Name: Rafael Ageno

Country of origin: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Degree: BSc Business Analytics

If you could describe your experience at Lancaster University in 3 words, what would they be? Adventurous, challenging and intellectual.

_

Campus life and societies

"Societies are the best way to make friends as you already have something in common.”

When I arrived at Lancaster University, I joined the Barbell Society, Ping Pong Society, and the Latin American Society. These groups have been instrumental for my social life. I think societies are, by far, the best way to make friends at university. You meet people who enjoy the same things you do, which is a great conversation starter.

My favourite events have been those hosted by the Latin American Society. As someone from Argentina, these gatherings feel like home. We cook traditional meals, share stories, and enjoy music from our region. It’s a space where culture and community come together.

Hobbies and interests

I train at the gym five times a week, and it’s more than just exercise, it’s my social outlet during the week. On weekdays, I am always very busy, so I don’t get much time to hang out outside of university and work. However, when I go to the gym, I meet my friends, while at the same time doing a healthy activity.

I also love going to the cinema, especially Lancaster’s Vue, and discussing and reviewing movies with friends. These hobbies help me stay balanced and connected, even during busy weeks.

Favourite spots

"Lancaster University is like a mini city - I didn’t expect it to be so big!"

If friends or family visit, I take them to the Sports Centre, the library, and the Management School, all central to my university life. Since I couldn’t visit in person from Uruguay before enrolling, I was pleasantly surprised at the wide range of facilities on campus - it truly feels like a mini city.

"Costa is my go-to for a coffee break and people-watching."

For studying, I prefer the library or the upper floors of the Management School; quiet, focused spaces. When I need a break, I head to Costa on campus, where I enjoy a coffee and watch the world go by in Edward Roberts Court.

"The Marketplace is my favourite – it's healthy, affordable, and friendly."

Lancaster has plenty of shops like Sainsbury’s, Aldi, Asda, and Lidl, plus other smaller convenience stores. On campus, I love eating at The Marketplace as it’s affordable, healthy, and the staff are friendly. Other great spots include Pizzetta Republic, Pendle Brew, Fylde Bar and of course, a fast-food favourite: Greggs.

Settling in and overcoming homesickness

"At the end of your degree, it’s the people you’ll remember most."

Making friends helped me settle in quickly. Even at the end of your degree, the thing you will remember most is not what you learned on a specific module, but rather the people you met along the way and the experiences you had with them.

When I feel homesick, I talk to friends here in Lancaster or FaceTime my family to catch up. It’s the people who make a place feel like home.

Before arriving, I worried about whether I was making the right decision. Watching YouTube videos and speaking to students on the Unibuddy platform who were studying similar degrees helped reassure me.

Advice for international students

"Join societies, especially ones that connect you to your culture."

Come with an open mind and a willingness to talk to people. Sports and societies helped me connect with others. If you’re an international student, I’d recommend that you join cultural societies; they will make you feel closer to your home country. Lancaster has a lot of societies, including Polish, French, Spanish, Latin American and more.

Lancaster city and beyond

"Lancaster is a city that feels like home. Its cafe culture reminds me of Argentina and Uruguay."

Lancaster is a student-friendly city where I feel safe and welcome. Its size and community atmosphere make it easy to feel like you belong.

It is also full of great coffee places, which are perfect for studying or catching up with friends. The city’s size is perfect; everything is nearby and easily accessible. The cafe culture reminds me of home, where coffee is more than a drink.

The coffee places in Lancaster remind me of home. Where I come from, Argentina and Uruguay, there is a massive cafe culture. In the afternoon, at 15:00, we usually have a coffee as part of our “tea”. It is not only a time to take the coffee, but also a time to connect. Often, I invite friends to cafes like these, so that we can catch up on life.

Most cultural events I have attended are the Latin American parties led by the Latin American society. They are characterised by having music from where I am from, mainly Reggaeton, a music genre based on Caribbean vibes. When I listen to that music it instantly transports me back home.

I’ve also taken advantage of Lancaster’s well-connected train station to explore the UK. I’ve visited Morecambe, the Lake District, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Bath, London, Cornwall and Edinburgh.While living in the UK, I took the chance to visit as many places as possible that I probably would not have visited if I had just been travelling around Europe.

These student budgeted trips were absolutely unforgettable. I even got to attend football matches for Manchester United at Old Trafford, and Liverpool Football Club at Anfield, thanks to friends that were season ticket holders.

Scholarships and career development

I was awarded a £5,000 Lancaster Global Scholarship, based on academic excellence, in my first year. As an international student, this financial support made a significant impact.

I used the Employment and Recruitment Service (ERS) at Lancaster University to find jobs on campus. Through them, I became an International Student Ambassador and later a Student Ambassador Leader. These roles gave me valuable experience and boosted my CV, and best of all, these roles were flexible and respectful of academic timetables, so it was easy to fit in around my life as well as meet my deadlines.

My data analytics degree has provided me with the relevant skills that employers are looking for. As part of my degree, I was able to work with a client on my final year project, something that prepares you for real-world tasks in a company. Also, due to the nature of the project, I got to experience what a Data Analyst role would look like, which is something that will also help to boost my CV.

Why data analytics and why Lancaster?

"Only 15 UK universities offered data analytics, and Lancaster stood out to me."

I was interested in studying a degree in data analytics, and there are only 15 universities in the UK that offered this degree. Lancaster was the best positioned university by far, and it certainly has lived up to my expectations.

I like that it is a very relevant course for today’s industry standards. Working with data has become increasingly more important for corporations, and having studied such a degree, I believe that I am well-positioned to be competitive in today’s job market.

My favourite part of studying at Lancaster University was the immense amount of support I received from the teaching staff; they are always happy to help and clarify any doubts I have.

I have also decided to study a postgraduate degree in data science at Lancaster University, and I’ve been awarded a scholarship for this degree too, so I am really looking forward to returning to Lancaster next year to continue my studies.

I’d recommend this course at Lancaster University to anyone interested in data and its application in business. It’s a well-rounded degree that equips you with the skills employers are looking for, including statistics concepts, data manipulation content, and computer-science concepts, all while applying them to business world context.

Lancaster provides the support, community, and opportunities to help any student succeed.

Related Blogs

• 

  Diverse, supportive and vibrant university community

• 

  Journey of balancing belief and belonging

• 

  Discovering connection as a Linguistics PhD student

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed by our bloggers and those providing comments are personal, and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of Lancaster University. Responsibility for the accuracy of any of the information contained within blog posts belongs to the blogger.