My name is Nina Wanjala, born and raised in Kenya and currently a first-year undergraduate student studying the BSc (Hons) Actuarial Science programme at Cass Business School, City, University of London.
The reason I chose to study at Cass Business School was primarily due to my chosen course. The subject of actuarial science is quite a niche discipline, therefore it was important for me to choose a reputable university which had the necessary resources to enable me to obtain the most from my degree. Cass Business School’s BSc (Hons) Actuarial Science is a relatively established course compared to other universities and I really liked the way the degree was structured.
Regarding why I chose to study the subject of actuarial science, it all came down to the fact that I wanted a degree that offered me a level of intellectual satisfaction and the tools to practically apply mathematics to the real world and to my areas of interest, such as finance and risk management. Although I enjoy mathematics and its principles I feel that the interdisciplinary nature of actuarial science creates a balance between the abstract and social sciences, which is one of the things that attracted me to the course.
As an international student, the application process involved applying through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), about which all information can be found online and on City, University of London’s website. This part was quite straightforward – the UCAS website was very easy to use and clearly outlined all the steps and guidelines for the application process. At this stage, all I required were my IGCSE and AS grades, A2 predicted grades, personal statement, an academic reference and other details such as personal information and previous educational background. Because I studied the British curriculum at an international school in Kenya my application journey began here, but it is different for students who study their country’s own national curriculum – in this case, gaining a place on a course may involve studying a foundation course first.
After applying directly, receiving my offers and selecting my firm and insurance choices through UCAS, I then utilised an agent for the rest of the application process. Applying for my visa was the most stressful stage, even with early preparation and comprehensive information – I would therefore advise everyone to begin this process early enough. Also, ensure you know what City specifically requires as some universities do not require you to take an English proficiency test while others do, so this should also be handled early on.
After this I applied for accommodation through City’s website, where I selected my preferred choice of halls of residence. Finally, in order to prepare myself for the move I conducted thorough research of Cass/City and London, the vibrant city in a country I had never visited before, as well as countless reading of student blogs and watching of university videos on City’s YouTube channel.
I cannot say my journey here was completely smooth or consistently difficult but there were certain things that could have been done differently to ease the process and some of which were quite simple. All in all, I am grateful for my experience.
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