Student experiences
What is global prosperity?
In this student blog, Cristina discusses how the UCL Institute for Global Prosperity is redefining prosperity beyond GDP, focusing on well-being, sustainability and equity to tackle global challenges.
A day in the life of a Global Prosperity MSc student
In this student blog, Cristina shares highlights from a day in her life as a UCL Institute for Global Prosperity student, from coffee breaks to classes.
From master's dissertation to publication
Read about Xiaochen Liu’s journey from master’s dissertation to published work, including insights, tips and advice for students aiming to turn academic research into an impactful publication.
Luong's tips for securing a scholarship to fund your master's degree
Luong Me, a previous Chevening scholar shares his tips for the application and interview process.
Students and alumni profiles
Eve Thornton
Discover how the Prosperity, People and Planet MSc is helping 2023-24 student Eve Thornton to combine her passions for fashion, arts, and sustainability.
Nicolas Prieto Gamboa
Discover how Nicolas leveraged UCL’s Prosperity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship MSc to drive ClimateTech innovation, empower communities, and shape a sustainable future at Popular Power.
Sebastian Paredes Smith
Meet Sebastian, a candidate of the PhD in Global Prosperity, incorporating his interests and experiences in housing finance with promoting habitat prosperity.
Mar Layesca
Meet Mar, 2018-19 student of the Global Prosperity MSc who pursued an unconventional path from architecture to designing socio-cultural projects in Perú.
Johnny Stormonth-Darling
Meet Johnny, Global Prosperity MSc (2019-2021) who now works for a non-profit delivering new participatory governance infrastructure
Ignacio Gutierrez Gomez
Ignacio Gutierrez Gomez (Prosperity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship student, 2022-23) tells us about his experience of the programme's pilot placement scheme
Bidisha Pandey
Meet Bidisha, Prosperity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship MSc graduate (2021-22). A military veteran now working as Director of Trade and Investments for Austrade.
Adam Yusof Bin Mohammed Redza
Meet Adam, Global Prosperity MSc graduate (2021-22). With a background in Business Management, now launching sustainable food start-up Burg.
Ismat Juma
Meet Ismat, Global Prosperity MSc graduate (2021-22). With an academic background in Social Sciences, now working with an International NGO supporting their Neglected Tropical Diseases programmes.
Juan Manuel Fournier Castillo
Meet Juan Manuel, Prosperity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship graduate (2021-22). With a background in Communications, he talks about his experience at IGP and producing the 'Life of PIE' podcasts.
Maria Jose Ascenzo Sanchez
Meet MJ, Global Prosperity MSc graduate (2021-22). With a background in communications and advertising, now leading circular economy and sustainability projects from the Siegwerk global office.
Nyma Haqqani
Meet Nyma, Global Prosperity graduate (2021-22). Nyma has a background in computer engineering and an MBA with a specialization in marketing.
Justin van Wyk
Meet Justin, Prosperity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship graduate (2021-22). He has a startup focusing on AI and is working within Wealth Management.
Patricia Naya
Meet Patricia, Prosperity Innovation and Entrepreneurship student (2020-21) who has gone on to do a PhD with the University of Massachusetts.
Shabin Namban
Meet Shabin, Global Prosperity student (2020-21) who would like to work with the third sector and engage in public discourse to contribute towards the prosperity at grassroots, institutional, and poli
Areej Al Medinah
Meet Areej, Prosperity Innovation and Entrepreneurship student (2020-21). With a background in Electrical Engineering, learn how the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship has helped her to achieve her goals
My experience of the MSc Global Prosperity programme was nothing less than outstanding. Apart from the multiplicity of seminars and workshops I was exposed to, the programme was rigorous, flexible and allowed for a multidisciplinary approach which meant I was able to pursue different academic interests. On one hand, I was conducting research on fintech and financialization, and on the other, I was learning about how social innovation labs could be adapted as impact tools for people and society.
The Global Prosperity MSc allowed me to understand global challenges in a critical way, to rethink problems based on new alternatives and inclusive research methods and to experience, from IGP projects, how solutions can be addressed under real-world conditions. The debate and conversation were beyond the classroom, with teaching staff always keen to listen and encourage students’ ideas on transformation.
As a graduate of the first MSc Prosperity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (PIE) programme, I look back on the year with immense pride. The course was a great opportunity to gain both theoretical knowledge and practical experience in a growing sector. Alongside several internal projects, I had time to complement my studies with three internships. The year was capped with a final project with a major London-based charity, in which PIE provided the tools and leverage to make it a success.
I was looking for a programme that could liaise to real-world problems from an interdisciplinary perspective. The IGP provided the flexibility to pursue a wide range of topics that converge in the idea of making a more prosperous future for communities around the world. The diversity of research interests and backgrounds from the IGP community creates a really thrilling environment and enriches professional debate and practice while maintaining a very close and caring community.
I wanted to study a variety of metrics for economic growth outside of traditional financial indicators and this programme's approach to the study of wellbeing was the perfect complement to my background in history and political science. Working closely with the IGP and its staff has been one of the highlights of my experience at UCL.