Reflections from Past Students

Emily Williams, Management – Graduated 2009 to work for Procter & Gamble in Marketing

My time at St Andrews was fantastic; four years I will certainly never forget. I studied a Single Honours MA in Management. The school of Management gave me some wonderful possibilities; such breadth of courses and excellent flexibility. I believe this variety really helped me when looking for jobs as the skills gained were numerous. The lecturers are very friendly, warm and welcoming and that made a real difference to me. They have such passion for their subject and this is evidently passed onto the students throughout the years. Since leaving St Andrews, I have been working at Procter & Gamble in Geneva for two years in Marketing. I have specifically been working on Duracell for Western Europe and Central Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa. I am working as a Design Assistant Brand Manager which involves working with creative agencies to develop holistic communication; packaging, in store advertising, TV advertising, Print Adverts for total EMEA. St Andrews gave me all the necessary skills to be able to work in this environment and I am tremendously grateful. I would love to go back for another four years!

Torben Sherwood, Management - Graduated 2008 to read for an MPhil in Real Estate Finance at the University of Cambridge

St Andrews has provided me with many happy memories. I initially went up to read Computer Science, yet changed to Management, partly because of its very welcoming atmosphere. This is enforced by the team-based aspect to much of the work throughout all four years. Even though the first year class is large, it quickly becomes a friendly, close knit community. Another strength of the School is its diversity, spanning both Arts and Sciences. This attracts students from virtually every discipline within the University, meaning I was studying with Classicists, Geographers, Historians, Mathematicians, Physicists and Theologians. Much of my work was highly engaging and challenging, requiring in-depth knowledge of academic literature and current affairs. Yet whilst my work was intense, I also had the opportunity to socialise with my fellow students, through the many team-based projects, which in some cases meant spending the odd week living in each other's dining rooms, finalising presentations and pitches. I also found it possible to be on the committees of many clubs and societies, with no shortage of social events, parties, and shows from which to meet people from other parts of the University.

I feel my degree in Management at St Andrews provided me with a head start when it came to my post-graduate course in Real Estate Finance at Cambridge. Much of the analytical, financial, and team-based skills taught on my post-graduate course were already covered by St Andrews. I also feel I have gained a worldwide network of friends, many of whom I'm sure will be important people to know in the years to come. I would highly recommend Management at St Andrews to anyone who is looking for a challenging and thrilling discipline, at one of the best schools within one of the country's best universities!

Murdo Findlay, Management - Graduated 2009

I shall remember with great fondness my four years in the 'Auld Grey Toon', it amazes me just how quickly they have passed. What I most appreciated about studying within the School was the flexibility we had in shaping our degrees towards our own areas of interest, made possible by the diverse selection of modules across a wide range of topics. We all, even as undergraduates, had a good working relationship with our lecturers, whether it was over coffee in the Gateway or the more formal tutorial environment, we had ample opportunity to take advice or bounce ideas for projects around.

I'm left in no doubt that my experiences throughout the degree programme boosted my employability and gave me a definitive edge, especially in the current employment climate. As well as the rigorous academic discipline installed through research projects and literature reviews, the School's focus on group work and presentations from day one, meant that working with people under pressure and against sometimes tight deadlines became a challenge to relish rather than dread.

It was, of course, not all work and no play! I was always impressed by the diversity of activities and events that the students of the University managed to pull off, resulting in what seemed to be barely a week passing without some incredible event, everything from black tie balls to two day music festivals. Couple that with some world class golf courses and striking sea views, and I couldn't have asked for a better way to spend my years at University.

Tomasz Jurkanis, Management and Economics - Graduated in 2008 to work for McKinsey & Company

The choice of management was certainly the right decision. I changed my other major after first year (from German to Economics), but I particularly enjoyed the courses in the School of Management: Entrepreneurship, Dynamic Strategic Managament and Corporate Finance - they helped me build a strong base for skills and knowledge I need in everyday life as a strategic consultant. My choice of professional career has been greatly driven by the knowledge I obtained in the School of Management as well as the professional advice I received from the University careers office. Having developed a variety of skills in areas like finance and strategy I felt well-prepared for post-university job hunting. Apart from the academic approach, the School of Management reflects the international atmosphere at the university. Friendly relationships between staff and students fulfill the picture.

