I chose to study both my undergraduate degree and my master's at Loughborough because of its reputation as a leading sporting university. Having grown up swimming, I always saw Loughborough as the pinnacle of sport, so when it came to choosing a university it felt like the natural fit. When considering postgraduate study, I explored other options but already felt at home at Loughborough. I had built strong friendships, developed a sense of belonging and knew I could benefit from the excellent reputation of the finance programme.
As an undergraduate, I studied biology and spent my placement year at the Institute of Cancer Research, working on phase one clinical trials. While the experience was valuable, it made me realise that a career in that field was not something I felt passionate about. At the same time, the economic fallout from COVID-19 was playing out globally. Interest rates, inflation and financial markets were dominating headlines, and I became increasingly interested in understanding how economies and businesses responded to these challenges. Through Loughborough’s Finance and Investment Society, that interest developed further and ultimately inspired me to pursue a master's in finance.
Starting the programme without a finance background was challenging. The jump from undergraduate to postgraduate study is significant, and I spent several months adjusting to the pace and depth of the course. Fortunately, I have always enjoyed mathematics, which helped with the more technical aspects of the programme. The early modules were particularly important because they provided a solid grounding in corporate finance, economics and the key concepts that underpin more advanced topics. By the time we progressed to more complex material, I felt equipped to engage with it confidently.