Presto Sai Phyo Min Khant

Mingalapar (Hello). I am Sai Phyo Min Khant from Myanmar. You can call me “Presto”.

I’m a first-year student at the University of Leeds, majoring in BSc Environmental Science under the School of Earth and Environment. Being awarded the Undergraduate International Excellence Scholarship from the University has also been a huge source of support and encouragement.

Before coming to Leeds, I completed my Foundation Year at the University of York, during which I often visited friends on the Leeds campus — and instantly fell in love with it. To me, the campus feels like a self-contained city — with everything from cafés and green spaces with bunnies to a gym, it’s compact enough to feel personal and easy to navigate.

Beyond the impression of being a global top 100 university, I was particularly intrigued by our course’s accreditation by the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES), its responsiveness, and the option of discovery modules. To nurture my artistic side while actively improving my writing abilities—which is key for science communication—I chose a Creative Writing Course.

Other than the discovery modules, my favourite thing about the university so far is the wide range of leadership, career, and volunteering opportunities across every school. For example, there are paid roles such as Sustainability Architect, Student Ambassador, and Content Creators, among many others. With the perfect balance between academics and extracurriculars, students can take advantage of as many opportunities as they wish to explore.

Just recently, I completed a water quality report on the trip we took in the outskirts of Leeds, assessing the river’s ecological health, and I am looking forward to my favourite part of my course, which is the residential field trip to Eryri National Park in Wales. As a practical learner, these trips provide valuable hands-on experience to complement the theory from lectures, generating and analysing data from my own observations.

One side of my university experience has been filled with fieldwork, practicals, and locking in at the different libraries. However, before I arrived in Leeds, I researched the university’s website thoroughly for every available opportunity here. This side also includes me being the Course Rep for my course, where I can actively contribute to the student community, enhance the learning experience for my peers and network with the academic staff.

Another side of my university life mainly revolves around my love for travel, creativity and music. When I am not socialising with people in the city or on campus, I am likely to be on a train exploring the UK. As the trip planner, I’ve visited across highlands of Scotland, Yorkshire, Wales, and to Southern edges of England with my friends. Beyond exploration, I dedicate most time to my artistic side. I am simply in love with singing, songwriting, poetry and playing instruments.

Since I moved out of my country, I’ve lived in Thailand and Vietnam during the academic breaks, and I have been travelling across Asia, to Singapore, Laos and Malaysia. As a transit, I explored Qatar in the Middle East as well.

Each place has given me new perspectives on culture, resilience, and the environment, which I now bring into my studies.

The University of Leeds and the city truly are my second home. When I return from my travels, the familiar sight of campus buildings, the friendly faces, and the bunnies roaming around make me feel instantly safe, far away from home. As an Asian, the Asian food scene in Leeds is always buzzing, providing a wonderful connection to home.

For my first year, I am living in one of the University halls called “Charles Morris”. It is located right inside the university, near the Student Union and has access to free washing machines in the kitchen. Since I live in one of the University’s halls, my Edge gym membership is free — which is such a bonus! Whether dropping by for a quick swim or a gym session after a long study day, it helps me reset and feel human again.

I'd love to tell you more about my journey or experiences! If you have any questions about the course, the city, or just want to chat, please contact me through UniBuddy or send an email to [email protected].