Flavia Vintila

Country of origin: Romania

PhD in Sociology, LUMS

From all the universities I was considering, Lancaster stood out the most. Its great reputation helped sway my choice in its favour. I initially came to Lancaster for my undergraduate studies, and after their completion, I decided to take the next step and complete my Master’s here as well.

There are quite a few things I liked about the programme I studied – the MSc E-Business and Innovation, or 'EBIN' as we call it.

Firstly, the Innovation module really stood out – a weekly group-work exercise turned into a race not only about who could answer the questions, but also who could present their work in innovative ways. My group chose to present half of our work in the form of magazine issues, while for our final project we filmed a documentary.

Secondly, the two intense days spent with three managers from IBM. We worked to incredibly tight deadlines, had lectures and made presentations. It seemed quite daunting at the beginning, but it really helped underline how well the student groups had come together.

Thirdly, I liked how the programme also focused on teamwork and trust among all the students, not just our core groups. We had a teambuilding day at Forrest Hills and, for that day, all the groups were mixed up, giving us the chance to work with classmates we had never had the opportunity to work with and it helped cement our bond as a group, rather than just the smaller core groups.

Lastly, I liked the focus on the individual students as well. The smaller number of people on the course (compared to my Bachelor’s years) allowed tutors to truly help us on a more individual level. Everybody involved in the MSc EBIN was very forthcoming and patient when questions or issues arose.

I was much less involved in societies during my Masters, as I decided to focus as much energy as possible on my work. But during my Bachelor’s degree years I was the Public Relations Officer at Lancaster Entrepreneurs Society, Co-Leader of SIFE (Enactus) team ‘The Big Switch’ and an International Freshmen Representative for Lonsdale College, to name a few. While on the EBIN programme, I took on the role of Social Representative for my course.

Study abroad

I opted for a research-based dissertation. I also qualified for the term abroad programme and spent some months studying at the Vienna University of Economics and Business. My time there taught me a lot as well as helping me to experience a different culture.

I will be returning to Vienna for an internship. I am in the process of applying for PhD programmes in the UK and will, hopefully, continue my academic pursuits. My time at Lancaster was paramount in my decision to do further studies in the UK. It also helped me understand what path I should pursue. My Masters in EBIN also allowed me to be an intern at a start-up e-business in France, should I decide to accept the role.

At the end of the day, going to Lancaster was one of the best choices I have ever made. I had the pleasure of working with and getting to know many interesting, hard-working people. I was taught by some of the best tutors the UK has to offer and I have learned a lot about myself and what I’m capable of. It was a long and, at times, hard journey, but a wonderful time that helped me grow as an individual.

Flavia has since enrolled on a PhD programme in the Department of Sociology at Lancaster University, and is based in the DEMAND centre.