MSc Business Analytics student Ritika Sharma shares how Alliance Manchester Business School helped her transform a passion for data into a future-ready career.
Pursuing a master’s degree abroad had always been one of my biggest dreams and I pictured myself completing my undergraduate degree and then straight away flying off to begin a new chapter: new country, new experiences, and new opportunities. But life doesn’t always follow the script we create. Just as I graduated, COVID hit, and suddenly the world stopped. Borders closed, plans paused, and all I had imagined for my future was on hold.
At first, I was disappointed but in retrospect, that pause looks like one of the greatest things that could have happened. It helped me to gain work experience before making the next move. I eventually joined Accenture as a developer. And that’s where everything changed.
Working in tech space opened up a world I hadn’t fully explored before. I instinctively was attracted to projects where I could dig into patterns, analyse gaps, and help solve real business problems. The more I worked, the more I realised that what interested me wasn’t only the technical part of it; it was the bigger picture. Why were organisations making certain decisions? How did strategies form? What turned data into impact?
It became clear that I wanted a profession that combined analytics, strategic thinking, and meaningful business results. A master's in business Analytics is not only the next step, but the right step. That long-paused dream finally reappeared, and this time, I was ready.
Discovering my place
When I began my university search, I wasn't chasing for the biggest names but looking for a place where I could grow, not just academically, but personally and professionally. A place whose values aligned with the kind of person and professional I wanted to become.
That’s when AMBS stood out.
Of course, the reputation is incredible. Being part of The University of Manchester, one of the world’s top institutions, and holding the prestigious triple accreditation immediately reassured me of the academic quality. But real magic was in the programme itself. The MSc Business Analytics key modules were practical, hands-on, and designed around real industry needs. From machine learning and data visualisation to business strategy and decision-making. Everything seemed relevant and applicable. I could clearly imagine myself using these skills in real workplaces.
But beyond academics, another factor made AMBS feel right. The people. All interactions I had, whether it was with alumni, current students, or even staff, it felt so real. Everyone shared their personal journeys, their struggles, their inspirations, and how AMBS shaped their path. The community had a sense of warmth that I hadn’t felt elsewhere. Instead of just imagining myself in classrooms, I could actually see myself belonging here.
And then there was Manchester as a whole - the city that truly sealed my decision.
Landing in Manchester
There is much to think about when moving abroad. On one hand, this can be an exhilarating experience, however, it may also become overwhelming as well and I remember how excited I was on the day I packed my bag to go abroad, and being anxious about whether I would meet new friends, fit in, or if I’d feel too far from home.
Upon arriving in Manchester, those initial anxieties started to melt away. It’s one of those cities where you just feel welcome. From airport volunteers guiding international students, to seeing how diverse and lively the crowd was, I never once felt like an outsider.
Welcome Week consisted of induction, tours of the campus, meet and greet, and relaxed socialising. But to my surprise, it was easy to relate to people. Everyone was new, everyone was looking for their way, and everyone wanted to make friends.
Within a few days, new people from all kinds of backgrounds, countries, and cultures were crossing my path. We shared experiences from learning how to navigate the bus system to campus, comparing grocery prices across several stores, and taking part in several different events and societies. Over time, our friendship grew quickly, and Manchester eventually stopped feeling unfamiliar and now felt like an extension of home.
Life on the Programme
My time on AMBS has proved to be more than I expected. My journey with the Business Analytics programme, has been one of a practical, interactive programme where I have had to develop my ability to think critically; nothing we did was solely a theory, I learned various tools, applied them, discussed them, and considered their applicability in the real world.
The level of enthusiasm shown by our Professors in every aspect of our academic journey, as well as their willingness to engage, not only encourages, but also fosters an open forum for both students and faculty to ask questions and discuss topics, and simultaneously creates a safe environment for students to experiment with new ideas.
Some of the modules really stretched me. Applied Statistics turned out to be much harder than expected. Based on my development background, I felt quantitative skills would enable me to excel professionally. As I learned about statistical inference, hypothesis testing, and multiple regression modelling, I realised that I needed a different thought process to grasp the concepts and develop my confidence in applying those concepts. I learned that it was not just about calculation of the statistics but rather to use the statistics to guide the decision-making process and communicating insights clearly.
On the other hand, Data Visualisation has been surprisingly enjoyable. It's not about creating pretty charts but about sharing the story behind the information and allowing the conclusions to drive decisions. That combination of creativity and analytics really speaks to me.
Group work has been a fantastic experience. Working collaboratively with classmates of varying learning levels enables us to brainstorm fresh concepts, and solutions to problems through examining raw datasets, as well as completing our tasks together at the library and finishing our assignments, there’s always a tremendous level of teamwork and mutual support.
Looking ahead, I am particularly excited about the upcoming opportunities in consulting project and working with actual businesses on real challenges. Both the technical and personal foundations that I’ve built here has made me ready for whatever comes next, be it pursuing my career in business analytics or exploring hidden opportunities that I haven’t even imagined yet. I’m confident enough that it would be an incredible experience, if you’re considering joining AMBS particularly. Everything I’ve experienced up to now, has already transformed me for the better, and I know the best is yet come.
