What course did you study? 

I graduated from Queen's Business School in 2023 with a degree in MSc Quantitative Finance, now MSc Financial Analytics.

 

Why did you choose this course? 

I decided to take this course because I wanted to develop new skills that would be of great benefit to a career in finance. Mostly notably, I wanted to improve my coding skills and the MSc Quantitative Finance course provided this opportunity through the use of R, SQL, and Python coding languages.  

I always knew I wanted to pursue a Masters, but after graduating in 2020 at the height of COVID-19, I did not want to undertake a Masters degree online. I wanted to have in-person lectures as I learn better this way.

After working in Dublin as a Private Equity Fund Analyst for nearly two years, I knew that it wasn't a job that I wanted to do long-term, so took the decision to come back to QUB and undertake a Masters.

 

What has your career path been since graduation? 

I started a new job three weeks prior to graduating from the MSc Quantitative Finance course. My role is a Trainee Broker on the Cross Asset Sales Desk at Aurel BGC in London.

 

How did your degree prepare you for your current job role? 

My degree gave me more knowledge of complex financial products which are traded at Aurel BGC. This has given me an initial insight as to how the business makes money and how current economic conditions dictate foreign exchange and interest rate trades.

 

What were your favourite courses, modules or educational takeaways from your time at Queen's and why were they impactful? 

I thoroughly enjoyed the guest speakers during the Asset Pricing module in first semester. These were industry professionals from a wide range of jobs that helped us to understand how the theory we applied in the lectures was used in their day-to-day jobs.        

The Computational Methods for Finance module in second semester was another highlight. Although challenging, this module really helps to understand how you can model different financial problems through the use of the Python coding language. We learnt how to price options and bonds using code.

With a smaller class size than my undergraduate degree, I felt it was easier to ask lecturers questions and benefitted from many discussions in lectures between students and lecturers. 

 

Did you do any extra-curricular activities whilst at Queen’s? How did this help you to advance personally and professionally?   

I was a member of the Queen's Student Managed Fund during my masters degree, where I was an ESG Sector Head. These helped to develop my communication and leadership skills as I was assisting junior analysts on how to research companies and teaching them how to use valuation methods to value these companies.

 

What advice do you have for someone considering studying at Queen’s Business School?  

I didn't expect to enjoy University as much as I did. What may have seemed daunting before starting my MSc quickly turned into a really immersive and enjoyable learning experience with plenty of support and guidance from lecturers and the School as a whole. The quality of teaching and resources available really helped to ensure that I got the most out of my time at Queen's Business School. I think the main thing is to know what you are signing up for.

If you want to improve your financial knowledge, as well as your coding skills, then I would highly recommend this course. As there are many deadlines throughout each semester, some of them quite close to each other, it is imperative to manage your time well. It is a very rewarding course, but only if you are willing to put the effort in!

 

What career advice would you give someone looking to go down a similar career path as you?   

Try and get involved in as much as you can during your time at Queen's. As well as being an ESG sector head in the Queen's Student Managed Fund, I also participated in AmplifyMe's Finance Simulator. I was identified as a High Potential Candidate and was invited to complete their Investment Banking Academy. This was free of charge and I would highly recommend signing up to it during your first semester. 

All of these things help to give you an edge in a competitive job market. They are great talking points during interviews and interviewers are always very interested to know about the skills I developed during these extra-curricular activities.

 

What has been your career highlight so far?  

The opportunity to work in a fast paced, dynamic front office environment has been thoroughly enjoyable. Learning from experienced industry professionals will help to improve my skills and enhance my career.

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