Yingying Zhang

Country of origin: China

PhD Economics, Lancaster University

Why did you choose to study at LUMS?

I chose LUMS because of its high reputation both in the UK and internationally. Its research-oriented curriculum fits well with my own career plan. The Lancaster town is tranquil, free from hustle and bustle of city life, enabling me to focus on research and studying. Last but not least, the faculty and staff are so friendly and helpful that it never took me long to feel at home and sufficiently supported. All in all, Lancaster is an ideal place for studying, research and networking with some of the most talented people in your area.

Describe your time at LUMS in three words:

Fruitful, inspiring, happy.

What are the best things about living in the Lancaster area?

The Lancaster town is safe, peaceful and pretty, being an ideal place to live and to study. If you miss the city life, you can take direct trains to Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Glasgow and Edinburg. If you want to get closer to the nature, the nearby Lake District and Yorkshire national parks are perfect places for walking, climbing and camping. Located by the sea, Lancaster enjoys a cosy weather, being sunny and breezy during the summer, and not too cold in the winter.

What impact did scholarships/funding have on your degree experience?

I’m really grateful for the financial support provided by LUMS and my department. I got a partly tuition waiver (£3000) for my MSc degree, and for current PhD study a LUMS scholarship providing both full tuition waiver and annual stipends that are sufficient to cover my living expenses. These supports are necessary preliminaries to my successful and smooth pathway to further education.

Which parts of your Lancaster experience were the best preparation for your job?

I’ve been inspired and learning a lot from my supervisors, my teachers, other faculty and fellow students in our department and from LUMS. The best things are the excellent people you meet here, the opportunities to connect with other institutions and organizations through conferences, seminars, workshops, lectures, etc. It is through the networking and exchange of knowledge that you broaden your horizon, improve your understanding of the real world and your research area, and better prepare yourself for the future job market and academia life.