Mainul

Why did you choose to study your course at Surrey?

When I was deciding where to study in the UK, I was looking for a top business school with a good employability rate, a practical course structure, and a location close to London. In these aspects, the University of Surrey matched my expectations well. Although I had unconditional offers from some other top business schools in the UK, I chose the University of Surrey because the MSc Business Analytics course seemed more relevant to my interests, background, and previous work experience.

What are the best things about Surrey and your course?

One of the best things about my course is that it is not only theory-based, but mostly lab-based and practical. As a result, we don’t just learn concepts in class, but we get the opportunity to apply them using real analytical tools and datasets. This is very important for me, because I understand a topic best when I can practically practise it.

What are the best things about life here as a postgraduate student?

One of the best things about living here as a postgraduate student is the real campus experience at Surrey. The campus is beautiful and surrounded by nature and hills, which gives it a very peaceful feeling.

Another thing I really like is the strong connection between Guildford town and the University of Surrey. Wherever I go in Guildford, I often run into university friends, classmates or other Surrey students. As a result, the town feels very friendly and familiar, especially when I am away from home as an international student.

The accommodation facilities are also one of the best things about student life. Living in university accommodation gives me the opportunity to meet people from different cultures and backgrounds. It allows me to make new friends, understand different lifestyles, and feel more connected to the university community. The accommodation options are student-friendly and affordable, which makes settling into a new country much easier.

My favourite place near the university is The Mount. From there you can see the whole of Guildford town, and it is one of the most relaxing places for me.

Another thing I really appreciate is the Students’ Union and university societies. They organise different events and activities almost every day, which gives postgraduate students the opportunity to meet new people, enjoy university life, and feel connected beyond their academic studies.

What are your career plans?

My career plan is to build my career in the business analytics field, especially in a field where data can support marketing, customer understanding, and business growth. Since my academic background and previous work experience are connected to marketing and brand management, I want to use analytics to make business decisions more accurate and evidence-based.

What advice do you have for students thinking of doing this course?

My advice to those who want to do MSc Business Analytics at Surrey is to be prepared for practical learning. 

This course is not just theory-based, most of the nodules are lab-based, where students have to work with different analytical tools, software and datasets, so it is very important to have an interest in both business and data.