After completing the Business Administration with Business Analysis & Technology with us, Nicolas chose to pursue a postgraduate degree in Data Analytics. Here, Nicolas tells us about what it's like being a student within the Business School.
What lead you to studying the MSc Data Analytics at Strathclyde?
I started the MSc Data Analytics on the back of my Bachelor of Business Administration with Business Analysis & Technology at the University of Strathclyde, which was also largely based in the Department of Management Science.
I was looking for a degree that allowed me to gain data skills without having had much prior experience in statistics, and no prior experience in coding. During my undergraduate degree, I experienced the teaching staff at the department and the university in general as being very supportive and engaged. The strong practical focus and industry links of the programme, as well as the classes offered is what lead me to choose the MSc in Data Analytics at Strathclyde.
What has been your experience of the classes?
Since a lot of the classes run over 6 weeks rather than 12, the classes were fast-paced and quite intense. The lecturers however were great at providing support when help was needed. My classmates and I agreed that the amount of material learned and the progress made over a short time is impressive and very rewarding, going from first steps in coding in September, to building deep neural networks with advanced architectures by April. I also appreciated that the programme provided classes on a wide range of issues around the core techniques of analytics, for example of databases and business modelling.
What has been your experience of the virtual/online learning environment and support offered by the University? What was it like to interact with your lecturers and fellow students?
It was clear that everyone put in a lot of effort to make the student experience as “normal” as possible. There were a lot of additional resources available on the online platform, including recordings from lectures, allowing everyone to learn in their own time. Through tutorials and group projects, I still got to meet a lot of the people on my programme and was able to make new friends.
What has been your experience of the experiential part of the programme, namely ‘Data Analytics in Practice’ module and your MSc summer project?
The Data Analytics in Practice class was a great way to apply the skills learned in class to real issues. Presenting to the clients was a great experience and a great opportunity to get advice and make contacts with people in the industry, which even resulted in job and summer project opportunities in some cases. It was also a nice tool to reflect on the progress made since there were more skills we were able to apply from project to project.
What is it like to be a student at Strathclyde and in the city of Glasgow?
Glasgow is a brilliant city to be a student in. It has so much to offer in terms of culture, sports facilities, party venues, and beautiful parks. There are few things you cannot do, and you can reach both the mountains and the beach within an hour. I particularly enjoyed the various sports clubs and societies Strathclyde has to offer, as it was a great way to meet people and make friends when I was new to the city and the country.
What advice would you give to prospective students?
From experience, it can be quite tempting to stay in your comfort zone in group projects and play to your strengths, leaving other tasks to group members who are better at them. However, I think these situations are great opportunities to learn from your peers and improve on your weaknesses. Away from the academic side of things I would definitely recommend trying to find a club or society you enjoy as it can be a great way to try out new things and meet new people.
