MSc. Business & Marketing Analytics @ Aston

In deciding which programme was right for me, the major factors influencing my decision were based on what is of interest to me and long-term value with regard to career and foundation for further studies. I think it’s important to pursue a degree that is of interest because this provides motivation to do your best. Alternatively, one may chose a programme based on their competencies or what they are generally good at as this would determine if they excel in the programme or not. 

I was attracted to this programme because of how it differed from most business and marketing programmes. As the name suggests, it takes an analytical approach to understanding, explaining and predicting business and marketing phenomenon. This is ultimately aimed at making informed and quantitatively justifiable decisions that will produce optimal results. 

I chose this programme because in the long-run it would be highly valuable. Pursuing this masters degree will provide the necessary foundation to achieve my career goal of becoming a Management Consultant with a focus on Marketing and Strategy. It is my belief that data-centred marketing and strategy development is at the core of driving the competitive edge in businesses, therefore having a thorough understanding of these areas of a business, will no doubt improve one’s competitive advantage in the market place. 

Further, the benefits of the dissertation component of the programme cannot be understated for persons who wish to pursue a doctoral degree in the future (another of my long-term goals). The dissertation process provides exposure to researching at the postgraduate level and helps to develop research skills which will provide a solid foundation for a doctoral degree. 

For anyone interested in the Msc. Business & Marketing Analytics programme at Aston, further details can be found at: 

http://www1.aston.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/taught-programmes/school/abs/msc-business-and-marketing-analytics/ 

A Few Reasons for Studying at Aston

Reputation

Nowadays there are so many institutions offering various degrees that it can be mind-boggling deciding where to study. When I decided that I wanted to pursue my postgraduate degree and was looking into potential institutions, one of my academic advisors cautioned that “it is immensely important to ensure that the place at which you are studying is reputable”. The reputation of the institution is indeed important because the degrees obtained are aligned with the institution. In other words, if the institution has a poor reputation then the degree obtained from them may be questionable. 

That being said, Aston has consistently ranked within the top universities in the UK. According to the 2013 Guardian University Guide, Aston was rated within the top 30 UK institutions with some subjects being among the top 10 (Source: http://www1.aston.ac.uk/about/news/releases/2012/may/top-30-university/). In light of the above, the fact that Aston has a track record of high-level performance is quite reassuring to know.

Learning Environment

Depending on the programme being studied, the size of the lecture sessions may differ. My lectures were relatively small, partly due to the newness of the programme. During lectures, students are engaged in discussions and critical thinking is encouraged. It is truly an interactive learning experience.

The lecturers are from diverse backgrounds, which enhance the learning experience as you are able to learn from global perspectives. I was pleasantly surprised by how approachable the lecturers are as well as the fact that most are genuinely interested in the development of students. 

Resources & Facilities

The MSc. Postgraduate Suite and Business School foster comfortable and professional setting for students in and out of classes. I like the fact that the MSc. Suite offers 24hour access as this provides a comfortable working and studying environment outside of regular library hours. There are also numerous computer labs available to students. 

Overall, the facilities at Aston are modern with some areas being newly refurbished, such as the library. The printing facilities, which operate on a ‘FollowMe’ system, are also easily accessible and documents can be sent to the print network and picked up at a later time from any printer on campus – this is quite convenient. 

Students are also provided with access to software needed for their course. For the programme I am studying, we were able to install any software being used on our personal computers and were therefore able to practice using this software outside of class time. Aston also provides access to various databases for research purposes.

Scholarships & Other Funding

A number of scholarships are provided each year by Aston, which can be a tremendous help to international students in particular. Persons interested in scholarship options can find this information on the Aston website.

Lakeside Living

So what is it like living on the Aston Campus? It’s one of the questions I am frequently asked by friends, family and persons who are considering studying here. The first words that come to mind are always comfortable and convenient. 

There are three options for campus accommodation based on your social and financial needs – there are the Stafford Towers for persons who are always on the go, Lakeside which offers tranquillity and New Residences for a modern eco-friendly environment. Currently the most budget friendly option is Stafford Towers and New Residences is the most costly, Lakeside is in between. Another accommodation is currently being constructed to replace Stafford Towers; it will be similar to the New Residences. The differences in accommodation are largely based on price, number of persons per flat, shared/communal areas and overall amenities. 

