Hamza Buhari

Why UCL?

When I was searching for a Master’s, I wanted something that would move me closer to my long-term goal of launching a venture in the pharmaceutical industry. I already had a strong clinical background as a pharmacist, but I was looking for a programme that would deepen my knowledge of formulation while also building my entrepreneurial skillset. The MSc in Pharmaceutical Formulation and Entrepreneurship was the only degree I found that brought both worlds together.  

This course is completely unique, and that uniqueness is backed by the quality of teaching. There’s a moment I won’t forget. I was working on a piece of coursework and came across a textbook that explained exactly what I needed. When I went to reference it, I realised it had been written by one of my professors. That sums UCL up really - you’re being taught by people who are at the top of their fields, publishing cutting-edge work, and still deeply involved in teaching and mentoring. 

Another reason for choosing UCL is that I wanted industry access and exposure. I’m currently on an internship that only exists because of my professor’s connections in the industry. Studying at UCL gives you the kind of credibility and connections that can open doors in places you never even knew existed.  

A reluctant Londoner

I’m originally from Kano, a major city in northern Nigeria, but I’d actually lived in the UK for about ten years before moving to London, mostly in Scotland, including two on the Orkney Islands.     

I was a reluctant Londoner. I thought it was chaotic, rushed, and impersonal. I came with zero expectations, convinced the city had nothing for me. But what I found? Completely different story.  

The sheer number of opportunities here can’t be overstated. I’ve been featured in The Economist and The Londoner for taking part in a chessboxing match (I fought at the O2 Arena and won by knockout), I’ve had dinner with the Goldsmiths’ and Merchant Taylors’ Guilds, attended leadership events with top judges and entrepreneurs, and served as a rapporteur at the Commonwealth Trade & Investment Summit. I’ve even tried my hand at standup comedy.   

These are not things I would have predicted—but that’s London. It rewards curiosity and people who put themselves out there. I came here reluctant, but I’m leaving transformed. 

London as an international student

London is full of international students, immigrants, wanderers, entrepreneurs. You don’t have to shrink or shift who you are. If you lean in, London leans back. Nigerians and their descendants are everywhere, through food, music, community events, or even just bumping into someone who knows your cousin.  

I was invited to speak at a Nigerian Students in the UK Conference at Imperial, and I had the incredible honour of carrying the Nigerian flag at the Commonwealth Day ceremony at Westminster Abbey, in the presence of the King, Queen, and Prime Minister. If you’re worried about feeling out of place, don’t be. You’ll find your people.  

My advice? Be deliberate in the first few weeks, get the admin done, then throw yourself into as many groups and communities as you can. London is actually cheap, if you maximise it. If you just come to get your degree, you’ll still get something worthwhile. But if you engage with the city, stretch yourself, and try new things, then you’re getting a bargain. A tremendous bargain, my friend.

Find out more about Pharmaceutical Formulation and Entrepreneurship MSc

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