Aviral
Why did you decide that Exeter was the best place to study?
Exeter has a strong and reputable Business School that convinced me to pursue my education with this Russel Group University. The adoption of a careful and helpful teaching framework along with the various support streams for students are helpful in allowing me to gain the best Undergraduate experience I could have asked for. The University provides advice on every problem faced by its students and its invaluable resources in a calm and focused environment was a key factor for my choice of Undergraduate studies. The Career Zone in particular has helped me through various workshops in order to develop my portfolio and has equipped me with relevant knowledge and skillsets as a future professional. These include achieving the Exeter Award and the Exeter Leaders Award within the first year of my undergraduate studies.
Describe your typical day at Exeter
I spend almost all my days on the beautiful Streatham Campus. My days are mostly filled with lectures and seminars throughout the week and I usually spend my breaks in the library catching up on the heavy content within my modules.
I am also the President for the Singapore Society and the General Officer for the Exeter Student Investment Fund. These 2 enriching roles have allowed me to connect well with my peers throughout the University as I balance my academic responsibilities.
I do take some time to focus on myself by balancing my workload with my hobbies such as running and going to the gym. Occasionally, I enjoy a good game of badminton in the University’s sports centre as well.
What are the best aspects of studying within your department?
The support rendered by the staff is probably a main factor of the Business School’s astounding reputation. Their dedication and passion in ensuring our continual learning is a motivating factor for students here to perform well. The Business School staff are also readily available and easily approachable.
The Business School has various resources that include silent study areas and even modern-day technology such as the Bloomberg Terminal that gives access to real-time market data for someone who is interested in pursuing a career path within the finance industry.
How would you describe the vibe on campus?
The highlight of Streatham Campus is the main Forum. There are always various activities going on throughout the day that engages students to take a break from the standard timetable of lectures and seminars. These include charity events or celebrating various festivals such as Diwali, Lunar New Year or Black History month and usually a few career fairs as well. The campus itself is usually warm and sunny and the on-site information desk staff are very helpful in providing help to any student who requires it.
What activities are you taking part in?
I am the President for The Singapore Society as well as the General Officer for the Exeter Student Investment Fund.
Maintaining Singaporean Interests within the University and the City itself has been a promising and engaging endeavour as I aim to host various events that celebrate festivals back in Singapore. Our aim as a society is to create a home away from home and it is truly a club that recognises the importance of community and family. The Singapore Society is home to approximately 70 Singaporean students where each member is readily accepted and equally valued. We absolutely love to include our foreign friends in the society as well where we promote the Singaporean lifestyle to increase the awareness of our little red dot.
Furthermore, in the Exeter Student Investment Fund, I have managed to gain a first-hand experience with the finance industry through the society’s activities/competitions/networking event and have been blessed to take charge of approximately 500 members where I assist the committee as well as the members in any concerns regarding opportunities/events etc. The goal of our society is to equip our members with relevant skills for the finance industry to the best of our ability and this includes organising a Stock Pitch competition and allowing members to showcase their skillset by applying for Student Representatives and Portfolio Managers who assist the society in managing tasks and running the Real Money Fund.
What particular skills are you gaining from this experience, will this help you in your choice of career?
My involvement with the Investment Fund dates back to my first year when I was a student representative. The experience and resources provided by the University along with the experience in numerical reasoning tests provided by the Career Zone through the Exeter Award allowed me to secure a Spring Week with JP Morgan. This undoubtedly boosted my confidence as well as my skillset when I apply for jobs in the future.
My contributions to the Singaporean Community allowed me to take on higher roles with the United Kingdom Singapore Students Council (UKSSC) as a Regional Director that is recognised by the High Commission of Singapore as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs back home.
These experiences allow me to connect with various like-minded individuals that will boost my knowledge and experiences which will thus help me in my future job applications.
How have you dealt with any challenges/difficulties during your time at the University of Exeter?
The thought of moving away to a foreign country seemed exciting at first, but as I landed at Heathrow and was picked up by the University’s chartered transport, I realised how daunting this experience was going to be. The various student bodies and peer support programmes such as the Global Chums Mentoring programme allowed me to receive mentorship from a fellow Singaporean who was a senior student, and he played a major role in helping me with my day-to-day problems. As an experienced student myself, I am now continuing to provide this aid as a Global Chum Mentor.
What is the best thing about living in Exeter?
Exeter has many established retail facilities and amenities for students to thrive within their environment. Its coastal location allows me to make a quick trip to beaches such as Exmouth within an hour by accessible transport services provided by Stagecoach. Exeter is also well connected to London via trains that service London Paddington and London Waterloo stations as well as the National Express coaches. These facilities allow for students to take some time off their hectic schedules and go for short trips over the weekends or during the holidays.
Would you recommend Exeter to your friends?
100% yes.
Was there anything about your experiences at Exeter that surprised you?
I was surprised by the amount of support the University and the Students’ Guild (Student Union) provides to students as I was introduced to a range of student societies that I did not expect to exist. These include a Harry Potter and Quidditch Society, a Taylor Swift society and many more. This was extremely heart-warming to see during Freshers Week as the University does not favour elitist societies such as sports and is open to allowing students to explore and pursue their non-academic interests and create an inclusive environment for every individual from all walks of life.
What advice would you give students planning on coming to the University of Exeter?
University is the best time to find yourself as a person and discover what you like and enjoy the most. Keep an open mind about every experience and opportunity here as you never know what good may come out of it. Most importantly, have a balance and take time to forge memories of a lifetime with your friends, only then will Exeter be a place you can call home.
Has the University been supportive during your time here?
Absolutely. The accommodations team provided massive support during my stay at Lafrowda. The Wellbeing team constantly checked in with me as well whenever I reached out for help and the various tutors across the Business School were more than willing to simply have a chat about their experiences alongside rendering the academic support that students such as myself needed.
