Alice Ou

Why did you choose City?

I choose it as I am doing a practical course and City is a university specialised in solving real-world problems. So I think it is a good fit for me.

Why did you choose to study MSc Data Science

I choose Data Science. Coming from a Finance background, I think Data Science is a good add-on for my future career.

What has been your favourite module to study?

I like Machine Learning, Neural Network and Deep Learning (I know, it’s 3 modules, but they are actually quite connective and I really love them all!)

What makes City unique?

City has strong connection with the industry and they have a lot of industrial events you can participate. I think it is really helpful for you to understand what you are up for after graduating from your degree.

What do you enjoy most about studying in London?

I enjoy the metropolitan atmosphere in London. Life is always colourful. You may meet people (your classmates, lecturers, friends, flatmates and even just strangers) from different countries and areas. There are lots of galleries and museums and parks in this busy city too.

What do you get up to outside of University?

I do badminton as my sports. Sometimes, I will go for a walk or a run in the nearby park with my flatmates. By the way, the park which is 15-minutes away from my flat have deer! We sometimes go to the nearby city hall for a cup of coffee and maybe breakfast as well. Time by time, there are some musical events held in London and we went to see it if it’s not too expensive.

What are your plans for after graduation?

I hope to find a job in London and stay here for at least a couple of years to see if I want to settle down in this city.

How has City helped you to prepare for life after graduation?

I think, as a university, City has helped me know better about what is my degree about and what is its capacity. It helped me to know better about what I want to do after graduation. Also, City provides me a lot more opportunities (compared to my previous education experience) that I can actually work with other people in non-study situation, such as a part-time job, volunteering and lot of other projects you might sign-up to (which is paid as well).

It is more like a transition between academic environment to industrial ones with not much to lose if you didn’t do a good job at the time being. I personally think it is very important no matter you are new to the job market or new to the London job market. I get to know (a little bit) how London people think of work and life and it will help me to have a happier life here I believe.

What would be your tips for those who have applied to City?

For everyone who applied to City, I would say, well done! And try to make use of what City can provide you in terms of financial, academic and industrial help. There are different types of scholarships available for all students (most of them are for home and international students). Other than scholarships, there are bursaries and loan for anyone who wants to lighter your financial burden.

Try to participate the industrial events City held for you, including placement/internships, Data Bites (one event for Data Science and AI students) and many others. There are other schemes you can join such as Mentorship Scheme etc.

Last but not the least, spend your time in London well! I would say, study and work should be your main stream, but don’t make it all your life. You can do that through online learning. Meet some friends, go outdoor to enjoy the sunshine, architecture, music and all other cultural life. If you are interested in Politics or Business, you can also find a lot of your dream place to visit. Hope you have a good time here with City in London.