If someone had told me a year ago that I’d be standing inside Bank of America’s London office, chatting with the Global Head of Commercial Banking, I probably would’ve laughed it off. Not because it was impossible but because back then, I was just a nervous student from Mumbai arriving in Edinburgh for the first time, carrying two suitcases and a head full of dreams.
Now, looking back at the MSc Finance programme at the University of Edinburgh Business School, it’s hard to capture all the highlights.
One of my first “wow, this is real” moments came during our Corporate Finance course in semester one. Professor Kalsoom Jaffar had a rare ability to take complex ideas and break them down so clearly that I found myself genuinely looking forward to each session (even on days when it was raining sideways, which it often is in Edinburgh!). Her class helped lay the groundwork not just for my exams, but for the way I think about businesses and decision-making now.
Then there was a guest lecture by Professor James Clunie who, fun-fact, was the first-ever Director of our MSc Finance programme. He talked us through currency carry trades in a way that told the story behind the trades. With him, it wasn’t just about numbers, it was about timing, sentiment, and risk. That one lecture taught me more about the real-world nuances of finance than any textbook ever could!
But when I think about the moments that really stuck out to me, they weren’t about lectures or course content at all. They were about discovery, growth, and unexpected connections that made all the difference.
The AmplifyME Simulation, for example. One moment I was a student, and the next I was trading against my classmates in a mock financial market where half the room was acting as hedge funds and the other as investment banks. It was intense, high-stakes, and incredibly fun. More than anything, it gave me a small but powerful glimpse into the kind of pressure and pace finance professionals face every day.
And of course, there were the career events. October’s Careers Week and the Business School’s Employability and Careers Expo in semester two were both packed with opportunities to meet companies like Google, Moody’s and Bloomberg. One of the most memorable moments I have from those events wasn't even on the agenda. It happened when I bumped into an alumnus, Ian, who I’d connected with months earlier on LinkedIn while researching the programme. That unplanned meeting turned into a conversation, then a connection, and eventually a real friendship. It was one of those moments that reminded me how small and supportive the world can be when you find the right people.
My ultimate highlight, though, would have to be the London Trek. Three days. Forty classmates. And a packed schedule that felt like a crash course in what our future careers could look like. From touring State Street’s office in Canary Wharf to visiting the CISI headquarters inside the Walkie Talkie building (and catching breathtaking views from the Sky Garden above it), each stop felt like a peek behind the industry curtain. And when I stood there in the Bank of America office meeting their Global Head of Commercial Banking, Paul Taylor, I finally thought, “You’ve made it!”
As incredible as these major highlights were, I also want to give an honorary mention to the smaller moments. Those were the late-night group calls before deadlines. The quiet moments after class, grabbing coffee and talking about everything from balance sheets to homesickness. The first time I felt confident enough to ask a question in class. The walk back to my flat after a long day, realising just how far I’d come not just in miles, but in mindset.
Overall, the MSc Finance programme gave me the knowledge to support my future career. But more than that, it gave me clarity, reminded me why I chose this path and helped me see where it might lead. Yes, it’s challenging, fast-paced, and sometimes overwhelming. But it’s also transformative - and that’s the real highlight.
Please note programme content and experiences are subject to change. Visit our programme pages for more information