Sander van den Bergh MSc Marketing Analytics, 2018

Dutch

Why did you choose to study at Southampton?

My girlfriend and I decided that we wanted to study our masters abroad. We chose Southampton because the courses that are of a technical nature are very advanced and hold good reviews. Another factor that we considered was the fact that masters studies in e.g. the Netherlands, usually takes up to two years, whereas most masters in the UK are one year.

What is it like studying here?

The University has a very international society. Not only students but also lecturers, come from various places in the world. Personally, I think it is important to work with people who share different perspectives on things. With Southampton being relatively close to London, I was also able to do numerous interviews at very reputable companies there.

What are you enjoying most about your course?

The aspect of Marketing Analytics that I enjoyed was the wide range of software that was introduced; for example, SAS; which is widely used within the data analytics industry. The lecturers usually come from professional SAS backgrounds and have deep knowledge on the functionalities of the software. Some courses also offer data sets taken from real-life, so we got to learn errors within data that will usually only occur in real-life situations. The structure of the courses is comprehensive and touches many aspects the data analytics field, with a focus on marketing.

Have you taken advantage of any extra opportunities outside of your course?

I have taken the opportunity to become a course representative. In this role, I can suggest potential improvements to the course and communicate student issues to lecturers and vice versa, such as suggesting changes to existing modules or ideas from other students.

How has your time at Southampton helped you develop as a person?

As a masters degree focuses on a deeper layer of knowledge, I got to improve my research to a new level during my dissertation and other courses in general. The course taught me to use different kinds of applications on data programming, such as R, SAS and VBA. Being able to conduct data analysis and create insights from that is a key aspect that drives the decision-making process of business in many different areas.

How do you rate study facilities at the University?

I believe the facilities at the University are very convenient. The library can hold many students and finding the right study materials is very efficient. Even if the library is full, there are many other places to study on the campus. The University has a mobile app, on which you can check where computers are available across all buildings.

What is the city of Southampton like to live in?

Southampton is a small but very convenient city. Personally, I lived in the city centre. The bus system is very efficient, as a trip to the University takes roughly 20 minutes. In the city centre, there is a huge mall called West Quay which basically offers anything imaginable.

What are your plans and/or ambitions after you graduate?

I am not chasing a fixed goal after my studies, rather multiple. However, what I do know is that I want to continue travelling, be it for study or work. My studies at Southampton definitely sparked a deeper interest for the potential of data and its application in solving business problems. What I can confirm is that further studies is something I really consider, perhaps in the United States, as long as its new and refreshing. I am also planning on continuously applying for graduate job opportunities to learn more about multiple companies and improve my interview skills.