Zakariya Ashiq, 20, from Coventry, was found guilty of two counts of preparing acts of terrorism at the Old Bailey on Tuesday.
He was arrested at Heathrow Airport in November after failing to cross into Syria from Jordan.
He admitted trying to get to Syria but said he had been forced to leave the UK because he was being "harassed" by MI5.
A British man who attempted to join Islamic State in Syria has been jailed for six years.