I am someone who tries my best in whatever I set out to do. I read somewhere that if you feel like you’ve hit rock bottom, then there is only one way to go - up. This epitomises what I want to keep doing – keep being realistically optimistic, looking forward by learning from my past and trying my best.
Speaking a bit more in depth about my educational background – due to my father’s job, I got the opportunity to study in various places such as Dubai, Hong Kong, Argentina, Brazil and India. This exposed me to diverse cultures, and it helped develop me more holistically as a person, further enhancing my awareness of the world. Another invaluable aspect of this was that I got the chance to develop my social skills which allowed me to get along well with people from diverse backgrounds, which is not only invaluable on a personal front but also from a professional standpoint as well.
With respect to my hobbies, I enjoy reading, drawing, listening to music, talking to people and if you ask any of my friends, they can attest to the fact that I crack many puns! With regards to my professional aspirations, I come from a Finance background and by doing the MSc in Quantitative Finance at the University of Strathclyde I am aiming to pivot into the Quantitative sphere of Finance. I am grateful for this opportunity.
What were your reasons for taking on a postgraduate degree?
I decided to pursue a postgraduate degree because I wanted to enrich my skillset by using my previous knowledge of Finance to transition into the field of Quantitative Finance. I believed that an MSc was the optimum utilisation of resources in terms of time, finances and effort to get me to the next phase of my professional life. I was of the opinion that doing a postgraduate degree would be time-constrained, yes – but it would teach me, not only about the educational side of things, but also other skills such as time management, which are key no matter where you are in life, what you are doing and what you’re setting out to do.
I am grateful for having received the prestigious Faculty of Science Masters Scholarship from the University of Strathclyde. This was one of the factors that pushed me to try my best because I was grateful to have gotten this opportunity and did not want it to pass me by.
How did you make the decision to study at Strathclyde?
I chose the University of Strathclyde because I wanted to pivot into the field of Quantitative Finance as I had done my undergraduate degree in Business Administration with a specialisation in Finance and by going through the course content, I found that the depth in which the course went would help put me in the position to do so. I was considering many options, but Strathclyde stood out because of its course structure, and I appreciated how based on the current trends it was and how it was aimed at preparing the students for the actual job market as it stands now. When going through Strathclyde’s website I got the impression that it was an incredibly supportive environment and that the University really gave the students a chance to speak up, maintain and foster their independence, along with aiming at academic excellence. I also took note of the many awards and recognitions that the University of Strathclyde has received and its rankings among the Universities in the United Kingdom.
What do you like about your course and Strathclyde?
I appreciated how application-based the course material was and how helpful our professors were during each semester. Before applying to the MSc in Quantitative Finance course, I had read a section by Dr. Mohammud Foondun where he mentioned it being a small cohort so the students would get more individualised attention, that is the experience I have had. Another factor I appreciated was that our Course Director (Dr. Mohammud Foondun) made it a point to have a Personal Development meeting with us every semester to catch up, see how we were doing and air any grievances, thoughts. This made me feel comfortable as if I was being treated as an actual person and not just a “cog in the machine” for the University. I think that was made possible due to the small strength of our cohort – that meant that we got a more individualised support system and given the fast-paced nature of any Masters course, I greatly appreciated that. As I alluded to before, I appreciated how well-put together and thought out this course was. Quantitative Finance is a blend of Mathematics, Finance and Computer Science and Strathclyde used that and created this course. Plus, in our second semester, one professor, who is a renowned Mathematician (number 4 in the United Kingdom (2023)), Dr. Xuerong Mao, modified his style of teaching the topic of Itô’s Calculus and how it led to the Black-Scholes formula to make it easier for us to grasp – as it was a more complex subject to teach. This made us as students feel more comfortable with the topic and made the lectures more intuitive, rather than abstract. Another example of this would be Juliane Thamm (International and Financial Markets and Banking), Prof. Dimitris Andriosopoulos (Equity Analysis), Dr. Jihazu Pan (Financial Econometrics) and Prof. Lijie Yu (Portfolio Theory Management). I would also like to give a special shout out to Robert Lockhart for being such a wonderful and helpful tutor for the Principles of Finance subject. Every lecturer (and tutor) added to the course in their own special way.
