Coming from Bengaluru, one of India’s major entrepreneurial and IT business hubs, I had always dreamt of making a mark in the business world. After completing BBA from Christ University, I decided to pursue a master’s that would give me relevant industrial exposure, inculcate in me research and entrepreneurial skills, and enable me to become a competent professional capable of taking independent and innovative initiatives. This vision was accompanied by my dream of studying abroad for an international perspective on global business scenario and practices.
My search led me to the Russell Group website, which comprises 24 leading U.K. universities committed to sustaining the very best research, teaching practices and excellent links. I came across the University of York and its M.Sc. International Business and Strategic Management programme, which suited all my preferences and requirements. The York Management School of the university provides students a world-class experience through research-oriented curriculum, academic aid, excellent faculty and state-of-the-art infrastructure.
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The School’s extensive links to industry, businesses and organisations across the private and public sectors is among the best one can find. I received a scholarship of £7,500 from the British Council to pursue this course. The British Council offers 198 scholarships to Indian students enrolling for courses across universities in the U.K. and I’m proud I was one of them.
This M.Sc. helped me develop skills in critical analysis, information processing and data presentation. Moreover, content is prepared in an international context to prepare graduates for the global economy in which organisations operate. I got to learn politics, strategic management and international business, which I had not been introduced to earlier.
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My first day here was quite scary as it was the first time that I was all alone in a new country. But the university is well organised and the people are extremely welcoming; they helped me settle into a routine soon. I got to meet people from all walks of life whose experiences provided a lot to learn from. The York Management School organises ‘Masterclass’ from time to time where I had the opportunity to meet Nestle’s (U.K. and Ireland) CEO, Fiona Kendrick, and various other big shots from the business world. The management school also organises placement fairs and ‘meet and greet’ events to initiate discussions with employers from various organisations regarding the opportunities they provide. I also enrolled myself in various B-Plan competitions along with my friends to gain more exposure.
After completing the course, I am looking forward to exploring opportunities in technological consulting. In this context, professors at York Management School have helped me immensely in enhancing my analytical thought process to make it more constructive.
The city of York is beautiful and safe. You can fearlessly go out at any time of the day. To take a breather from academics, I indulge myself in my beloved hobby, photography. I have had a wonderful time clicking photos of the enchanting campus and the city. The town is also filled with cute boutiques and highstreet fashion stores. The one thing that I really look forward to is the programmes that the City Council conducts every few months. So far, I have attended the York Food Festival and the Christmas Market and it was an experience I’ll cherish for life.
Nirmal Raj is studying M.Sc. in International Business and Strategic Management at the University of York, U.K.