Can You Study and Work? Real Experiences of Students
Can you study and work? Real experiences of students from the Department of Tourism at DBTU
A few decades ago, the question "to work or to study?" sounded like a choice between two incompatible things. But times have changed. Today, students can not only combine studies with work – many actually gain the most valuable experience during their studies, which then becomes the foundation of their careers. The first paid project, the first client, the first contract – often this happens while still studying, not afterward.
At the Department of Tourism at DBTU, we see this every day. We want to tell you about real people, not abstract "opportunities."
How we learn
Our university is located in the heart of Kharkiv. The educational buildings and dormitories are situated in different districts of the city, so most students can easily reach any point in Kharkiv – without long transfers across the whole city. This is a small detail that is actually important when you combine classes with work.
But the main thing is the format of learning. Currently, both day and part-time forms operate remotely. This means that a full-time student is not tied to the classroom from morning till evening. There is time, there is flexibility, there is the ability to build your own schedule. Some use this for work, some for internships, and some – to live and work in another city or country without interrupting their studies.
Real students, real stories.
Oksana: from an internship at an agency to her own business
Oksana started as a master’s student interning at the travel agency Siesta. The internship evolved into a job, and the job into an understanding of how the market works from the inside. Now Oksana is an entrepreneur: she opened her own travel agency. Her education at the department provided her with both theoretical knowledge and the first real contact with the industry.
Antonina: found her place during an internship – and stayed
Antonina also interned at Siesta. She enjoyed it there – and did not leave. Today, she works at an agency focused on European travel, selecting personalized tours. Such specialists – attentive and detail-oriented – are highly valued in tourism.
Marina: two contracts in Turkey and a master’s degree simultaneously
In her second year, Marina went for an internship in Turkey. She completed one contract, then another. She returned, entered a master’s program – and went back again. Now she continues to study while simultaneously working in the tourism sector in Turkey. The remote format made this possible.
Daniil: two years in Turkey through department partners
Daniil took advantage of our partnership with the agency "Work Dreams" and worked two seasons in Turkey during his second and third years. He returned with experience and an understanding of what he wants to do next.
Bogdan: Krakow, tourist support, and own excursions
Bogdan is currently in Krakow. He works in customer support for a travel company and in his free time, he conducts excursions for Ukrainian tourists. Two sources of income, both in tourism, both while he is still a student.
Iryna: studying in Ukraine, working from Germany
Iryna left the temporarily occupied territory for Germany. However, she did not stop studying – she continued to learn with us remotely and simultaneously worked online in a Ukrainian travel agency. Geography is no longer an obstacle.
Olexiy: tourism opened doors, and he moved into IT
Not all of our students stay in traditional tourism, and that's okay. Olexiy realized during his studies that he wanted to try himself in IT. He learned the profession of a cloud engineer and now works on an online booking platform in Denmark. The university provided him with the foundation and time, and he decided where to go next.
Platon: opportunities through partnership with EuroEst
Platon made use of our collaboration with the partner EuroEst and gained an opportunity that opened a new direction for his development. But the fact is: the right connections of the university sometimes provide more than years of independent searches.
Anton: logistics classes – into his own business
Anton listened carefully in his logistics classes. Now he is already running his own business in transportation. The knowledge laid the foundation for a real business.
Vadym: a quest during orientation and a new profession
In his first year, we held a quest for newcomers. Vadym liked the idea so much that he entered this business himself and now develops and implements quest rooms in Kharkiv. Sometimes a new career begins with a university event.
Bogdan: how working in a souvenir shop in Turkey led to starting his own business
During his studies, Bogdan V. went to Turkey and got a job in a souvenir shop. It seemed to be an ordinary part-time job. But he carefully observed how this business operated from the inside: what sells, how to trade, and how to communicate with tourists. Eventually, he opened his own souvenir business. Sometimes the best business school is simply being in the midst of it and not wasting time.
Yura: free time + passion for cars = stable income
Not every story is about big ambitions. Yura simply loved vehicles and took advantage of the free time that remote learning provides. He works in a taxi, has a stable income, and is in no rush.
Yelyzaveta: an offer from a modeling agency during her studies
Yelyzaveta received an offer from a modeling agency right during her studies. She agreed, switched to part-time studies, and is now developing a professional modeling career. The university did not put her at a crossroads – it allowed her to continue both paths.
These stories are diverse – different cities, industries, different approaches. But they all share one common trait: they became possible because education did not become a cage. It provided knowledge, connections, first experiences, and enough freedom for the student to move in their own direction.
If you are thinking about enrollment and it is important for you not to "freeze" your life for years – perhaps we are just the place where you should study.