Why did you choose to study at LUMS?

My first encounter with Lancaster University was very spontaneous but changed my life once and forever. I have met Prof. Dr. Radka Newton at the educational fair in Frankfurt where the Lancaster University was represented in October 2015. During that time, I have been working in auditing and was dreaming of continuing my education and getting the master’s degree in finance. That was the day that changed my life as Radka motivated me to apply for a place at the MSc Finance programme in LUMS and for the academic excellence scholarship as well, she made me think it is possible, made me believe in myself… I am happy that at that point I have chosen Lancaster and Lancaster has chosen me, feel very lucky and thankful for this opportunity. Not many young people from my country get a chance to graduate with such a strong degree, I come from an ordinary Belarussian family and the scholarship granted by LUMS brought me so much further in life. Now I am living in London, working in the City, meeting interesting people from all around the world and feeling very happy. But I will always remember that it all started from the Lancaster University.

What was the best thing about your course?

The MSc Finance course is challenging but I have learned so many things through both individual projects and groupwork. I became a person who has better discipline and determination, can organise her time properly, concentrating on both university assignments and postgraduate job search. The programme is only one year that is why it is very intense. And this intensity prepares you well for the future working environment with all the deadlines and responsibilities. Together with the hard work, that time was a fun time too – my course was very international, and we were able to make friends, do such things as partying or travelling together in the UK and abroad, share many experiences together. If it wasn't Lancaster University I would not meet so many talented people whom now I am proud to call friends.

What/who inspired you most at LUMS and why?

I remember I was very scared of failing my first exams in LUMS - Michaelmas Term exams. At some point I even thought that I would fail everything and would have to go home in the worst case scenario, shared my thoughts with my friend and course mate Helene Boistelle who was very inspirational and refused to give up: ”No! We will not fail! We are already here and there is no way back!” As it often happens, one gets the best grade for the subject one is mostly afraid of. The same thing happened to us. And this story taught us that the only way to move forward is to keep calm and keep moving on.

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

The nature is very beautiful, especially the Lake District, and I could not but become a member of the Hiking Society and an explorer. Lancaster is a very pretty town, the time here flows in a slow tempo and you start to appreciate it more after all the hustle and bustle of the London life. One can find harmony here.

Which parts of your Lancaster experience were the best preparation for your job?

Lancaster University Management School has an amazing career department which helps you in your job applications – from proofreading the CV till the final interview stage and I was very lucky to get that help. In my situation I also needed Visa Sponsorship which made it a bit more complicated but still doable. The financial career coach Paul McCormick highly contributed to my chances of getting a job in the UK. He is not only a very knowledgeable and experienced specialist but also a very kind person who always takes time for you, inspires you with a piece of advice and personal example. I had to go to London a few times for different interview stages in Bloomberg and every time Paul has been crossing fingers for me. I felt confident and well-prepared and that energy made me get a job. Such a support really makes the difference and makes one stand out from all the other job candidates.