Outline why you have selected your chosen three university courses, and explain how this relates to your previous academic or professional experience and your plans for the future.
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“Studying in the UK” Chevening Essay Example 1
For my master’s degree course, I have a keen interest in specializing in Financial Economics and seek to pursue it in the UK at the University of Manchester, the University of Kent, or the University of Glasgow. My decision to zero in on Financial Economics as opposed to any other course has been underpinned by my long-term career goal: to rise through the professional ranks to eventually become the Chief Financial Economist in the National Treasury (Kenya).
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I am acutely aware that such a senior and critical position will require expert-level knowledge and advanced understanding of financial analysis, planning and strategy, international and bilateral trade, investment policy, micro and macro-economic trends, global, regional, and sectoral developments, international business development, negotiating international agreements, trade litigation, and the production and distribution of goods and services. It also requires the ability to collect and process economic and statistical data, carry out trade and economic research, and perform high-level analysis using different sampling and econometric methods, hence my desire to become an expert in Financial Economics.
A rigorous course that equips me with the above knowledge, practical skills, and more will be critical. From my extensive research, all three universities I have chosen offer very high-quality training in Financial Economics, and I am confident that any of the three universities are well equipped to help me advance my knowledge in this area. The University of Manchester, in particular, stands out to me because it has been ranked sixth in the UK in the 2019 Academic Ranking of World Universities. It also offers a wide array of facilities and resources, plus numerous societies at the university, which will provide me with excellent opportunities for networking and exchanging great ideas.
Moreover, the Financial Economics course perfectly aligns with my current educational background and professional experience. I possess a Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science from the University of Nairobi and CISI Level 1 and Level 2 professional qualifications. Given my existing grasp of finance and economics, I will be able to cope with the challenges of the course with relative ease. As far as my work experience is concerned, I presently work as an Equities and Fixed Income Trader at NIC Securities Ltd. Before this position, I had worked as the Operations Assistant/ Supervisor at NIC Bank Kenya, the Relationship Officer (Operations) at Equity Bank Limited, the Acting Supervisor (Operations) at Equity Bank Limited, and the Relationship Officer (Operations) at Equity Bank Limited, respectively. These professional experiences perfectly lend themselves to the field of Financial Economics, and I do not doubt that I will be able to draw on my considerable hands-on experience in both Finance and Economics to handle the course’s requirements. My work and education will be a natural progression into a Financial Economics career path.
Example 2
Despite being among the top ten destinations for foreign direct investment in Africa and initiating reforms that have led to economic growth since 2003, Kenya faces a high poverty rate and a widening inequality gap. This is due to the lack of evidence-based policies, corruption, and political instability during elections. The number of millionaires is expected to increase while the number of poor people is increasing in the next decade should be a concern for any policymaker in the country. This has motivated me to pursue a Master’s degree in International Development to gain knowledge and skills in poverty reduction, development, and addressing inequality. Though much of my career has been in banking, my experience with poor rural communities as a parliamentary candidate in the 2017 General Election makes my case to switch careers.
My first choice is the MSc Applied International Development offered at the University of Reading. The university is among the top twenty institutions in the United Kingdom by research intensity and top thirty by research power which will develop my research competencies to develop effective evidence-based poverty reduction policies. I plan to specialize in their Agriculture and Social Development pathway as this will align with my goal of addressing poverty using agriculture. In addition, the course is offered at the Graduate Institute of International Development, Agriculture and Economics (GIIDAE), where I can take electives in agriculture, such as Agriculture Project Planning and Management in Developing Countries, taught by Dr. Chittur Srinivasan.
My second preferred course is MSc International Development: Poverty, Inequality and Development, offered at the University of Manchester. Apart from learning strategies and policies to advance equality, development, and reduce poverty, I will also have a chance for a field trip to experience the global challenge of inequality in another country as part of the course. Based on the 2018 World QS universities rankings by subject, the University is rated 14th in the world and 3rd in the United Kingdom on Development Studies.
My third choice is MSc International Development at the University of Edinburgh. The course is appealing because apart from learning about the historical approaches of international development and politics associated with the subject, there is a whole unit on contemporary issues and organizations of importance to development policy and practice. The University also offers an eight-week research-based project where one is attached to an institution either in the United Kingdom or overseas with an option of completing a research dissertation based on the fieldwork or print and library sources. This will also provide practical experience to complement coursework. The University also has beautiful classic buildings and surrounding scenery that would provide a perfect getaway after lectures to refresh the mind.
Overall, studying in the UK will provide an opportunity to build collaborations to achieve Kenyan Vision 2030, which aims to industrialize and transform the country into middle-income status while ensuring high-quality life for its citizens.
