Manmeet Sital

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

I heard about Leeds University Business School through alumni connections on LinkedIn and the careers page of one of the companies I wanted to work at. Leeds was an ideal choice because of its reputation, being a Russell Group university. The Socio-Technical Research Centre and Workplace Behaviour Research Centre at the Business School were also very interesting to me as an aspect of Organizational Psychology.

Tell us about your course - why did you choose it? 

Being a Psychology graduate, I wanted to further my understanding and qualifications about the co-functionality of the processes of Social and Organisational Psychology in institutions. I was curious to analyse how individual differences can work to the benefit or detriment of the success of the organization and research how to manifest these differences towards organisational development.

The Business School course had components that I always wanted to explore during my undergraduate organizational behaviour class, such as employee selection, performance and organisational management, work life satisfaction, training and selection development and improving work environments by recognizing and confronting organisational problems.

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

I really enjoyed collaborating with other course mates for group projects. We even have informal group chats where we help each other whenever anyone has any queries.

What are your career aspirations?

My career objectives, as a Business Consultant, are to become a part of an organisation that makes significant changes in the world economy. To achieve this, I want to work within a graduate programme that would not only give me a chance to specialise in consulting but also have opportunities to continue my development with training courses and professional accreditations.

The British Psychological Society Occupational Test User training included in the programme helped me develop and gain a professional accreditation at the same time. I am passionate about organizational and cultural psychology, specifically understanding and supporting positive human behaviour in the workplace with an interest in psychometrics and leadership, and cultural differences. The modules taught as part of the course provided a strong foundation for me to start my professional journey in the field.

Do you have any noteworthy achievements from your study at the Business School that you can tell us about?

Statistics has always been a daunting subject for me and I was extremely worried about this module, but much to my surprise, I earned a distinction in the assignment after a lot of long nights and hard work. This is not exactly a class-wide achievement but I personally consider it a significant accomplishment for my individual development.

If you are not from the UK, how was the transition to a foreign country? Did the University offer support or services that you found helpful? 

Arriving from Canada, I found it difficult to adjust to the education system in the UK. However, the teaching staff made it relatively easy for us to transition with several emails and resources.

Learning online meant more flexibility in terms of learning styles and that aided in the initial transition. For prospective students, I would suggest doing preliminary research on the teaching styles and how that is different to what you have been accustomed to since I struggled with that to begin with. I would also suggest reaching out to fellow course mates before the course starts to establish connections for support.

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

Having been inside during half the course due to the lockdown, I regret not being able to experience the university in its essence during my Masters but the online pedagogy was well-managed given that it was a sudden shift for the university to adapt to as well.

The in-person classes were sanitarily organised with proper stations and social distancing, indicating that student safety was the university's main goal. The staff have been very helpful with any concerns that I faced. I really appreciate the support that the peer groups provide during the whole year.

This year has been hard for all of us and having the sense of togetherness during it helped both academically and mentally. The city of Leeds is an ideal student location. The city has a quintessential student environment with so many libraries, pubs and parks. I am very happy with my choice to study here.

Are there any experiences outside of your studies that you particularly enjoyed?

I have enjoyed visiting historical establishments, exploring nearby cities and enjoying the architecture. I have also been taking the opportunity to go out with friends. I also discovered my passion for cooking at Leeds which I had never enjoyed before coming here. My roommates and I

have baked and cooked all kinds of cuisines and spoiled ourselves by hosting tea parties, potlucks and hotpots. I am grateful for all these experiences.

What would you say your defining memory of studying here was?

The defining memory of studying at the University of Leeds is the connections that I made here. I have stepped out of my comfort zone, away from family and friends, and seen myself become more extraverted. I have made many good friends and learned so much about myself and the different cultures while living with my roommates. Friends are more like family. The skills that I have learned and developed as part of the course and living away from home are instrumental in adapting to the workplace.

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

I would definitely recommend Leeds University Business School to prospective students. The courses are very diverse and inclusive. The quality of the modules is exceptional. I have made great connections with my faculty and they have been supportive by connecting us within the job market too.