Christine Goldsmith

Country of origin: United Kingdom

Why did you choose to study at LUMS?

I chose LUMS because it has a great reputation, my economics course offered lots of mathematical foundations and provided the opportunity to branch out into other specialities with the variety of modules in 2nd and 3rd year. Also the LUMS building looked especially modern!

What was the best thing about your course?

I particularly liked how the Economics degree is part of the Management School as opposed to the social sciences department. This made it very accessible to be aware of and join the investment and finance societies as their activities took place in the same buildings. It also meant the careers modules were finance focused which is great if you want to enter the finance industry. Additionally, the lecturers, high quality of teaching, and engaging workshops were very helpful for me to discover my passion for macroeconomics further down the line.

Did you do a project, placement or study abroad? What did this involve and what did you gain?

I did a one year placement at Wellington Management, working with the Global Bond and Economic Strategy teams. This involved working closely with portfolio managers to optimise investment strategies. The experience was really eye opening and allowed me to develop strong data analysis skills and commercial awareness. It was a great opportunity to apply my economic foundations to a real world setting and build confidence working in a fast paced environment.

Describe your time at LUMS in three words.

Supportive, rewarding, explorative.

What are the best things about living in the Lancaster area?

It’s great that it’s a smaller city and an on campus university. Campus is really safe and there’s always lots going on during the week. The centre of Lancaster is not far away and when you have free time, there’s so many hikes and trails to explore in the Lake District.