Niall Cameron

How did you hear about Leeds University Business School and why did you choose to study here?

I first noticed Leeds University Business School because the Accounting and Finance course is so highly ranked in all the university league tables. When I came to visit, I instantly felt comfortable around the Business School, the campus and the city itself.

Another factor was location. Leeds has good transport links for getting home and visiting nearby towns, allowing me to follow the Rugby League which is something I enjoy doing on weekends.

Tell us about your degree - why did you choose it? What elements of the degree inspired you to study it?

I completed A-Levels in Maths, Accounting and French, so I knew I enjoyed Accounting enough to study it at university, but I had very little understanding of what career I wanted to pursue. I felt that Accounting and Finance at Leeds would give me a good grasp of business and how the financial world operates.

One of the factors which attracted me to this particular course is the variety of relevant modules available to allow you to tailor your degree. As you progress from year 1 to 3, you are given more choice on what modules you study, allowing you to further your interest in chosen areas of Accounting or Finance.

What is the best part of your studies? What are you enjoying the most?

The best part of the Accounting and Finance degree is the staff that work in the department. I have developed a great relationship with my lectures and personal tutor. Having such knowledgeable and approachable tutors makes what could be a dry subject, quite the opposite. The tutors make the content engaging and clearly aim to deliver sessions in a variety of ways.

What are your career aspirations? Do you think the experience and skills you will gain from your degree course will help you in your future career plans? In what way?

Career direction and employability is something that Leeds University Business School has helped me with. When I started university, I was unsure what job I wanted to do after I graduate. Attending careers events, subject talks and joining the Nurturing Talent Mentor Scheme enabled me to gain more understanding of what jobs I do (and importantly don’t) want to do in the future.

This summer, I completed a 6-week summer internship at Mazars LLP, which enabled me to gain first-hand insight into audit, tax and the world of accounting services.

Do you have any noteworthy achievements from your studies at the Business School that you can tell us about - eg prizes, highest scores etc?

The Business School and the Accounting & Finance department offer incentive scholarships to reward academic achievement. I have been fortunate enough to receive a few of these scholarships, most recently the Accounting & Finance Top 10 Achievement Scholarship worth £2,000. This has been a goal of mine since before I started university, so it is my proudest achievement as a Business School student.

Have you taken up any of the extra opportunities available to you and what was your experience of these? Any highlights?

I volunteered to be a Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) leader in my second year, which involved running sessions for first-year students on anything from CV writing, to application technique, to revision tips. This has been a great way for me to meet other students and give back to the University.

What is your impression/experience of the facilities, the staff, your peers, the student union, the City of Leeds and the Yorkshire region?

Having grown up in the middle of nowhere (a.k.a the Lake District!) I was apprehensive about how I would manage with the jump to a big city. To my surprise, I found the transition straightforward as I got involved in lots of different opportunities which helped me get to know Leeds and make friends – including joining the Darts Society.

Leeds University Business School is very well equipped and ever-improving, which makes studying much more comfortable and accessible. The staff are great too, I’ve always felt very supported.

Leeds is a great city to be a student. Not only because it's in the North, but also because of the lively atmosphere and wide range of opportunities.

Are there any other experiences outside of your studies that you have particularly enjoyed? What would you recommend to future students?   

Darts is my main hobby and the Darts Society has been a key part of my social life during my time in Leeds. With the society, I have travelled across the country playing competitive darts, which shows that no matter what your passion is, Leeds is a great place to make the most of it.

Would you recommend the Business School to others who are considering studying here?

Leeds University Business School is a brilliant place to study. It should be top of the list of any student wanting to get a good qualification and bolster that with the careers direction and support on offer.