From B.E. to Finance: My study abroad journey at Queen Mary

Lancaster University

7.9(19 Reviews)

University of York

8.2(12 Reviews)

Reason for choosing my college

• Selecting the right university can be challenging. The university we choose decides our future course. While I was choosing my university, this was my criterion to sort out the universities:
  • The modules that the university offers to its students. I checked if the modules and module content that the university offered aligned with my future goals. Because I was changing my field from civil engineering to finance, this was an important aspect to consider. Queen Mary University provides modules like corporate finance, financial statement analysis, fintech, blockchain, private equity, and asset pricing, modules that are in demand in this new era.
  • Professors: Before you select any university, you can see who your professors are and also contact them via email. This transparency helps a lot when you are confused or even scared about the teaching method in another country. Talking to my professors prior and gaining more knowledge about the course led me to stand firm in my decision.
  • I had many friends in the United Kingdom. Asking people about their experiences always helps. One thing everybody told me was to choose or aim for Russell Group universities. So the university that I chose had to be a Russell Group university. Queen Mary University, being a Russell Group university, offers a range of research programs in every sector and industry.
  • Location: Location plays a big part in your life abroad. It helps us broaden our perspective, network with people from all around the world, and gain experience like never before. So, when you are selecting your university, research the area your university is in. As Queen Mary University is in the heart of London, I had to grab the opportunity to stay and experience the 'London life'.
    These were the 4 main criteria that made me choose Queen Mary University of London.

University of Edinburgh

7.3(29 Reviews)

Reason for Rejection

• I completed my bachelor's degree in B.E. Civil Engineering from Savitribai Phule Pune University. I was changing my path from B.E. to finance, and so I was not eligible for many universities because some universities require students to have a bachelor's in finance or equivalent. Being an engineer limited my opportunities at some good universities. Even though I knew I might not get into the University of Edinburgh, I had to take my chances. Because you never know what is in store for you.

• Be very honest about what you feel about your course and how you want to use the opportunity of studying abroad in your career and personal life. Be particular about your interests and your interests align with that of the university you selected

• From when I was little, it was my father's dream to send me to the UK. His words became my dream, and I was determined to go abroad for my higher studies. Queen Mary University is a part of the Russell Group and is ranked in the top 100 universities. It's also ranked in the top 10 universities in the United Kingdom. The research methods and course module planning are what most attracted me to it.
• The MSc Finance course that I chose is inclined more towards quants which can be interesting to people who are good at mathematics, logic, and trade markets. QMUL, being located in central London, is a plus.
• The Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and Tower Bridge being minutes away from the university adds to the advantage. I am working as a student ambassador at QMUL. And as a student ambassador of QMUL, I can assure you of fun events all year long. There are different types of clubs that you can join, competitions, and job fairs. The best part about QMUL is that it offers career guidance up to 3 years after graduation.

• My MSc Finance course is divided into 3 semesters. I am a September start student. For my first semester, I had 4 compulsory modules and a 100% written examination.
• In the first semester, we had classes 4 days a week. Class timings can vary from 2 hours to 6+ hours. In the second semester, we have one compulsory module and three optional modules. In the second semester, I had classes 3 days a week. This can vary according to the timetable. Queen Mary has a lot of Indian crowds. My MSc finance class strength was around 20-30 students.
• Again, this varies depending on how many people have chosen the same module. For me personally, transitioning from B.E. to finance was hard, and it hit me like a wave in the first semester. I think if you study regularly and revise whatever you are taught in class after you come back, there would be no issue. Assignments given to us are solely research-based. We have research about companies and their financial backgrounds, and we give hypothetical solutions.

• In my personal experience, we have the best faculty. We have guest faculty who have their businesses and ventures. All professors are PhD-level professors with an outstanding background of work from renowned companies like BMW and M&S.
• As I said earlier, transitioning from B.E. to finance was hard; my professors have been my biggest supporters. They have helped me understand basic concepts and made finance interesting for me.

• When I was new in London, events and fests organized by the university were the icebreakers for me. I have met so many people through these events, made unforgettable memories, and made friends for life. There was a Diwali party and Holi organized by the university and the Indian club. DJ nights at Drapers. Drapers is our very own club.
• We have an e-library; we can browse it from anywhere and anytime we want, and I think that is one of the best things. We have group study rooms and private study rooms. My campus is located in Mile End, London.

• There are many ways that students apply for part-time jobs; students go door-to-door and shop-to-shop, giving their CVs. There is LinkedIn, indeed, where you can apply for part-time jobs. QMUL also has its website and tie-ups for placements. Students get paid 11 GBP to 15 GBP per hour. Students prefer working in retail as customer service or as waiters in restaurants.

• Queen Mary University offers a wide range of on-campus placements for students that do not interfere with their academics or overlap with their studies. I am working as a student ambassador at Queen Mary and I have had a great experience working with new people and meeting new students.
• Apart from on-campus jobs, Queen Mary also provides career guidance to students up to 3 years after graduation. This guidance is very helpful in terms of getting a job in London. Career advisors advise us on our CV, CV format, and platforms to which we can apply. The hourly wage in London right now is 12 GBP per hour. As students, we are allowed to work for 20 hours per week in academic semesters and 35 weeks in the holiday season.

• I think 50% of the batch secures the job within 6 months and approximately 90% in 3 years of graduation. The average salary range starts from 26000 GBP per year. Students find jobs in all kinds of ways where there is a will, there is a way. I know people who got a job as soon as they applied, and I know people who were ready to leave and book their one-way ticket back home but got a job offer last minute. You can apply for jobs through the university portal, target jobs, LinkedIn, and Indeed.