What was your study and/or professional background prior to this programme?
Undergraduate degree in Sociology at the University of Edinburgh
Why did you choose to study at the University of Edinburgh Business School?
I had a great experience in undergrad, did not want to leave the city, and wanted to further specialise after a broad undergraduate program.
About the course
What was it about the degree programme that particularly attracted you?
The one-year duration – I liked the challenge of throwing myself into work for a year.
How many people are on your programme (approx.), and what is the diversity mix like?
50ish, most diverse group I’ve ever worked in. People from India, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, China, USA, Canada, England, etc.
What does a typical day look like for you on this programme?
I tend to treat Tues-Thurs as a 9am-5pm as most of my lectures fall in this window. Max 4 hours of class a week, usually some meetings for extra curriculars, spend rest of the time doing course reading.
How much time do you spend in lectures and how much time do you spend studying each week (approx.)?
8 hours of lectures (give or take depending on the course) and about 8-10 hours studying each week depending on the season – more during deadlines and exams, less at the beginning of the semester.
How feasible do you think it is to work part-time while pursing your Masters?
I do it! It’s difficult, I work only weekends and tend to find I’m not able to give 100% to both study and part time work. Definitely manageable though, if you’re smart with your schedule and find the right job.
What course have you enjoyed the most so far and why?
People Analytics – enjoy learning practical skills, very different from my undergrad.
Student experience
Have you been involved with any industry activities so far (e.g., company visits, guest speakers, student development, professional development sessions)?
Yes – careers events, special interest guest speakers, coaching from the Student Development team.
Is there a specific experience you’ve had so far on the programme that stands out?
Meeting everyone on the first day and learning about everyone’s cultures. We did a potluck to see what kind of foods other students enjoyed in their home countries. It was great to see how diverse the program was and learn plenty about a variety of countries and cultures.
Have you joined any clubs or societies? What do you like to do outside of your studies? How do you spend your weekends?
I spend most of my weekends working! I’ve been involved with student societies for the last four years, and currently am the Chair of Speakeasy – a public speaking forum for students to build their confidence presenting.
Have you done any travel to other parts of Scotland or the UK since arriving in Edinburgh?
I tend to escape to the Highlands at least once a semester – it’s beautiful and only 1.5 hours away on the train.
What kind of accommodation are you living in and why did you choose that option?
Private rented flat – I knew the city pretty well and had lived in student halls previously, so preferred to find my own.
How did you go about making friends and building a community in Edinburgh?
Made an effort to hang around between classes and get to know my course mates, said yes to everything!
Looking ahead
Do you have any tips for people considering applying to the Business School?
Don’t overthink your application! Show that you love learning, will be engaged in the course and would get value out of studying here.