Wondering what it’s really like to study Management Science at UCL as a first-year student? Curious about how to balance academics, career planning, and student life in London?
In this student blog, BSc Management Science student Sofia Kalaykova shares her honest reflections on navigating the transition from college to university, adapting to the fast-paced academic environment, and making the most of the unique opportunities offered by the UCL School of Management. From Scenario Weeks and study strategies to networking tips and career prep, Sofia offers practical advice for incoming students looking to thrive in their first year.
Want to ask Sofia more about the Management Science programme or student life at the UCL School of Management?
Beyond generic business: what I considered when choosing the Management Science programme
Choosing your university programme can be a tough decision, but as soon as I read about Management Science (ManSci for short!) I knew this was the programme for me.
I did Maths, Psychology, and Art for A-Level and, compared to generic Business and Management programmes, BSc Management Science provided a combination of analytics, creativity, and problem-solving that I’ve never seen before, so I knew that I could build on a variety of areas that interested me.
Adjusting to the content and pace of university-level learning
The shift from college to university wasn’t too intense content-wise, as the professors did a great job of making sure we understood the basics before moving on to the harder parts of the module. However, my biggest struggle at first was realising that a pen and paper weren’t going to cut it for notetaking.
Shifting to digital for a better note-taking strategy
Management Science BSc is a really intensive, demanding programme that requires lots of independent reading and study to get the most out of it. With how much content we covered and how fast-paced lectures could be, I quickly realised I wouldn’t be able to take proper notes in class the way I did in college. I switched to a laptop, and it seriously saved my life. Some of my friends still prefer taking notes on paper, but since a lot of modules require online resources and programming software, a solid laptop is a must.
Managing the demands of the Management Science programme with these essential study skills
My pre-lecture prep for a game-changing way of understanding content.
What works well for me is going over the content before the lecture so that I actually understand what’s going on when I’m there, because honestly, reading it beforehand would’ve saved me so many headaches.
During lectures, I took notes on particular insights lecturers gave that weren’t included in the PowerPoints. You can always take proper notes in your own time, but having to listen to the whole recording just to find one thing the prof said mid-lecture is a bit tedious.
The art of active listening was so important for helping me understand quantitative subjects like economics, maths, and programming. If you focus too much on writing everything down, you’ll miss out on actually understanding what’s being taught.
Using UCL’s resources: support and opportunities for Management Science students
Don’t worry, you won’t be alone in your studies. There is tons of support at the UCL School of Management, from your academics, to well-being staff, and the careers services and events you can attend. You’ll also be assigned a personal tutor and can make use of UCL’s wellbeing team and SoM’s career services for any queries or support.
Practical applications from the get-go by tackling real company projects with your team
Another unique aspect of the Management Science programme is the scenario weeks we have every half term. They’re an intense week of group-based projects (from consulting-like case studies to making a video) and are a nice change of pace from regular lectures, where you can really immerse yourself in a project with your team.
Preparing you for collaboration and handling pressure in the workplace
It can definitely get stressful, and there may be some tension in your group, but it really prepares you for the working world where you’ll have to work on projects with tight deadlines alongside people you don’t know well or who have completely different working styles.
The added benefit of these weeks is that you’ll have some in-depth examples of case studies that will come in super handy during interviews in the future. The programme ensures that you’re interview-ready by building your portfolio with Scenario Week examples.
Future-proofing your career with internships and networking from year one
Start planning early for internships and spring weeks: Some final advice from me: start thinking about internships or spring weeks early. The summer internship season starts as early as August before the second year, so you want to make sure you have a polished CV ready to send out and at least some idea of the areas you might want to apply for.
Building your network through Careers and Social Events: Ensure you make use of UCL’s societies and social events—it’s a great way to meet people, and having things to look forward to will help break up your hectic week.
Topic tips for first-year success at the UCL School of Management
Building connections is such an important part of university—not only will your peers form a great network once you graduate, but talks and other events could expose you to people who inspire and support you. I’ve learnt a lot from them, and you never know what new insights or connections you’ll get until you go.
Some final advice from me: start thinking about internships or spring weeks early. The summer internship season starts as early as August before the second year, so you want to make sure you have a polished CV ready to send out and at least some idea of the areas you might want to apply for.
Also, make use of UCL’s societies and social events—it’s a great way to meet people, and having things to look forward to will help break up your hectic week. If you structure your free time well, you’ll avoid stress-cramming before exams and assignments and still have plenty of time to take advantage of going out and socialising in London.
Read more student and alumni blogs or check out our alumni activities.
UCL School of Management Student Recruitment: Additional information
Are you interested in one of our programmes? We want to hear from you!
We’d be happy to discuss your fit and aptitude for our range of programmes - including the ways in which the School can help you to develop the skills necessary to fulfil your career potential and set yourself up for a thriving career as a future business leader. Interested in exploring other pieces from Ruoyu? Check out his profile on the UCL School of Management website. Alternatively, read more student and alumni blogs or check out our alumni activities.
This is your exclusive opportunity to outline your education and career aspirations, your background and suitability for your programme of interest, and discuss any questions you may have about UCL, the School of Management, student life in London, our campuses, careers, applications, and more.
Meet the Student Recruitment Marketing Team at an event near you.
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The UCL School of Management Industry Advantage
Taking advantage of our global network and strategic campus location in London’s financial and business district, the UCL School of Management recently launched three new speaker series.
Our speakers come from a range of industries and backgrounds to showcase their experiences and skills. Explore what you can gain from our Speaker Series below:
Business Leaders Speaker Series
