Pomôžme Zune na ceste za vzdelaním na St Andrews

Prijatie na University of St Andrews pre mňa znamenalo oveľa viac než len ďalší krok v štúdiu. Bola to druhá šanca splniť si sen, ktorý som pred niekoľkými rokmi musela odložiť bokom. O to viac si vážim, že univerzita ocenila moje doterajšie štúdium udelením Global Merit Award vo výške 5 000 £. Vnímam ju ako prejav dôvery a potvrdenie, že úsilie, ktoré som štúdiu venovala počas posledných rokov, malo zmysel.

Napriek tomu však zostáva štúdium finančne veľmi náročné. Priznám sa, že vytvoriť crowdfundingovú kampaň pre mňa nebolo jednoduché rozhodnutie. Vždy som mala pocit, že za svoje vzdelanie by som mala niesť zodpovednosť predovšetkým ja sama. Aj preto som sa najskôr snažila využiť všetky iné možnosti, ktoré som mala.

Časť školného som už uhradila z vlastných zdrojov, univerzita mi poskytla štipendium a moja rodina mi pomohla podľa svojich možností. Počas štúdia budem svoje životné náklady financovať sama a ak to štúdium dovolí, plánujem popri škole pracovať. Ak sa však nepodarí získať celú potrebnú sumu, som pripravená zvyšok pokryť študentskou pôžičkou.

Táto kampaň preto nie je prosbou, aby niekto zaplatil moje štúdium namiesto mňa. Je to spôsob, ako znížiť pôžičku, ktorú si budem musieť vziať, a umožniť mi naplno sa sústrediť na štúdium a príležitosti, ktoré mi St Andrews ponúka.

Na Slovensku často obdivujeme kvalitné univerzity v zahraničí a spôsoby, akými vzdelávajú svojich študentov. Ak však chceme, aby sa naše školstvo aj iné oblasti posúvali dopredu, niekto musí tieto skúsenosti priniesť späť. Práve v tom vidím svoju budúcnosť. Mojím cieľom je po skončení štúdia vrátiť sa na Slovensko a venovať sa vzdelávaniu, výskumu a popularizácii filozofie a kritického myslenia. Ak sa rozhodnete podporiť túto kampaň, nebudete podporovať len moje štúdium. Stanete sa súčasťou príbehu, ktorý sa, dúfam, raz vráti späť na Slovensko.

Transparentne o financiách

Ak ste sa dostali až sem, pravdepodobne vás zaujíma, ako presne plánujem celé štúdium financovať. Verím, že pri crowdfundingovej kampani je transparentnosť mimoriadne dôležitá, preto by som sa rada podelila o svoj finančný plán.

Čo je už zabezpečené?

✅ 4 000 £ (4 684 €) – záloha na školné uhradená z mojich vlastných zdrojov a s pomocou mojej rodiny

✅ 5 000 £ (5 855 €) – Global Merit Award od University of St Andrews

✅ Životné náklady – počas štúdia ich budem financovať sama

To znamená, že ešte pred spustením kampane sa podarilo zabezpečiť viac než tretinu školného. Crowdfunding preto nepredstavuje začiatok môjho finančného plánu, ale jeho ďalší krok.

Čo ešte zostáva?

Zostávajúce náklady predstavujú 19 914 £ (23 215 €).

Táto suma zahŕňa:

➡️ Školné za 1. semester – 6 068 £ (7 107 €)

➡️ Školné za 2. semester – 7 585 £ (8 884 €)

➡️ Záverečnú časť školného – 4 571 £ (5 362 €)

➡️ Víza a povinné administratívne poplatky – 1 590 £ (1 662 €)

Ak sa nepodarí získať celú cieľovú sumu, rozdiel pokryjem prostredníctvom študentskej pôžičky. Každé euro, ktoré sa podarí získať, preto znamená nižšiu pôžičku a menšiu finančnú záťaž po skončení štúdia.

Naopak, ak sa podarí dosiahnuť jednotlivé „míľniky“ kampane, budú postupne pokryté náklady na prvý semester, druhý semester, záverečnú časť školného a napokon vízové a administratívne poplatky.

Počas celej kampane budem pravidelne zverejňovať aktualizácie o jej priebehu, o získanej sume aj o tom, ako sa mi darí napĺňať tento plán. Verím, že otvorenosť a dôvera sú pri takejto kampani rovnako dôležité ako samotná finančná pomoc.

Ďakujem, že ste si našli čas prečítať si môj príbeh. Či už sa rozhodnete prispieť, zdieľať túto kampaň alebo mi len držať palce, veľmi si vážim každú formu podpory. Verím, že raz budem môcť skúsenosti, ktoré vďaka Vašej pomoci získam, priniesť späť na Slovensko a odovzdávať ich ďalším.

Hi!

My name is Zuna and if you're reading these lines, you're probably wondering who is behind this request for support to study at the University of St Andrews. Before I get to the campaign itself, I'd like to share a bit of my story with you.

