Mees van Vliet

Read Mees's story

Why did you decide to study MSc Risk Management & Financial Engineering at Imperial College Business School? 

The MSc Risk Management & Financial Engineering programme at Imperial offers an effective blend of the quantitative aspects of finance with how they are applied in the real world, with professors having both academic and business backgrounds. This allows for a bridge between an engineering or maths background and a future finance career. 

Did you receive a scholarship? If yes, what were the benefits of receiving this? 

I was lucky enough to obtain the Dean’s Impact Scholarship which helped reduce the financial burden associated with studying in London. I would advise anyone to just apply for the various scholarships and see what happens! 

Which has been your favourite module so far and why? 

For me, theInvestment and Portfolio Management module stood out in the first term with its clear and broad introduction to all aspects of financial markets. It offers key knowledge in fields such as currencies, commodities and options and the learnings were of great value in my subsequent sales and trading interviews. 

How would you describe your cohort at Imperial? 

The cohort has a clear focus on their goals and is always ready to help each other out to achieve them. It has been very motivating to be surrounded by likeminded people who all have a similar outlook. 

"The cohort has a clear focus on their goals and is always ready to help each other out to achieve them. It has been very motivating to be surrounded by likeminded people who all have a similar outlook."

Which workshops, events or guest lectures at the school have been useful in developing your skills and knowledge? 

An event that stands out is a book launch by Dambisa Moyo at the Berkeley Hotel where Dambisa, board member of Barclays, 3M and Chevron, gave a presentation and was available for questions during the following drinks. It proved very inspiring! 

Have you received any job offers since commencing your programme?

I have been lucky enough to secure a summer internship at Morgan Stanley within the Sales & Trading division. I am excited to see what the future holds! 

How did the services from Careers help in your professional development or securing employment? 

The Careers servicesproved valuable in polishing my cover letters and CV while allowing me to practice my interview skills through one-on-one meetings. I would definitely recommend making use of their help! 

Do you think studying in a central location such as London is beneficial for networking and career opportunities? 

Living in London has been a great experience so far. Being surrounded by likeminded peers in such a fast-paced environment is very motivating, while the proximity to Canary Wharf and the City allows for effective in-person coffee chats with the network you’re building. I for one had various coffee chats with my targeted employers. 

Looking back to when you were applying for the programme, did you attend any online webinars or on-campus information sessions? 

I attended some of the promoted events and contacted current students to get a better view of the programme and help me make my decision. This helped me gain more information to use when crafting my application. 

I would advise you to do your research! Spend some time figuring out which career path interests you and where your strengths lay, to then work your way back to which Master’s programme suits those ambitions. While this helps you make the right choice, this clear goal will also be reflected in your applications and help you stand out.