Beyond the academic side, I experienced the great social life in St Andrews, particularly through involvment in numerous student societies and through the foundation and presidency of the Polish Society at the University. By spending my year abroad in Canada I expanded my horizons further. I did use my time in St Andrews to practice golf and develop my speaking skills in Manadarin and German. Looking back now, my four years in St Andrews were a great time in my life and I keep visting the town as often as I can - also drop in to the School of Management.

Jack Few, Management - Graduated 2009

The School of Management opens up many possibilities for students to thrive and really make a degree course that will suit them. With the wide range of option modules, I was able to focus my education towards my own passions and develop a portfolio of subjects that would be relevant for me for when I graduated and move into the business world. The School also has a great approach to bringing in academics, ensuring that there is a mix of experienced academics and practiced business people.

Overall, St Andrews has given me a great start in opening up a wealth of opportunities in academia and business as well as allowing me to make some very close friends with both academics and fellow students alike.

Lisa Heidemanns, Management - Graduated 2005

I decided to study Management at honours level because I felt it would equip me with analytical thinking, research and teamwork skills necessary for a career in strategy consulting. I was able to pick from a wide variety of modules that suited my interest in global business management, including International Marketing, Scenario Thinking, International Banking and Dynamic Strategic Management. During senior honours, I particularly enjoyed working on a live project for the Scottish Motorsport Industry that investigated possible future scenarios for the industry. As a balance to academic life, I also took advantage of some of the University's diverse extra-curricular activities, including golfing on the world famous Old Course and organising the annual student Charity Fashion Show.

Choosing to study Management at St Andrews prepared me well for an MPhil in Strategy at Cambridge, as well as my current role at a boutique strategy consultancy, and I would certainly make the same choice again!

Andrew Prentice, Management with French - Graduated 2004

I chose St Andrews because of the flexible degree structure in first and second year. I originally applied to study Computer Science but chose Management and French as additional subjects, after which I decided to continue with them into Honours.

Management offers a wide range of subjects such as Marketing, Human Resource Management and Accounting over the four years of study, which has allowed me to gain insights into the many different areas of business management. All the staff are friendly and approachable, so they are always available to answer questions whether it is during or after classes.

Furthermore, the option to take a foreign language whilst studying a 'science' subject is a unique opportunity to add that little extra to your CV. 'Science' French involved reading scientific texts which means no French literature and is a fun, intensive French language course, with the option to study your science subject abroad for a year.

Arthur Lie, Management - Graduated 2004

I remember my days at the University of St Andrews with fondness. On both the academic and social levels it was a great place to complete my university degree. Academically it was and is the best university in Scotland. It has long-standing traditions, but has managed to adapt and take the best from the past and the present to mould the university into a place for young people to evolve intellectually and personally. In addition, it is known for being an international university where most students gain a wider understanding of cultural difference, and establish wide networks of people around the world.

When I first arrived at St Andrews I planned to do a degree in Psychology, but due to the flexible structure in sub-honours I also chose Economics and Management as my other subjects. During my first year of study I decided to change my Honours degree to Management. The School of Management offers modules that can be used in a wide variety of industries and sectors. The first two years give you a general foundation, which leaves you room to explore the subjects you like in more depth during your Honours degree. Think carefully about and target what you think will be useful to enhance your future career. For me, my degree and the modules I took made it possible to work abroad as an expat, and when I decided to move back to Norway, the name of St Andrews and the education I had received were perceived to be of the highest standard. The University of St Andrews will open doors for most students when it comes to starting a career. However, it is important to be dedicated and work hard to get your dream job.