3rd term optional modules and some tips for MSc candidates in Finance

Last week I took exam for CFA exam at London. According to CFA Institute, there were 9,000 candidates in London for this exam. My course MSc Investment Analysis covers many subjects of CFA curriculum Approximately 4 subjects out of ten. One of our professors already passed this exam fully and charted member. So he not only recommend students take these exams but holds some seminars during the 3^rd term. Personally, I didn’t attend these seminars but my classmates really satisfied with the quality of teaching for these seminars in spite of optional modules. It shows that Aston’s Faculty really cares about our students to be highly employable and be competitive in job markets.

Some tips for MSc candidates in Finance 

If you are considering Aston University for studying MSc course in Finance, you should choose between Finance & Investment and Investment Analysis. The big difference is that Finance & Investment requires students to write dissertation the other one needs to finish project. If candidates are intending to have further studies such as Ph.D. Finance & Investment course could be ideal choice due to the nature of course structure and Dissertation requirement.

Approaching the end of academic year at Aston

Personally I really enjoyed my life at Aston University (I divided three main factors)

Location

As a second largest city in the U.K, Birmingham is a great place to live as an international student. From Aston University, you could easily go (it’s walking distance! Less than 15 mins)  Shopping centre, Cinema, Open markets, restaurants and attractions. More importantly, living costs are much cheaper than London.  According to UKBA Agency, they stated minimum of 800 pounds per month for living expense (based in London 1000 pounds). The amount could vary depending upon individual lifestyle but you could certainly save your huge amount of money by benefiting of advantages of Urban Settlement.

Excellence of faculty

One of the most important factors could be academic excellence of faculty regardless of undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Aston University provides quite practical taught courses and subjects for students. When I attended first term modules, I was quite surprised that Aston recruits many practitioners as faculty to deliver up-to-date knowledge. Although some tutors don’t have PhD, they give latest industry insights.

Opportunities for scholarship and career

Aston provides variety of scholarship schemes for prospective students. http://www.aston.ac.uk/international-students/finance/internal-scholarships/

Also, I have experienced excellent supports from career advisors. Students can get detailed advice regarding job-seeking on a one to one basis. Furthermore, Postgraduate Career Advisor hold career session ever weekday afternoon at 2^nd floor. So students get quick questions about their queries without appointment. Additionally, Career service at Aston provides latest job market information and a variety of job fairs

Secured placement for Summer Internship in London

London is one of the most ideal places to start your career if you are considering working in finance industry.  Approximately, the market size is estimated US$ 1.2quadrillion(20 times the size of world economy) and talented practitioners would not only inspire you but also give you better business insight in this field.  Personally, I secured my internship by benefiting from my language skills Korean, Japanese and English plus my professional qualifications. Although they are not guaranteed permanent position after my internship, they are willing to hire me if my performance of placement reaches their expectation (they hired intern for permanent position last year).  Internship could be quite good opportunity for me to broaden my horizons.

Some useful tips for international students

From my own experience, I replied from most of universities regarding my applications before Easter break.  By the time now, you should consider not solely on selecting a university but living in the U.K seriously. In practical terms, I strongly recommend you to open bank account after your arrival. To do this, you need an official bank letter from the school to confirm your student status. Generally, majority of banks accept HTS(Highly Trusted Sponsor) institutions’ bank letters without any problems(you should consider that some universities could be excluded from HTS list such as London Metropolitan University). After you open a bank account, literally you could do flawlessly about transferring your home country’s bank account into U.K contracting Mobile phone (usually 24months), TV licensing and proceeding Monthly payments regarding your purchases etc. Personally, I changed my phone by changing ownership, if you interested in I will reply it in detail.

If you arrive earlier than 1^st semester, definitely you should consider going travels for other famous cities such as Oxford, Cambridge and Edinburgh. Luckily, 16-25 Railcard allows you save 1/3 on standard fees. Although you are above 25, you are still eligible to get this as a full time student by getting confirmation letter from a University. In Aston, we have a specialized department to help international students(HUB). If you request specifically about your needs(Bank letter or Confirmation Letter) earlier than your visit, you will get it less than a minute!

After finishing 2/3 of my course...

This Friday i had my final exam for 2nd term. Probably i can't wake up without the help of my personal alarm clock(Pic below)..

Personally, i really wanted to hold good grades by getting good results in 2nd term, i just slept two or three hours in exam week..;However, without my personal alarm clock, i could have missed the final exam in the morning(he or she knocked my window,,, just before starting the exam 30 mins)...
Anyway, after the exam, i did go Millennium Point. this fancy building is not only the closest Movie theatre from Aston University(it takes less than 3 mins) but has a fabulous trail. When i felt depressed   or tired due to an assignment or exam. i usually visit this place. Although this Millennium Point is the closest movie theatre,  majority of students do not aware of this place. it's quite lucky to have this kind of place near the campus!! :)

Many opportunities to participate events at Aston

Aston University is regarded as a well recognized academic institution in Birmingham.

