had stopped them applying via the usual route in October.
It was only protocol and convention which prevented us being able to consider their application, so we found a way to bring them to Cambridge.”
With the support of the then Senior Tutor, Dr Robert Hunt, four students came to the UK with sponsors - found at Christ’s - via Homes for Ukraine scheme with fees covered by the Ukraine Science and Maths Achievement Fund.
Ihor said of his time at Christ’s:
“My studying here became only possible thanks to Dr Emily Tomlinson, who offered great support for Ukrainian students during these hard years. And I'm truly grateful to her and to my college for this opportunity.
This changed my life completely, and now I can say with certainty that it was in a good way. In fact, Christ's College became for me a second home over the last three years.”
All the students were Olympiad medallists. Three who were aged 17 at the time – Ihor, Sviatoslav (twice IMO silver medallist), and Anton Havryliuk (IMO bronze medallist) - joined Christ’s. Vadym Hassieiev (IMO bronze medallist) joined Lucy Cavendish College.
Sviatoslav and Anton graduated last year in Computer Science and Mathematics respectively. Sviatoslav is completing a Master’s at Edinburgh University and Anton works for a start-up based in London and Latvia.
The College has since made a strategic commitment to support students affected by war and humanitarian crisis and at least one student from Ukraine has joined Christ’s College each year since 2022. Three Ukrainian students started their studies at Christ’s last week – again two in Mathematics, one in Computer Science.
Banner Image: Students at the Mathematical Olympiad in 2022. Ihor (3rd from left) achieved a perfect score © University of Cambridge