I chose Lakeside based on the information available on the Aston website and I wasn’t disappointed. The Lakeside flats are comfortable en suite facilities with shared kitchen. I also found it to be a rather peaceful atmosphere; as the name suggests it is situated by an ornamental lake. You can see this in the picture below.

Lakeside Residences (left and centre) & Stafford Towers ( the tall building on the right)

When living on campus there are plenty of opportunities to interact with other students from different cultures. My flatmates consist of seven very cool people with vibrant personalities from Greece, China, Britain and India. They are all postgraduates and I find it quite easy to relate to them. In the kitchen you can find so many different spices and flavours from around the world. You are able to partake in different ethnic cuisines… I’ve tried scrumptious Greek cooking, flavourful Indian food and spicy Nigerian dishes…and of course I’ve shared my Jamaican cooking with others. 

Living on campus is convenient because you’re strategically located in the middle of everything that’s going on. Classes are only a couple minutes away from the residences therefore no time is lost commuting. If you have the odd day where you’ve overslept and find that you’ve woken up with only 20 minutes to spare before your morning lecture, you’ll still be able to make it on time! There is also convenient access to facilities such as the library, gym and guild –where lots of student events are always being held. Most students reside on campus which facilitates the easy arrangement of meetings for group work as well as socialising. 

The campus itself is located within walking distance of Birmingham City Centre which has quite a few attractions… historical sites, shopping centres and lots of entertainment options. The proximity to the city centre makes it easy to get around as a student, especially when you have routine things to do such grocery shopping.

At the end of this term we are given the option of either renewing accommodation on campus or finding alternative residences for the summer term. Although I’ve explored other options out of curiosity, my final decision is to stay on campus. So far it has been a pleasant experience and overall I am quite content with my stay at Lakeside.

Term 3!

It seems like just the other day that we started the masters’ programme but time surely flies and Term 3 is finally here. I found that this term started off rather hectic as the structure has been somewhat different compared to the previous terms. Normally, my modules/subjects are taught over a span of 8 weeks followed by examination in the 10th week. However, this time modules are taught in ‘block sessions’ from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. which results in 4 weeks’ worth of material per module covered each week – yes, you read right! Thankfully modules are alternated each week so we only have one to focus on at a time. Many persons have mixed feelings about this; some persons like it, some persons don’t. 

It is intensive but it does have its advantages. Although it means having to absorb the work in a shorter time frame, you are able to get lectures out of the way earlier so you can focus on module projects, reading etc. Basically, you can allocate your time based on how you see fit. The aim of doing the block sessions is so that we still have time to focus on their dissertation in Term 3. Exams are still at the end of the term. 

For my friends on other MSc. Programmes at Aston, their experience is a bit different as they completed their taught modules in Term 2. So they have Term 3 onward to focus on dissertation, however many have been flaunting their ‘free time’ at me –lol. I guess in some ways this is enviable but in other ways it can make persons complacent because it gives the illusion of having a lot of time when this is not really the case. 

As you can see the structure for each masters course is bit different. It’s fair to say that regardless of the structure, it’s really up to the individual to be focused and get the necessary work done – I must admit that this is ‘easier said than done’. Term 3 officially ends June 22nd and then from there on out it’s fully dissertation-time!

Almost Spring…

The ducks know its almost spring (lol) 

Lately there has been much more sunshine – oh, how I love the sun!!! It’s one of those rare commodities in Britain that you learn to treasure early on. One thing I’ve noticed since being here is that British weather is erratic and constantly changing. I’m from a tropical country where it is perpetually summer so you can understand when I say that this cold and bleak climate was one of the hardest things to get accustomed to. Sometimes the days start off beautifully bright and sunny and then by time you say “what a lovely day” --- rain, rain and more rain --- It’s no wonder that the most frequently discussed topic is the weather.