So students can easily get opportunities to go variety of events such as Career Fair, Events and seminars. Personally, i check Aston Business School's website and career website to get up-to-date information of events. 12/Feb/2014, Transforming the West Midlands series kicked off with presentations from one of the most famous faculties in Aston, David Bailey and Executive Director of Jaguar Land Rover. It was quite interesting because Birmingham's car manufacturing industry seemed to need the great idea about major reconstruction. After informative presentation,various professional participated debate. If you came to Aston, you can just submit brief application for the event. If you want to participate famous events, Probably you need to book your place as soon as possible to secure your place. As i mentioned earlier, The event is normally held in a conference room at Aston Main Building. So, you could be relatively convenient to get involved events compared to others.

About Food Shopping and Recent issues(Exam Results)

      As I mentioned previous posts several times, the location of Aston University is excellent due to the closeness to the city centre. Spontaneously, it will tremendously reduce your worries about foods. If you really like quality foods, you could go Marks and Spencers(it takes less than 10 mins from the campus VIA walk). Although M&S is relatively expensive Compared to other superstores in city centre, you could find really fine processed foods. Personally, I go there just before close because M&S offers huge discount for Bakery approximately less than half prices due to their one-day display policy for Bakery.  As a student, the foods expense could be a huge concern in long-term perspective. So I strongly recommend to use ASDA Delivery service. Basically, ASDA is quite far from Aston University(it takes 20 mins via TAXI) so it could be difficult to go there and get it your place by yourself. Door to Door Delivery Service charges 15 pounds every three month. However, you could share this service with your flatmates ☺. I can guarantee that you could hugely save your money because of reasonable prices of ASDA.  Additionally using indoor and outdoor markets in Birmingham could be also one of the best ways to save your money ☺. 

    Provisional Results of Assessment for business school has been released this Friday. Surprisingly, the gap between lowest and Highest grades are so huge! (One particular module I got 84!!) So I could tell you that you should do the best efforts because you could get probably better or lower than you expected..

2014 New years… some tips for job-hunting at Aston

31^st Dec 2013 New year’s eve, I visited London to watch new year fireworks 2014. According to BBC news, a quarter of million people came to London to watch it. Although I arrived quite early 4 hours before commencing firework, I can’t take a perfect place. If anyone who wants to watch Fireworks 2015 London, they should be aware of the place that could be unthinkably and extremely busy.

Anyway, master course in the UK normally one-year duration so I really need to search jobs and get skills that can make me highly employable.  Aston Business School Provides some tips regarding writing C.V and Cover letter, Interview skills Etc. If you make appointment via WASS(Aston Web Appointment Scheduling System), you can get detailed advice regarding job-seeking on a one to one basis. Furthermore, Postgraduate Career Advisor hold career session ever weekday afternoon at 2^nd floor. So students get quick questions about their queries without appointment. Additionally, Career service at Aston provides latest job market information and a variety of job fairs. So I found that is really helpful.

Finished 1/3 of the course!!

As long as I know, most of MSc courses at Aston consist of three terms for the whole year. Basically, First term course provides principal knowledge regarding my major and then second term help students understand further knowledge. Just before I finish off my 1^st term, I should take exam to measure my academic performance and efforts.

After I took the exam, I realized that assessment methods should be considered when you are choosing your courses or schools. Literally, every course has different methods and criteria for assessment. If you want regally good marks, you should consider candidate course’s assessment method is fit your ability because some courses(including my course) assess students 100 percent by  final exams. However, some courses assess students by the performance of reports or projects.

Anyway, after finishing my 1^st and 2^nd terms, I should start my dissertation. Probably, many MSc courses at Aston could be similar course outline as my course except MBA Programme. As a result, Presumably last term, students will have enough time to seek job or they can study abroad by utilizing our exchange  programs(we have many exchange programs with prestigious business schools such as double degree or study abroad. If you interested in please check below the link).

http://www1.aston.ac.uk/aston-business-school/international/outgoing/postgraduate/double-degree/

Villa Park !!

Football is one the most popular and well known sports in the world. Basically The first football league is founded in England. Becoming major football league in the world. If you particularly interested in football, you definitely have many chances to see football matches in Birmingham. 

There are two major football clubs in Birmingham. Aston Villa is one of the oldest and most successful football clubs and the other fierce local rivalry is Birmingham city. Personally I prefer Aston Villa F.C so I did go Villa Park for big match of Aston Villa VS Man Utd.

