Meet Anastasiia Koziak, 2023/24 Rowan Williams Scholar
Anastasiia comes from Ukraine, where she studied law at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. She is currently doing a Cambridge LLM with a focus on international law. The Rowan Williams Studentship, funded by donations, was established in 2018 by the Cambridge Trust to help students who face severe barriers in coming to study at Cambridge.
What did you do before starting your Cambridge LLM?
Before coming to Cambridge, I have completed my Bachelor of Law degree at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy in Ukraine. In parallel, I studied and completed various extra-curricular activities as an Erasmus+ exchange student at Ruhr-University Bochum in Germany. I also spent the past year working as a legal assistant with an amazing team of the international NGO United for Ukraine, managing the digital legal aid platform and providing legal support for people displaced to different countries and inside Ukraine due to the war.
What do you like most about Trinity Hall?
Trinity Hall is a charming College that nurtures the spirit of a close-knit community. I like everything about Trinity Hall: from its relatively small size that fosters closer connections among students to the picturesque architecture of its Central Site, and the beautiful tranquil environment at Wychfield Site. All the people at Trinity Hall are extremely friendly and approachable, and I very much appreciate the warm welcome I received here.
What are the things you like doing in Cambridge when there’s time to spare?
For me the first months of the Michaelmas term have been pleasantly busy with socialising and meeting new people. It was wonderful to experience some unique Cambridge traditions, such as working at the iconic Jerwood Library and at the Squire Law Library, attending gowned formal dinners, and trying rowing at the Trinity Hall Boat Club. I also became a secretary of the Cambridge University Ukrainian Society and we already started planning events for the Lent term – all are welcome to join them!
What difference has the Rowan Williams Studentship made to you?
The studentship has truly made a difference to my life as it allowed me accept the offer from Cambridge and fulfil my highest academic goals. This made me realise that the limits beyond the extent of your determination and hard work do not exist. The scholarship helped me turn the challenge of studying in times of war into an opportunity to obtain education at one of the best universities in the world. It has truly changed my life – thank you to all who have made it possible.
What do you see yourself doing in 5 years?
In five years’ time, I see myself as a qualified lawyer practicing international dispute resolution and public international law with an international law firm or an international court. I am also determined to contribute my expertise to pursuing justice and post-war reconstruction for Ukraine. The world-class education obtained at Cambridge will definitely be fundamental in my professional journey.
Interview, photograph and write-up by Oleno Netto, Alumni and Donor Relations Officer.