What specialist knowledge/professional skills have you developed whilst studying the course?
During my course, I have amassed a lot of knowledge encompassing the areas of mathematics, finance and computer science. I will break it down according to each area:
Mathematics
Throughout the mathematics area of the MSc Quantitative Finance, I learnt about financial stochastic processes (some examples include option pricing, the Itô formula and the Black-Scholes formula), financial econometrics (for example: Time Series, Brownian Motion). These classes were not purely taught in a theoretical manner – the University made the conscious effort to include a more hands-on approach where we used programs like R Studio to learn the practical aspect of the concepts we were learning in the lectures.
Finance
Throughout the finance area of the MSc Quantitative Finance, I learnt about the process of valuing a company (using profitability, liquidity and solvency ratios and applying valuation methods such as multiples and discounted cash flows, along with a sensitivity analysis to get a price range and make a recommendation for that stock). I also learnt about portfolio theories and the management of them, the Markowitz procedure, portfolio optimization, efficient frontiers, and the process of following an investment philosophy, selecting stocks accordingly and finding the optimal asset allocation strategy to fulfil certain parameters.
Computer Science
Throughout the computer science area of the course, I learnt about doing exploratory data analysis and the use of Python data science libraries such as pandas, NumPy, MATLAB and scikit-learn. Then it moved onto more complex material such as machine learning and using algorithms such linear regression, random forests, etc to solve regression and classification problems. Then it transitioned to deep learning with learning and applying neural networks and tensor flow.
What are your ambitions for the future and how do you think your time at Strathclyde will help you achieve your goals?
When joining Strathclyde, I had only one goal - to get a job in portfolio management. But, as I went through the MSc Quantitative Finance, my horizons broadened. I am now considering being a quant analyst, getting into equity research/mergers and acquisitions and portfolio management. My time at Strathclyde has helped me to broaden my professional horizons.
During my time at Strathclyde, the Department of Mathematics and Statistics convinced the Strathclyde Business School to include our Department in the AmplifyME simulation opportunity. This was an invaluable opportunity and experience, and I thoroughly enjoyed it because I could learn so much from it. Mainly, the reality of what the different job titles in finance entailed. Through completing the mergers & acquisitions simulation, and our team getting placed first, I got the chance to participate in AmplifyME’s investment banking academy which I am ever thankful for. During this simulation experience, I learnt what suited my way of working and what was not the best fit for me – which are both extremely vital aspects.
I have also been able to further enhance my soft skills. More specifically, time management, discipline, commitment, accountability and responsibility. As I write this I am taken back a conversation I had with the Quantitative Finance Course Director, Dr. Mohammud Foondun, where he rightly said, “all I want is for students to give themselves the chance to do well because if you don’t try – you’ll never know if you are capable or not.” This advice is something which I will carry forward with me even after I complete the MSc in Quantitative Finance course.
Has anything surprised you about living/studying here?
The one thing that surprised me about living here was the weather. The weather pattern in the morning can be sunny with no wind – only to end up in a downpour in the afternoon. But that just taught me to be prepared and adjust for anything.
I also appreciated the monetary benefits that students get in terms of student discounts. It makes one of the aspects of being a student (finance) much less daunting.
What would you say to anyone thinking of coming to study in Glasgow at Strathclyde?
I would say that Strathclyde is a good university to consider. It has a supportive academic environment, as well as support for your mental health and wellbeing. The Strathclyde student population is very diverse and helps you learn from people from a variety of backgrounds. The positive, helpful and courteous culture is also something that I’ve noticed during my time at Strathclyde .
Regarding academics – the course I took was extremely worthwhile because there is a focus on application, and the course was formed with inputs from the industry, so you know that you’re working on subject matters that are relevant to you and what is currently demanded by the industry. I would like to also add that there is an abundance of resources available on campus: a library which is full of useful resources, a learning village in the Learning and Teaching Building, and so many more group study spots on campus so you really are spoilt for choice. One of the key resources that I found really helpful was the Career Service at the University of Strathclyde where they provide help with your CV, interview preparation and so much more. Additionally, the service is extended for a few years after you graduate as well so the University really does want to provide you with all the support you require to get to where you want to be.