My love for numbers was something I recognised from an early age.

and used to play day in

and out with numbers and solve problems. This inclination towards numbers eventually
made Maths my favorite subject. It’s this subject that helps me continue with my passion for
numbers and create a professional life out of it.

I was always amongst the batch toppers in mathematics since fifth grade. Coming from a
family that discusses monetary investments and strategies for earning more, the inclination
towards finances was automatically seen in me. I come from a family of businessmen. My
family has been doing business since the very beginning and has succeeded in it. But the one
person who influenced me and motivated me to have an interest in finance is my father. He
enjoys watching the news and keeping himself updated about what is going around in the
world. He frequently discusses about the government's finances, budgets, changes in rules
and regulations etc. he also introduced me to his business and its workings so I could get
real-life experience and exposure to how things work in a business from teaching me menial
manufacturing tasks to important financial lessons he has been a significant influence on
me. He is the reason I want to pursue my masters in the UK and then come back and join
him in expanding our family business with all the knowledge, experience and exposure I
would get there.

I was born and raised in Nagpur and have lived here since childhood. I finished my schooling
at Delhi Public School after high school, and I secured a seat at the Symbiosis Centre of
Management Studies (SCMS). This was a massive change for me since I had been to the
same school as a kid. Adjusting to a new environment, meeting new people, making friends
and learning not only in classes but also through the stories and experiences of my
professors and colleagues. It was the first time I appreciated the process of learning.

I am excited to apply for the MSc Accounting and Finance programme at your esteemed
university. This programme will help me get the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in
the competitive field of finance. For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated by
finance. I have pursued this interest by completing my bachelor’s in business management
degree with a specialization in finance, which introduced me to the world of finance and
financial markets. I was intrigued by the intricate details of this subject and was motivated
to learn more.

While I was just getting introduced to all these new experiences, the pandemic hit the
world, forcing everything to shut down. We had to switch to an online learning mode, and I
saw my father doing business from home. While I wish we could have just had an everyday
college experience without quarantine and the virus, this pandemic taught me to adjust as
things change and adapt. At first, it was all fun, but then I started using my time wisely,
learning about new things and trying different courses like risk management and marketing.
Focus on exploring new options and gaining experience.

I have also done a few internships during my undergraduate degree. I worked for an NGO
that created awareness about topics with social stigma and helped them raise funds to help
the needy. I also worked with a financial consultancy firm and a CA FIRM to expand my
knowledge and gain experience. The internship helped me gain a financial understanding;
here, I learned a lot about the financial workings of the business world, finance
management, tax filing and a lot more. I am also a core member of the literature club at my
university. I have also attended a few seminars and did a few value-added courses.
I believe that, with strong qualifications, I would be academically ready to enter the ever-
changing and evolving financial landscape. I seek an opportunity to undertake my master’s
degree in a country like the UK which is considered a globally influential center of finance. I
believe that exposure to varied cultures, nationalities and a multi-lingual group of students
would also help me to add value to my learning process as I prepare to be a part of the
global market of finance professionals.

Being open to challenges. I’m excited to study in the UK, a finance hub and get the
knowledge and experience I will need to build a future career in finance. The deep
connection between finance and the business world is something I would love to explore
further. That is when I decided to study in the UK and zeroed down on Durham University
which is known for its high-class education and services not found easily.

There are several factors that attracted me to this university. While looking out for the best
university offering investment banking and finance, I finalized Cardiff University as the
modules of this particular university aligned perfectly with my interests. This course will
develop the practical and theoretical knowledge required to build a strong career base in
finance management.

Being a student of MSc in Accounting and Finance, I will be exploring intellectually rigorous,
highly quantitative, practically focused and applied courses. I will have the practical as well
as the interpersonal skills required to sustain myself in the industry setting me on a path to
achieve my long-term goal of becoming financially successful. This course will educate me
with research processes and analytics that will broaden my mindset in understanding the
clients, customers, competitors, etc. Also, the services mentioned for the international
students by providing multicultural social experience is what stand out. It is one of the best
universities in the UK and its long successful alumni list stands as testimony to it. The core
modules Accounting and Finance in Context, Contemporary Issues in Corporate Reporting,
Corporate Finance, etc. along with the dissertation and optional modules attracted me the
most towards this course.

In a nutshell, your course would offer me the most significant opportunity to develop the
required to build my future career prospects. I am an extremely hardworking student and
determined in whatever I choose to do. The combination of my work ethic and profound
commitment will propel me to achieve a decent score at your university and in my future
career pursuits.

Thank You.
Sejal Ahuja