So what has the winter season been like? In my opinion: cold, wet, foggy and dreary but I’m told it was much milder compared to the previous year. I must say, it’s quite different from other winters I’ve experienced in North American countries such as Canada. Normally one would associate winter with snow, lots of it –but that wasn’t what I experienced here in Birmingham. During the February nights we saw a bit of snowfall …of course this was washed away by the following morning by the rain. The most significant snowfall occurred on two weekends, but just enough to cover the floor.

View from my flat: Snow covered lake on campus

The nature of the coldness differed in the fact that it was always rainy and windy so there was this constant dampness that really clung to you when you’re outside. I typically don’t have an issue with rainy weather but given that its winter, its cold water and with the constant wind, its being blown onto you so there is no escaping it. One of my friends described it as being ‘cold to the bone’ but I guess that’s why the layering method of dressing is so important. Once I got the hang of dressing for this climate, the weather became more manageable. Most students commute by walking, especially if you’re going out for fun, shopping or doing groceries, so there is no avoiding the climate; the best thing is to adapt.

Out in Birmingham City after a snowfall

According to my calendar the 20^th of March marks the first day of spring; I hear its lovely…. so you know who will be counting down until then J

 Looks like more sunny days are in store. ..yay!

International Scholarship Reception

I recently attended a scholarship reception hosted by Aston University. The purpose of the reception was to recognize persons who were awarded scholarships (whether from Aston or external organizations) at the start of the academic year.

Getting to know other scholars

The reception was a rather pleasant event in the form of a luncheon and award ceremony. It provided a forum to meet other scholars as well as to get to know each other. I was already familiar with a few scholars from the postgraduate programme and others I was able to meet for the first time. It was certainly a lovely surprise when I met two other persons from the Caribbean; another Jamaican like myself as well as someone from Trinidad.

The event was also a reminder of the cultural diversity at Aston. There were so many people from different regions representing their country. I couldn't agree more when Vice-Chancellor Prof. Julia King mentioned at the reception that not only do international students benefit from the experience but also UK students, given that the ‘international experience’ is brought to them in their homeland. The cultural diversity at Aston does provide a rich experience for both international and local students. It’s fair to say that Aston students are provided a rare opportunity to learn from each other, forge lifelong relationships with future leaders and simply enjoy the experience!

Group picture with Caribbean and African Scholars

Term1 at Aston

My first term at Aston is finally winding down; classes are over and exams have just finished. After one full term, I’m pleased to say that thus far my experience at Aston has been a pleasant one. There are two things that have stood out the most during the term – the diversity and Aston’s student centric focus.

When I thought about studying in the United Kingdom I knew that I would be crossing paths with people from all over the world but I was so amazed when I arrived at Aston to find out that this aspect exceeded my expectations. In my first week alone I met persons from Egypt, Nigeria, Greece, Bulgaria, Vietnam, Russia, Hong Kong, Canada, India, Estonia, France – just think of a country and chances are you’ll find a national at Aston. This really provides the opportunity for international networking. I have met a lot of wonderful people from very diverse backgrounds and we’ve not only shared classes together but also worked together as teams and developed friendships. Aston also supports this multicultural environment through courses such as Intercultural Communications which challenges you to think about the way you communicate with others and helps everyone to be cognizant of the cultural differences and barriers this could potentially cause. As a result, we are motivated to explore other cultures and discuss our differences in a rather constructive way.

Outside of the classroom, particularly if you live on campus like I do, you have to interact with many culturally diverse persons. I have found that since being at Aston I have improved my intercultural awareness. It’s one thing to be aware that every country communicates differently, but it’s a totally different thing to actually experience it. Through interacting with persons from other cultures I have not only increased my knowledge of other countries, their politics and culture, but also improved the way I communicate with others.

I have also observed something which I appreciate about Aston, that is, all its initiatives are focused on developing its students. Lecturers take a genuine interest in ensuring that students are on track and understand what is being taught. I like the fact that lecturers know their students by name and class participation is always encouraged as this enhances the learning experience. Further, there are a number of support systems in place for students such as the Hub (a student advice centre) as well as student support offices for each department and an active student’s guild. Undoubtedly, these factors contributed to a productive learning environment.

Overall, the first term was an enjoyable and engaging experience. I’m definitely looking forward to what the next term has in store.