Gokul
Arumugam Chitra

Why did you choose NTU and your course?

When I shortlisted UK universities to do my master's degree in International Business, NTU had achieved prestigious accreditations, including EQUIS and AACSB. I connected with the current students and alumni of NTU via LinkedIn to better understand their personal reviews of the university. Their reviews were pretty positive; hence, I decided NTU should be my place. About the course, I really liked the diversified subject structure that included International HRM, Global Supply Chain Management, International Experience, and few Leadership modules. Since I was in the stage of figuring out the job field I wanted to move forward in, I chose this course to explore different areas of business.

What has stood out about Nottingham Business School?

The Merit Scholarship of £2000 that I received from NBS was an excellent factor for me in choosing NBS, as the committee discussed and decided together and sanctioned only the deserving candidates for their sincere efforts that I noticed were unique to NBS.

What is your favourite thing about your course?

The students studying with me are the best part of my course. They are from different nationalities and backgrounds, as well as from different age groups, which helps us understand the learning from their perspective and opens the door for a wider view.

Have you had the option to personalise your course? How has this benefited your studies?

Yes, we had the option to choose our sixth module from International Experience, International Marketing, and Networks and International Strategic Alliances. I chose international marketing as I wanted to explore the marketing and sales dynamics for my career ahead, and that gave me valuable insights.

How would you rate the course facilities and why?

The course facilities are very strong from the university by providing student support, library help, laptop loans, and many more for student welfare. Since we are in the business course, we had easy access to online library materials for our research, reports, business projects, etc.

How have you found Nottingham as a student city?

I would say Nottingham is one of the best student cities in the UK for its diverse student population and the modernisation of the city with a lot of student housing, making it affordable for international students as well.

What three words would you use to describe Nottingham?

Lively, Contemporary, Compact.

Did you find it easy to make friends at NTU?

Of course, yes. Since I'm obsessed with networking, I try to make many friends, and NTU has given me many opportunities for that by organising weekly events, course trips, leadership development travel, etc. I'm always grateful to NTU for creating opportunities that helped me earn a few great friends for life.

What’s next for you after NTU?

I recently landed an entry-level position at the NHS Business Services Authority and am exploring the next steps in enhancing my career track. I see this as a great opportunity to kickstart my career after graduation.

What do you think of the support available at NTU?

The Student Support Services at NTU have been of great help with the difficulties I had, from collecting my BRP card to resetting my university login. Reaching out to the student services either by email or in person, my issues have been resolved within 1 or 2 business days, and that was a great service to me as an international student. My course staff has been very patient in tutoring and clarifying our queries, and the best part is that they can be reached through emails even during the zero-lecture days, and they respond back promptly, which I've never come across in India. Global Lounge is like a comfort place for me during the lecture breaks to find friends, grow my network, and learn a lot more about different cultures around the world.

Has the Employability team helped you plan for life beyond NTU?

Definitely. I've taken part in various workshops to learn the BTS (behind the screen) of how the UK job market works and crack the strategy. Especially, they made me aware of the hidden job market and the ways to approach them, which I see as an eye-opener.

How is NTU for international students?

From my experience, NTU has been an amazing university for international students, where we learn a lot from everything, not just the lectures or books. NTU has been very kind and supportive of international students in terms of providing maximum help from their end, which includes money management.

Why did you want to study in the UK?

The reason for me to choose the UK for my postgraduate degree was the graduate visa route for 2 years after the course ends, which will greatly help me repay my student loan through a professional job. Also, the UK offers a one-year master's program that interests me, assuming I can enter the real-time business floor sooner than other countries.