A little bit about me
Before my Master degree, I was working as a journalist covering economic and business breaking news stories in India. I gained experience working in a commercial context explaining economics to a business audience for three years. I have completed my Bachelor in business administration as a silver medallist and am also an alumna of the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media, Bangalore, where I studied broadcast journalism.
Why I chose the MSc Economics & Finance
My motivation to take up MSc Economics & Finance was because I wanted to use economics to drive public policy and become an economist. My aim to take up this programme was to get trained as a skilled professional who can analyse, understand, and explain the complex economic and financial issues and bridge my career in business journalism, economics and finance.
Reasons I chose to study at the University of Strathclyde:
- The course is jointly delivered by the Departments of Economics and Accounting & Finance, which gives me the opportunity to explore the interaction between economics and finance. This is extremely critical to understand the current economic conditions and the world we live in, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The two departments are ranked in the top 10 in the UK
- The Department of Economics has a dedicated research institute for the Scottish economy named the Fraser of Allander Institute.
- I received the Dean’s Excellence Scholarship as an International student which made it possible for me to pursue my education abroad.
Professional Development for Economists – a unique class
As finance is in many respects an offshoot of economics, being a part of these two departments has been an exciting journey. I have studied various topics including advanced corporate finance, accounting and financial analysis, international trade and policy, macro- and microeconomics.
One notable aspect of this course was a module taught across the first and second semester, named Professional Development for Economists. This is unique, as I did not find it in other universities. This module involves a great range of guest speakers who are working as economists in business, consultancy and policy roles, and develops core transferable skills. The highlight of the module was that the kind of tasks I performed (such as writing policy briefing notes, presenting data, planning, and delivering on consultancy projects, leaderships skills and gaining experience in presenting findings) have now built my ability to apply and work in several roles where there are demands for the well-rounded applied economist.
Work experience
With the help of this course, I was also able to get selected at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) as a work experience student. I also worked as research assistant at the Fraser of Allander Institute. The two opportunities have been a massive learning curve during the first six months of 2021. In addition to that, I am working on my thesis on inclusive growth policy, and I am very motivated to complete it and present my findings. It has been a very inspirational journey to get support from my supervisor for my thesis and other staff members during my work placements.
Support from the department
Although the current pandemic was tough on everyone, the professors in the department were very supportive. I have had many consultation meetings with professors regarding various topics, ranging from my summer projects, assessments, work placement, and career advice regarding the current job market.
Other great things about Strathclyde
The University has a great student union community, and I am lucky to be a part of the Strathclyde Hyperloop team, which will soon take part in the European Hyperloop Week. Scotland is a beautiful place to choose for your Master degree, and my advice to the incoming students would be to be open to new ideas, interact and network as much as you can, and go skydiving.
My Highlights
- Course modules align with real-world issues and provide a great learning curve for students who want to dive into economics and finance.
- High rankings of the course and the triple accreditation of Strathclyde Business School will make you stand out in the job market.
- Opportunity for a work placement with the Fraser of Allander Institute during the second semester of the Master programme.
- Scholarships opportunities for International students planning to study in the UK
