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Student profile: Masters in Accounting and Finance
With the eyes of the world on China for its booming economy and the recent success of the Beijing Olympics, what happens to those students heading to other continents to pursue graduate study? QS topgradschool.com spoke with Yanfeng Yue, a Chinese student with a UK graduate qualification.
Name: Yanfeng Yue
Degree: MSc Accounting and finance
Year of Graduation: 2008
Place of Study: Aston University
Current place of employment: QS Quacquarelli Symonds
Current position/job title: QS World Grad School Tour marketing department
Since China has joined the World Trade Organization (WTO), the entire world has an eye on the hottest market. China has set the development of its economy as one of its main goals for the following century and Yanfeng wants to be a part of it. The 25-year-old from Harbin, with a BSc in Accounting and Finance from Bradford University, has just completed a Masters in Accounting and Finance from Aston University where she said living and learning in the UK has provided her with a high quality education in the subjects she loves.
“I came to the UK because for me it was, and still is, the place to be when it comes to finance, both study wise and career wise. I chose to study this degree because it will give me a chance to step into the economic world and an opportunity to benefit from the high demand that is currently in the Chinese career market. Plus I liked numbers and mathematics,” she admits.
Studying as an international student in the UK didn’t come without its sacrifices by either Yanfeng or her family. “It was truly a burden for my family, especially in the financial aspect. My parents ‘invested’ their savings in my education to guarantee a better future for me. I appreciate their choice and treasure their love, and I believe I wouldn’t let them down. What I’ve achieved during my years studying here has made them proud of me.”
Not only did Yanfeng get a professional qualification in the form of her MSc, she also gained a huge amount in terms of personal development. “ My experiences during my time in the UK has let me understand the importance of listening to others, as well as thorough research, preparation and the importance of flexibility. It has also helped me with a number of key skills that were invaluable in my job-hunting process.”
At the moment, Yanfeng is working in a marketing role but she would like to find a job in finance, preferably banking and investment in London. Working for a company with both offices in the UK and China especially appeals as ultimately she would like to return home to be close to her friends and family.
Yanfeng is one of many Chinese students who has left her home country to come and study in the UK. The US is another popular destination for Chinese students. But what is it about the Western world that attracts Yanfeng and her peers?
“In China, there are large amounts of undergraduate students graduating and finding a job every year. It seems so hard to find a good job and the opportunities are limited. As a result there are many Chinese students applying for their masters or PhDs to gain a competitive edge over others,” Yanfeng says.
Yanfeng maintains that there are other advantages to studying for a Masters abroad; that your studies can be completed in one year as opposed to two is a major pull for Chinese students to the UK. The chance for students to improve their English as well as develop their problem solving skills is also a benefit of studying abroad. Yanfeng also liked the teaching style in the UK, “they make you study actively rather than passively, instilling the information into you. They also attach the importance of having the ability to solve problems in a real case scenarios, not just using theory from a book.”