My seat was for Aston Villa supporters so I should cheer for Aston Villa!  If you are considering to watch Premier league, you should careful about selecting your seats(it is clearly divided by teams)

Otherwise, security guy will come to you and escort to exit if you cheer for the opponent team.  Additionally you can get a student discount offer for ticket so please keep your Student ID when you book the ticket!

Trip to Oxford and London

Birmingham is located in the centre of the UK. So you can go anywhere relatively lower prices 

compared to other places! Furthermore, Aston university is not only very close to Train station(Birmingham moor Street is just 6mins walking distance) but Coach station is not far from the campus as well(10 mins from the campus). Personally i strongly recommend you to reserve ticket in advance(it is much cheaper than purchasing on site). Anyway, i did go Oxford and Cambridge and London this time.

 Above and below pictures are the christ church in oxford!! This place is very famous filming  location of Harry Potter!! Generally Oxford is quite busy in the weekends. If you don't like crowded place you should consider it to go on weekdays.

London just takes one and half a hour if you takes Train. Personally, i go London quite often because there are many attractions such as Madame Tussauds British museum etc.. It's hard to narrow it down to  explain why i go london that often haha. Anyway, i am quite satisfied the location of the campus due to quite low trip costs.

what a great place to live!!

To Be Honest, i don't like the weather of UK, i know it is quite straightforward but everyone agree with that! so the environment of place could be very important factor due to bad weather(bad weather could make you feel depressed !! seriously) 

 If you are considering birmingham for study, i could tell many attractive things about this city :)
 see! i took above picture in the city centre. as you can see, many people can easily find some places to relax even middle of the city centre ! actually this is one of my favorite places :)

Birmingham's Frankfurt Christmas Market is obviously enjoyable for everyone!!(it opens now until 22nd December ) you can feel the Christmas in this lovely places!! Christmas carol, exotic foods, coffees, mulled wine, fancy chocolates etc..
Definitely, you are not gonna be easily depressed due to english bad weather(or foods) in Birmingham!! there are lots of enjoyable events in Birmingham including Frankfurt Christmas Market

about my course

 

 

Currently, i am enjoying my study at Aston!! in this time i will briefly explain my study !!

 My course is MSc Investment Analysis. This course is quite good for someone who is seeking for practical knowledge in finance industry becuase this course is officially recongnised by CISI so students could get exemption from CISI diploma to aquire certificates. Literally 14 UK universities assigned as a Centre of Excellence for exemption.

 

 Furthermore, Trading room provides excellent opportunitiy for students to access latest market resources and financial datbase. Additionally, it also gives chance to take exam for reuter trading
certificate to strengthen students' CV.  Personally, i like my course becuase tutors are very friednly and they know exactly what they are talking about. I believe that other courses have very distinctive
advantages in practical terms. !!

Living on campus

  

Living on campus has relatively huge advantages compared to living off campus. For example, no transport costs, shorter length contract and city centre location. Basically, Aston Accommodation provides three selections for students: Lakeside residence, New build 5 bedroom flat and 7bedroom flat. Personally i chose New build 7 bed room flat option due to its cost competitiveness of price and quality of the building(it’s new build!). The difference between 5 room and 7room option is the size of bed 3/4 size for 5bedroom and single size bed for 7bedroom. So if someone who has unusual sleeping habit, i strongly recommend to get 5bedroom flat option!.  

Living on campus guarantees that you don’t need to worry about safety issue. To enter the accommodation, i need two key cards to unlock four doors!!   

With En-suite Bathroom, state of the art kitchen facilities !!

If you have any queries about living on campus, just ask me J

Golden Opportunitiy from Aston

Golden Opportunity from Aston

Golden Opportunity from Aston

Aston is among the top 1% of business schools in the world. This school’s Triple accreditations prove the excellence of research quality and job-prospects. Furthermore, the results of Aston’s Research Assessment Exercise(RAE) confirmed the quality of research (Top 12 in the UK)

Based on above data, Aston could be regarded as the best choice for postgraduate-level study.

                                                    

Financial Times Rankings



Rae Ranking



                                                                       








After I got offer from Aston, I searched a variety of postgraduate scholarships which provided from Aston. Surprisingly, there are many scholarships for not only English but also international students. Generally, schools not prefer to invest their capital for international students mainly because international students are one of the most lucrative cash-cow for their benefits. However, Aston is simply different from others. This school tries to provide equal opportunities for every student regardless of their nationalities. And also, tuition fee is relatively lower than other universities. Anyway, after deep consideration, I applied Su-Yeon Yoo scholarship and rewarded from Aston.



Various Scholarships



From September, as an student ambassador, I will post regularly about my life at Aston such as job prospect, academic progress, Food and cooking, tuition and scholarship, the cheapest airfares and transportation, travelling England from  Aston, nightlife, shopping and restaurants Etc. So if you want to ask about anything, I would be happy to reply any queries