Day in the life of an MSc Investment Management student
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Morning
6:00 AM
My alarm chimes, and I resist the urge to hit snooze. After getting up, I take a moment to pray to God, setting a peaceful intention for the day ahead. I check my to-do list that I prepared last night, mentally prioritizing tasks.
6:30 AM
Head to the university gym for a quick workout. While on the treadmill, I listen to an investment podcast discussing recent market trends.
7:15 AM
After showering, I call my mom back home. These morning calls keep me grounded despite the intense academic schedule. She always asks how my investments are doing, and I enjoy explaining concepts in a way she can understand.
7:45 AM
Breakfast while reading financial news, joined by my housemates – one studying cyber security, another marketing. We chat about our days over coffee.
8:30 AM
Walk from my grad college accommodation to the lecture theatre and join my classmates before lectures begin.
9:00 AM
In Dr. Kolokolova's Investment Research Methods course at Lancaster University, we're exploring top-down investment models today. We're examining how country selection, sector rotation, and style rotation strategies can enhance portfolio performance.
Afternoon
12:00 PM
Meet with team members about our approaching assignment deadline. We grab coffee and snacks from the campus café while dividing the remaining tasks for our portfolio optimization project.
2:00 PM
"Financial Markets" lecture with Dr. Mykola, focusing on portfolio selection. We use MATLAB to implement different approaches and analyse their performance. Dr. Mykola's energetic teaching style makes complex concepts accessible.
4:00 PM
Return to my accommodation for a short break – precious downtime amid the busy schedule.
Evening
5:30 PM
Evening Spanish language class through Lancaster's Global Affairs program. Today we're learning basic greetings and simple introductions – my first steps in a new language journey.
7:00 PM
Join the World Pancake Day workshop at Graduate College. I joined other students from different courses and learned so much about diverse pancake traditions from around the world.
8:30 PM
Spend an hour in the Bloomberg Terminal lab researching for an upcoming assignment. The quiet evening hours are productive for data gathering.
9:45 PM
Return to my room to cook a simple dinner while listening to a finance podcast.
10:30 PM
Meet friends at the social hub for relaxation and conversation before an impromptu night walk around campus.
12:00 AM
Back in my room, I prepare for tomorrow by reviewing my calendar and updating my to-do list.
12:30 AM
Before sleep, I journal briefly about key learnings from the day.
1:00 AM
Lights out, ready to recharge for another day at Lancaster University.
Summary
Life as an MSc Investment Management and Financial Analysis student at Lancaster combines rigorous academic training with diverse experiences beyond the classroom. The program demands discipline from early workouts to late-night studies, but offers rich opportunities for cultural exchange, language learning, and international friendships – preparing us not just for finance careers, but for navigating our interconnected world with confidence.
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