Why did you choose to study this Masters course at Alliance Manchester Business School?
While carrying out my BSc in Economics, I realised I was more keen on practical business subjects than on theoretical economics ones. I also wanted an experience abroad and I wanted to attend a programme with marked international outlook. I had already been to Manchester for a Summer School and l loved the city, so I started doing some research and the MSc in International Business and Management at AMBS looked like the right fit!
What were you doing before your MSc?
Before my MSc, I was studying my BSc in Economics in Italy. I graduated in July and started the masters straight after that.
What are your career plans after graduation?
After graduation, I would like to work in consultancy: specifically, I am interested in financial advisory and I am currently applying for various graduate schemes in that area. My ambition is to work in a company with a strong international outlook, which would actively support my career development.
What is the best thing about studying at Alliance MBS?
AMBS provides us with a variety of useful services: the career service helps you understand your career aspirations; it gives you technical help to improve your CV and cover letters and to revise applications. They also organise plenty of company presentations and workshops as well as private appointments. There are plenty of opportunities to get involved in extra-curricular activities: I am currently part of the Consulting Club and of the Banking and Finance Club. The atmosphere here is involving and supportive, and that’s the best thing about studying at AMBS.
How much time do you spend in classes and in private study?
I spend roughly 3 hours a day in classes; In total, I spend 12/13 hours a week in classes. I spend another 4 hours a day studying individually and I dedicate 3/4 hours a week to group meeting for my assignments.
How would you describe your student experience so far?
Busy! The pace of the masters is much faster than that of the BSc: at first I found it hard to find the right balance between study, job searching, sport and social life. However, as the weeks went by I was able to set the right priorities and I got involved in some clubs and societies. The university and the city offer so many opportunities that it is basically impossible not to get involved in anything!
What’s the best thing about living in Manchester?
Manchester is a vibrant city: there is something for everybody. Whether you are a shopaholic or a sports fan, there is certainly something suited for you. What is more, Manchester’s business environment is continuously growing and it offers huge career opportunities: I would say this is the place to be if you want to start your career in the UK.
What advice would you give to those considering studying at Alliance MBS?
Explore the website, read brochures, come to an open day or attend a study fair: there are so many interesting courses than it can be difficult to make up your mind at first, so you really need to dig deep into the structure of the courses to understand what you want. You need to consider what you can bring to the course and what the course can do for you in terms of both personal and career development. Don’t be discouraged by the fact that your previous studies may be unrelated with what you want to do now: in my course, there are people who studied business before as well as people who didn’t. There are also people who have work experience as well as people who are coming straight from their BSc. As long as you are genuinely motivated and you show that you can bring value to the course, you can get in.
What was your experience like on the Brathay residential trip?
I attended the Brathay residential trip at the end of the induction week and I loved it! It is a great opportunity to challenge yourself and to get out of your comfort zone. Obviously, you are not pushed to do anything you don’t want to do, so it is completely up to you. There is an activity I will always remember: the four people in my team had to climb up a 10 meters high pole and to stand together on a 50cm2 platform which was on top of it: when we all got on top, we stayed there five minutes holding each other and encouraging one another to finally let go and fall! It is incredible how 24 hours with your group can make you get to know everybody so much better.