What was your study and/or professional background prior to this programme?
I'm from Bangkok, Thailand, and I studied Economics at Chulalongkorn University. After graduating, I wanted to work somewhere fast-paced, so I began my career in performance marketing and spent around three years in the field, mainly at a food delivery company. Alongside this, I also ran a small online clothing business, which gave me a completely different perspective on managing a business from end to end.
After a few years, I realised that although I understood marketing well, I wanted to know more about how the different parts of a business work together to shape strategy and make decisions. I also wanted to strengthen my communication and interpersonal skills while studying in an international environment.
Why did you choose to study at the University of Edinburgh Business School?
The academic reputation of the Business School was my starting point, but what really convinced me was the combination of an international learning environment, a diverse student community and the opportunity to live in such a unique city.
Coming from Bangkok, I wanted the experience of living somewhere completely different. Edinburgh has a slower pace of life, it's easy to get around on foot, and being surrounded by so much history makes everyday life feel quite special. The weather here is famously unpredictable, which means the city looks different every day.
Edinburgh quickly became a place that felt like home, and I genuinely enjoy living here as much as I enjoy studying here.
About the programme
What was it about the degree programme that particularly attracted you?
The MSc Management programme stood out because of how broad it is. In just one year, I've explored a much wider range of business topics than I had experienced in my career, and a wide selection of optional courses has meant that I could tailor my learning around my own interests and career goals.
What appealed to me most, though, was how often we work with real organisations rather than only case studies. One of my courses, Project Management and Business Analysis, gave us the opportunity to work with an external organisation on a live business challenge.
It's one thing to learn a framework in class, but applying it to a real organisation with real stakeholders is completely different. Real projects are rarely straightforward. Information is often incomplete, different people see the same problem from different perspectives, and there are genuine constraints to work around. That practical experience has been one of the most valuable parts of the programme for me.
Student experience
Have you been involved with any industry engagement activities?
One of the things I've really appreciated is how many opportunities there are outside the classroom.
I joined the London Trek, which gave me the chance to visit companies, hear directly from professionals and ask the kind of questions I can't always ask in a lecture theatre.
I also completed the Edinburgh Award in Global Employability, which focuses on professional skills such as communication and presentation. The coaching sessions were the highlight for me, because I received honest, personalised feedback rather than a grade, and it encouraged me to work on skills I had wanted to improve for a long time.
Is there a specific experience you've had so far that stands out?
Working with the National Galleries of Scotland (NGS) for my client-sourced dissertation has been the most valuable part of my year. It's not often that, as a student, you have the opportunity to work with a major national organisation on a question they genuinely care about.
My project looks at how NGS can reduce the carbon footprint of its digital activities. Although it may sound quite specialised, it raises much broader questions about how organisations can balance digital preservation with environmental sustainability.
I’ve been working with teams across the organisation, including digitisation, records management, IT and sustainability. Each team approaches the same challenge from a completely different perspective, and learning how to bring those perspectives together has been invaluable. Working with a real client has given me much more confidence in applying what I've learned to a real organisational challenge.
Have you travelled to other parts of Scotland or the UK?
Exploring Scotland has become one of my favourite parts of living in Edinburgh.
I really enjoyed visiting North Berwick, where I had lunch at Drift Café by the sea before hiking up North Berwick Law for beautiful coastal views. I also spent a day in St Andrews, where I tried a driving range in the home of golf.
My favourite trip so far has been a winter road trip through the Highlands to the Isle of Skye. The journey itself was unforgettable, with snow-covered mountains, frozen trees and breathtaking scenery around every corner. On Skye, I hiked the Old Man of Storr and timed it for sunset, which created one of the most beautiful moments I have experienced in Scotland.
Looking Ahead
Do you have any tips for people considering applying to the Business School?
My biggest piece of advice would be to think about why you want to do a master's before you arrive. For me, it wasn't simply about earning another degree. I knew there were gaps in my experience that I wanted to fill, and having that clarity helped me make decisions throughout the year, from choosing optional courses to applying for opportunities outside the classroom. Since the programme only lasts twelve months, having a clear purpose really helps you make the most of your time here.
Also, as someone from a non-English speaking country, I'd also say don't wait until your English feels ready before speaking up in seminars, because that moment never quite arrives. Share your ideas anyway. Nobody is judging your grammar, and a perspective from a different market or culture is often exactly what makes the discussion more interesting.
Finally, don't be afraid to apply for opportunities before you feel completely qualified. Almost everything I'm proudest of this year started with an application I nearly didn't submit.