Ziying Gong

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

I attended the University of Leeds' overseas information session in my home country. The impressive speech by the University of Leeds gave me an idea of what studying abroad will be like.

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

This course provides students with plenty of opportunities to apply the knowledge and skills learned in class to real-life business cases. In particular, my dissertation involved working with industry experts to make an important contribution to the field of international business. I feel very proud of the work I have completed and the learning which I will be able to apply to my career afterwards.

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?

My dream job is to manage business transactions for international companies. I believe the high level of international business teaching and research that I have been exposed to during this course has equipped me with a high level of knowledge for working in the international business sector. For example studying business cultural differences and international trade law has given me skills I can apply in the future.

Moreover, I have gained a rich multidisciplinary business knowledge at Leeds University Business School, both inside and outside the classroom. I believe it will be easier for me to spot potential markets and industries, providing more opportunities for me to develop my career in the future.

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

I work as a Link to Leeds Student Ambassador. We use a variety of channels such as instant messaging and chat events to provide personal experience and help for international applicants seeking pre-arrival information and who are keen to hear current students' experiences of the city and University.

Helping the new students to get to know our University and Leeds city better and build their confidence on studying abroad is really meaningful to me. I would definitely recommend the Business School to anybody considering studying here.

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

Leeds University Business School has a highly organised system and the staff here are very responsible. If I have any issues with either life or study, there is help available. For example, when I applied for my summer school study in Germany, I had some issues with the visa application. The professionally trained staff in the International Student Office helped me complete the application.

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? Can you offer any advice?

The university provides us with so many activities and events to get to know other students from all over the world. I would recommend new students to join Leeds University Union clubs and societies to make new friends.

Meanwhile, attending the Global Cafe event can be another good choice. Those intercultural events organized by Global Cafe and other societies can help students get to know each other’s country better and this has greatly increased my cultural awareness.