The Student Room Group

Choosing uni / gap year

Hello guys, I am an international student from India who is almost about to graduate this month with a Bachelors in Commerce!

I had applied to a few universities in UK for pursuing MSc in Finance & have gotten some results back. Looking for some guidance from you guys for helping make a decision!

Few Questions I am pondering on & need help making1. University prestige / Job Opportunities: How much does University matter in UK? My ideal match was Warwick / Kings but unfortunately got rejected. Wondering if going to one of the accepted ones will be worthwhile in terms of education & job opportunities?
2. Gap Year: If I do take a gap year, do you guys feel I can get improve my chances or is UK a more sort of academics oriented country (GPA and other stats are fixed). Looking for things to improve on. I believe applying early to Warwick would have made acceptance possible (2/3 people from my uni got in).
3. Summer School: Since I have this summer free, wondering if pursuing a summer course at one of the good universities in UK/US would offer any benefits in terms of experience / applications.

Mostly debating between Birmingham & Glasgow. Would appreciate guidance on selecting this for education, location, jobs. If not these, would you guys recommend holding off a gap year & try again in Warwick / Kings. Please also mention colleges I missed to apply & should think about next cycle!

Acceptance

1.

Birmingham

2.

Glasglow

3.

Liverpool

4.

Queen Mary Uni

5.

Cardiff

6.

Sheffield


Rejections

1.

Uni of Manchester

2.

Warwick

3.

Kings

4.

LSE


Stats/Academics about me:

GPA: 3.4/4.0

IELTS: 7.5 bands

GRE: 307

Academics: Co-founder of a finance club

Projects: 4 projects on real portfolio management, analysis of company's weighted average cost of capital, financial statement ratio analysis etc.

Research: Wrote a research paper on green economy focused on understanding the ESG framework and promote sustainable development. Promoted usage of EV vehicles in India.

Work Experience/Internships

Worked as a junior analyst at a reputed trading / IPO firm in my city for a summer.

Volunteered as a tutor & care taker at a NGO helping under privileged kids. Participated in food drives, helped in spreading awareness among children.



Thanks everyone in advance who is going to take some time reading & responding this. Really appreciate it!
Original post by jenilshah9900
Hello guys, I am an international student from India who is almost about to graduate this month with a Bachelors in Commerce!
I had applied to a few universities in UK for pursuing MSc in Finance & have gotten some results back. Looking for some guidance from you guys for helping make a decision!
Few Questions I am pondering on & need help making1. University prestige / Job Opportunities: How much does University matter in UK? My ideal match was Warwick / Kings but unfortunately got rejected. Wondering if going to one of the accepted ones will be worthwhile in terms of education & job opportunities?
2. Gap Year: If I do take a gap year, do you guys feel I can get improve my chances or is UK a more sort of academics oriented country (GPA and other stats are fixed). Looking for things to improve on. I believe applying early to Warwick would have made acceptance possible (2/3 people from my uni got in).
3. Summer School: Since I have this summer free, wondering if pursuing a summer course at one of the good universities in UK/US would offer any benefits in terms of experience / applications.
Mostly debating between Birmingham & Glasgow. Would appreciate guidance on selecting this for education, location, jobs. If not these, would you guys recommend holding off a gap year & try again in Warwick / Kings. Please also mention colleges I missed to apply & should think about next cycle!
Acceptance

1.

Birmingham

2.

Glasglow

3.

Liverpool

4.

Queen Mary Uni

5.

Cardiff

6.

Sheffield


Rejections

1.

Uni of Manchester

2.

Warwick

3.

Kings

4.

LSE


Stats/Academics about me:

GPA: 3.4/4.0

IELTS: 7.5 bands

GRE: 307

Academics: Co-founder of a finance club

Projects: 4 projects on real portfolio management, analysis of company's weighted average cost of capital, financial statement ratio analysis etc.

Research: Wrote a research paper on green economy focused on understanding the ESG framework and promote sustainable development. Promoted usage of EV vehicles in India.

Work Experience/Internships

Worked as a junior analyst at a reputed trading / IPO firm in my city for a summer.

