Academic and Career Resource Sharing

In my last post, I shared my study experience on the SSEES Economics and Business (E&B) programme. Today, I’d like to continue talking about the academic and career support that UCL SSEES provides for its students.

First, the Personal Academic Tutor system. UCL assigns a personal academic tutor to every student. You can discuss almost anything with them – academic difficulties, module choices, or even your future career plans. My experience may not represent everyone, but I feel very fortunate to have an amazing tutor. My first conversation with him completely changed my stereotype of the typical student–teacher relationship.

Before our first meeting, I was quite nervous, imagining a serious and distant professor. Surprisingly, after our group session, he casually suggested getting a coffee together. Coincidentally, everyone else left, and I was the only one remaining. I thought he would just call it off, but his response was really warm – he happily went to the campus café with me. That afternoon, we talked about so much: my university plans, my high school life, and he even excitedly shared his travel stories from visiting China. Since then, I have a coffee chat with him almost every month. The title ‘personal tutor’ is no longer just a formal term – he has truly become a mentor and friend in my university life.

Next, career-related resources. UCL holds a careers fair every September and October, covering areas including asset management, investment banking, law, technology, and healthcare. Many well-known companies attend, offering students one-to-one conversations, company insights, and internship opportunities. Besides that, SSEES regularly hosts its own career events. The speakers are often SSEES alumni now working at top companies: VP at Big 4 firms, fund manager at the London Stock Exchange, media specialist at embassies, and even a diplomat.

One speaker who left a deep impression on me founded her own AI company after graduating from SSEES. During her talk, she emphasised the importance of networking. She once started a conversation with a CEO at the gym and got her first summer internship that way. Later, that CEO even supported her in launching her own business. She told us: don’t be afraid to talk to influential people, and don’t fear making mistakes. No one is born a networking genius – you just have to push yourself to be proactive. Because you never know when an opportunity will come.

This is especially true for students aiming for careers in finance. First year is a great time to get involved: join events, societies, and networking sessions. Studying E&B also comes with nice little surprises. For example, last week, students on the Financial Markets module visited the London Stock Exchange and had a Q&A session with industry professionals.

Overall, UCL already offers abundant resources, and SSEES adds even more tailored, subject-specific support.

I hope this sharing helps you gain a more authentic understanding of SSEES E&B.