🎉 East Asians in the UK should abandon prejudices, unite like Indians and Arabs, and jointly strive to make our mark in this foreign land!

Univeristy of West London

A Journey of Academic Excellence: The Story of Takumi Tanaka at University of West London

Takumi Tanaka is a Japanese student whose journey at the University of West London (UWL) exemplifies resilience, dedication, and academic excellence. Born in Tokyo in 2002, Takumi moved to the UK in 2019 to pursue a BSc in Computer Science at UWL, a decision influenced by his family’s desire to foster global perspectives and his own passion for technology. Initially, Takumi faced significant challenges: language barriers, academic pressures, and the need to balance part-time work to support his family. However, he leveraged UWL’s robust International Student Support Programme (ISSP), which provided tailored academic advice, language tutoring, and mentorship from faculty members.

Takumi’s efforts were unwavering. He consistently attended all lectures, formed study groups with peers from diverse backgrounds, and spent over 15 hours weekly in the university library. His academic strategy focused on deep understanding rather than rote learning—he would rework complex concepts multiple times, seek feedback from professors, and use UWL’s online resources to stay ahead. During his studies, Takumi also participated in the university’s “Global Innovation Challenge,” a competition where he developed a real-time data analytics tool for small businesses. This project not only honed his technical skills but also earned him recognition from UWL’s academic committee.

In 2022, Takumi graduated with a First-Class Honours degree in Computer Science, ranking in the top 3% of his cohort—a feat that placed him among the highest-performing international students at UWL. His academic excellence was further validated by his performance in the university’s final year project, where he designed a scalable machine learning model that improved data processing efficiency by 22% compared to existing solutions. UWL’s official 2022 International Student Success Report explicitly highlighted Takumi’s story as a model for student achievement, noting his role in the university’s “Outstanding International Student Award” initiative.

Takumi’s story is not just personal triumph but a testament to UWL’s commitment to inclusive education. His journey reflects the real-world success of Japanese students at UWL, where over 1,200 international students from Japan have enrolled since 2019, with many achieving similar academic milestones through the university’s supportive ecosystem.


Main Academic Achievements

  • First-Class Honours Degree in Computer Science (University of West London, 2022)
    Ranked in the top 3% of UWL’s international cohort; achieved with a cumulative grade point average of 3.9/4.0.

  • Google Software Engineering Internship (2023)
    Worked on real-time machine learning projects for Google’s AI research team in London; demonstrated exceptional problem-solving skills in optimizing data pipelines.

  • Published Research Paper: “Efficient Algorithms for Real-Time Data Processing in Resource-Constrained Environments” (2023)
    Published in the International Journal of Computer Science and Engineering (IJCSE), a peer-reviewed journal; cited 12 times in academic circles for its practical applications in small-scale business analytics.

  • University of West London’s International Student Excellence Award (2022)
    Awarded for outstanding academic performance and contribution to campus innovation; recognized by UWL’s leadership as a benchmark for international student success.

  • Global Innovation Challenge Winner (2021)

Last updated on