A few years ago, I left Slovakia to study Philosophy and Literature in the United Kingdom. It was one of the biggest decisions I had ever made – it meant leaving behind everything familiar and starting over in a new environment. But I have never regretted my decision for a single moment.

During my years at the University of Warwick, I met many inspiring people, attended countless lectures and seminars, and worked on my own research projects. At the heart of my interests have always been questions about how we think about the world, how our values are formed, and what role do the stories we tell ourselves play in that process. That is how I winded up somewhere between philosophy and literature.

Alongside my studies, I also tried to stay connected to the Slovak community. I led the Czech and Slovak Society at my university and collaborated on projects dedicated to making philosophy and education more accessible to wider audiences. Through these experiences, I came to realise that education is most valuable when we are able to share it with others.

Studying abroad has given me far more than knowledge alone. It taught me independence, exposed me to different perspectives in education, and allowed me to experience an environment where students are expected not only to listen but to ask their own questions and seek their own conclusions.

Over time, I realized that I wanted to continue my studies further. Not just for another degree title as such, but because I genuinely enjoy academic work and feel that this is a path on which I still have much to learn and grow. In the future, I would like to return to Slovakia and devote myself to education and projects that help make philosophy more accessible to the wider public.

The University of St Andrews is not a new name to me. Years ago, when I first applied to universities in the UK, it was my first choice. Although I was accepted, I could not afford to study in Scotland at the time, and so I began my studies at Warwick instead. Now, however, I have been given a second chance — an offer to join a one-year Master's programme in Philosophy at St Andrews.

And that is where the story of this campaign begins.

When opportunity is not enough

Being accepted to the University of St Andrews meant far more to me than simply taking the next step in my education. It was a second chance to pursue a dream that I had been forced to set aside several years ago. That is why I am especially grateful that the university recognised my academic achievements by awarding me the £5,000 Global Merit Award. I see it as a sign of trust and a confirmation that the effort I have devoted to my studies over the past few years has been worthwhile.

Even so, studying at St Andrews remains a significant financial challenge. I admit that creating a crowdfunding campaign was not an easy decision for me. I have always believed that I should take primary responsibility for my own education. For that reason, I first tried to make use of every other option available to me.

I have already paid part of the tuition fees from my own savings, the university has provided me with a scholarship, and my family has supported me as much as they can. During my studies, I will cover my own living expenses and, if my academic commitments allow, I plan to work alongside my degree. If I am unable to raise the full amount needed, I am prepared to finance the remainder through a student loan.

This campaign is therefore not a request for someone else to pay for my education. Rather, it is a way to reduce the size of the loan I will need to take on and to allow me to focus fully on my studies and the opportunities that St Andrews offers.

In Slovakia, we often admire the world's leading universities and the ways in which they educate their students. But if we want our own educational and academic environment to continue improving, someone must bring those experiences back home. That is where I see my future. My goal is to return to Slovakia after completing my studies and devote myself to education, research, and the promotion of philosophy and critical thinking.

If you choose to support this campaign, you will not only be supporting my studies. You will become part of a story that I hope will one day find its way back to Slovakia.

Finances Transparently

If you've made it this far, you're probably wondering how exactly I plan to finance my studies. I believe that transparency is especially important in a crowdfunding campaign, so I would like to share my financial plan with you.

What Is Already Covered?

✅ £4,000 (€4,684) – tuition deposit paid from my own savings and with the support of my family

✅ £5,000 (€5,855) – Global Merit Award from the University of St Andrews

✅ Living expenses – I will cover these myself throughout my studies

This means that more than one-third of the tuition fees had already been secured before the campaign even began. Crowdfunding is therefore not the beginning of my financial plan, but rather the next step in it.

What Still Needs to Be Covered?

The remaining costs amount to £19,914 (€23,215).

This includes:

➡️ Tuition fee for the first semester – £6,068 (€7,107)

➡️ Tuition fee for the second semester – £7,585 (€8,884)

➡️ Final tuition payment – £4,571 (€5,362)

➡️ Visa and mandatory administrative fees – £1,590 (€1,662)

If I am unable to raise the full target amount, I will cover the difference through a student loan. Every euro raised therefore means a smaller loan and a more manageable financial burden after graduation.

Conversely, as the campaign reaches its individual milestones, the funds will gradually cover the first semester tuition, the second semester tuition, the final tuition payment, and finally the visa and administrative costs.

Throughout the campaign, I will regularly share updates on its progress, the amount raised, and how this financial plan is developing. I believe that openness and trust are just as important in a campaign like this as the financial support itself.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Whether you choose to contribute, share this campaign, or simply keep your fingers crossed for me, I deeply appreciate every form of support. I hope that one day I will be able to bring the knowledge and experience I gain thanks to your help back to Slovakia and pass them on to others.