What’s your background?
I was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea.
I got my BA in Political Science and Diplomacy at Dongguk University. Inspired by my major, I prepared for the national diplomat exam and gained a deeper understanding of national and international governance.
However, after undertaking the internship, I set a new goal of strategic corporate governance.
Why did you choose to study the IPM at UCL?
Since I decided to change my career, I wanted to give myself some time to be familiarised with Business and Management discipline. Also, finishing Master’s course in one year was a huge burden to me. In that sense, Pre-Master’s programme is what suits me.
Other universities have similar pre-master’s programme, and actually I got an offer from another university. However, I chose to go to UCL, because UCL is the biggest university with a high reputation among all, and it is located in central London.
How is the UK education system different to your home country?
The UK higher education system is so different from Korea – from key dates to assessment formats.
Of course, details vary from university to university, but in general, the UK academic year consists of three terms.
The first and second terms each have a reading week with no teaching in the middle of the term, and there’s no teaching in the third term and it only has exams.
The assignments are divided into two categories: formative and summative.
Formative assignments don’t count towards your final grade, but they are a great way to learn and get feedback from professors.
The way lectures are run is also different. In Korea, it is more of a ‘sage on the stage’ style, but in the UK, student participation and engagement are strongly encouraged.
Especially in the Master’s programme, reading material (articles and case studies) is given before each lecture and students should be prepared with it.
If they don’t, they won’t be able to follow the lecture.
Which degree are you studying now and what is it like?
I am studying MSc Accounting, Organisations and Institutions at LSE.
In short, we learn everything related to any kind of numbers from organisations and institutions. This includes pure accounting or finance, management control systems (i.e., incentives, budgeting), investor relations, risk management, and ESG.
Most of the LSE programmes combine social science with other fields, and my programme is the same – it’s a combination of accounting and social science. This means that it can be tough for students from social science (or Humanities) background and students from accounting (or economics and finance) background as well, because they need to learn from another discipline.
How has the IPM helped you in your degree?
Honestly, things I’m going through at LSE are a bit different from IPM.
On the IPM, I was in Business and Management discipline, and I learnt how to do research and how to write. However, I’m studying accounting now and my programme doesn’t have a dissertation requirement to graduate.
Still, what I learnt from IPM makes me feel confident in every aspect. I often bump into the logic, structure, words and expressions that I learnt from IPM in my current studies, and I don’t feel afraid to write assignments and essays for exams.
Also, as I know how the university, faculty and staff operate, this makes many things way much smoother, especially helpful to maintain a good relationship with each of them.
What was the biggest challenge you faced during your time on the IPM and how did you overcome it?
I would say, balancing between research and career was the biggest challenge. Since I’m new to Business and Management field, it took me more time than others to explore and research. Also, I wanted to put effort into my university application. As this situation combined with my perfectionism, I struggled with writing the Extended Writing.
In every week’s tutorial, my personal tutor gave me useful advice on time management and the academic writing process. Thanks to the advice, I could prioritise the tasks ahead and focus on what is the most important. I believe this will be a great asset to my Master’s course as well.
What advice would you give to future IPM students?
There are two things I want to say.
First, prepare the draft of your personal statement as early as you can, but don’t worry too much about the application.
Once IPM starts, you won’t have much time to work on your personal statement. It’s not because you’re lazy, but because you have come to the new world. You need to get used to the education system and life in London, and this takes time. It will make things much easier if you have your draft ready when the course starts.
Also, the fact that you are studying at IPM will make your application competitive. Though I got a couple of rejections, I succeeded in getting more offers than rejections and managed to get into my top preference university. So believe in your competitiveness and proceed!
Second, make sure to explore London, not only as a tourist but also as a resident. No matter how much you expect, studying for a Master’s degree will be more intense and tougher than that. You won’t have time and mental space to chill and look around.
Take your time to explore Bloomsbury or your wannabe university area, check out what store to visit for each occasion, and experience the vibe of other districts.
What is the most interesting thing you’ve done, seen or got involved with while at UCL?
I signed up for the K-POP society and joined weekly dance classes. Seeing the enthusiasm of global K-POP fans with my own eyes and dancing with them were enjoyable. Also, with my intention to make the most of my status of UCL student, I took part in many student welfare events with my cohort, such as Dog Therapy Sessions and Ferris wheel.
Where is your favourite place on campus and why?
Cruciform Hub is my favourite. It’s a library located on the Lower Ground Floor of the Cruciform Building. It has a studious vibe, supported by modern furniture and convenient facilities.
The building itself has a nice location as well. Just a block away from Tottenham Court Road, it’s very accessible to tube stations and many shops. Since the entrance faces the Main Quad, it is easy to go to the main campus.
I highly recommend grabbing a takeaway from one of the many eateries on Tottenham Court Road and enjoying it in the Main Quad.
Where did you live during the IPM, how was your experience?
I lived in an en-suite room in UCL student accommodation. There, I met wonderful seven flatmates. We cared about each other and shared useful things, such as cooking tips and university news. We also went to New Year’s Firework and a trip to Edinburgh, and made good memories together.
What is it like to live and study in London?
It’s a blessing to stay in central London for two consecutive years. From my experience, London is a very foreigner-friendly and student-friendly city. I feel safe and comfortable living here and can truly tell London is my second hometown.
There are always various cultural events nearby and you can broaden your horizons while interacting with people from different backgrounds. I’m so glad that I chose to study for a Master’s degree in the UK and strongly believe that this experience would be an asset for life.