Volunteered as a tutor & care taker at a NGO helping under privileged kids. Participated in food drives, helped in spreading awareness among children.


Thanks everyone in advance who is going to take some time reading & responding this. Really appreciate it!

Hey Jenil,

Congratulations on your graduation and your acceptance to UK universities! Your blend of academics and volunteering is impressive. Here are some insights based on my own experience pursuing a master's in the UK (Edinburgh):

Firstly, while the university's reputation matters, it's not the only factor. Both Birmingham and Glasgow are solid choices. Having spent time in Glasgow, I can vouch for its safety and potential for job opportunities. However, check out safety concerns in Birmingham before deciding, as I have heard it can be unsafe. Do your research about this beforehand.

What truly matters is how you use your time during your studies here in the UK. Engaging in extracurricular activities, internships, and networking is important to boost your job prospects. Employers want well-rounded candidates with practical experience. Research about course modules and career facilities that align with your goals. Connect with current students in the universities you got admitted to for more relevant insights.

If you have a clear plan, taking a gap year can be beneficial. Use this time to gain relevant work experience in India by researching the UK job market. Look for potential graduate roles you want to apply for when you finish your degree here. Understanding the UK job market, especially within your field, is crucial for navigating your career path effectively. It provides insight into relevant roles that you can work in India and gives you an advantage when applying for positions here. Applying early to universities like Warwick might help, but remember, admissions decisions are based on various factors. I am unsure about summer schools, as I have no experience in that area.

Preparation and research are key. They helped me make an informed decision and be prepared for adverse situations, too. Explore all aspects of your options to make the best decision. Feel free to reach out if you have questions. Good luck with your decision-making process!

Cheers,
Shri (MSc International Business Student).

Reply 2

Original post by Heriot-Watt Uni
Hey Jenil,
Congratulations on your graduation and your acceptance to UK universities! Your blend of academics and volunteering is impressive. Here are some insights based on my own experience pursuing a master's in the UK (Edinburgh):
Firstly, while the university's reputation matters, it's not the only factor. Both Birmingham and Glasgow are solid choices. Having spent time in Glasgow, I can vouch for its safety and potential for job opportunities. However, check out safety concerns in Birmingham before deciding, as I have heard it can be unsafe. Do your research about this beforehand.
What truly matters is how you use your time during your studies here in the UK. Engaging in extracurricular activities, internships, and networking is important to boost your job prospects. Employers want well-rounded candidates with practical experience. Research about course modules and career facilities that align with your goals. Connect with current students in the universities you got admitted to for more relevant insights.
If you have a clear plan, taking a gap year can be beneficial. Use this time to gain relevant work experience in India by researching the UK job market. Look for potential graduate roles you want to apply for when you finish your degree here. Understanding the UK job market, especially within your field, is crucial for navigating your career path effectively. It provides insight into relevant roles that you can work in India and gives you an advantage when applying for positions here. Applying early to universities like Warwick might help, but remember, admissions decisions are based on various factors. I am unsure about summer schools, as I have no experience in that area.
Preparation and research are key. They helped me make an informed decision and be prepared for adverse situations, too. Explore all aspects of your options to make the best decision. Feel free to reach out if you have questions. Good luck with your decision-making process!
Cheers,
Shri (MSc International Business Student).
Hey thanks for the insights! These are quite helpful! To poke a bit further, we understand that Glasgow & Birmingham both offer really good courses and choices 🙂 However, the finances involved are significant for international student!

Wondering if spending such significant capital would be worthwhile for an education from these, or should I wait further to improve my experience / portfolio and spend on a better university. The matter is the opportunity cost of a gap year.

A second aspect is the recent policy changes for international students pursuing post grad in UK. They are no longer to allow dependents, pursuing internship while working & potentially cancellation of the post study work permit (2 years). A year would provide more clarity on these.

Do you know if these universities offer any scholarships? A good scholarship would make these choices much easier as well. As you pointed out, these season we were a bit underprepared. However I am sure given a year, our preparation would become significantly better. Curious about what aspects you think can improve our chances?

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