Hei Chun

What motivated you to pursue studies at university?

I’ve always been a firm believer in lifelong learning. As a working professional, I realised just how much I didn’t know about data science, and that was both humbling and motivating. I wanted to upgrade my skills and refresh my thinking. These days, every good business decision should be backed by reliable data analysis and insights. With support from my employer and a course schedule that fits neatly around my work, I’ve been able to study without taking a career break. It’s a win-win: I get to keep my job and my brain cells active.

What subjects did you study before applying for study at university?

I studied Management Science at Loughborough University for my undergraduate degree, though that was some years ago. Initially, I worried that coming from a business background might put me at a disadvantage. Would I be overwhelmed by all the coding required? But once I got started, I realised it was a blessing. Data science builds on what I already know, enhancing how I collect, analyse and present data. My background in business and economics gives me a unique edge when interpreting data and delivering insights that matter.

Were there any challenges affecting your decision to study at university? If so, how did you overcome them?

Absolutely. My biggest concern was the programming side of things. I don’t come from a Computer Science background, so I feared I’d be out of my depth. But the support from City St George’s has been fantastic. We had access to DataCamp before the course began, plus on-campus pre-course sessions to brush up on my skills. The Data Science and Computer Science Societies also run workshops and bootcamps that have been incredibly helpful. And let’s not forget, programming is just a tool, one part of data science. I may not be the next Python prodigy, but I’ve become a competent data scientist with a solid grasp of the tools and, more importantly, the insights.

Why did you choose City St George’s?

City’s strong industrial connections were a major draw, especially its ties to the City of London. The weekly “Data Bites” seminars are a highlight, featuring speakers from startups to blue-chip companies who share real-world applications of data science, some of my classmates have even landed internships with the speakers. Plus, Bayes Business School is part of City, and it’s one of the top-ranked business schools globally. There’s a lot of synergy here, especially for entrepreneurial students looking to blend business acumen with data science.

What does a typical week at university look like for you?

Busy, but in a good way! I work four days a week and spend one full day on campus, packed with lectures and tutorials. In the evenings, there’s often a “Data Bites” seminar or a society event, hackathons, workshops, you name it. It’s a full schedule, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. I’ve learned to juggle work, study and the occasional social life with surprising finesse.

What has been your favourite module or aspect of your course so far?

Neural Network, everyone’s talking about AI these days, but not many people understand what it is. This module broke it down, covering supervised and unsupervised learning, and the foundations of machine learning. For my coursework, I built a ML model with real-world data in Python to forecast credit default risk with 75% accuracy. It was a great way to combine my financial knowledge with new technical skills.

What services within your School or the University have you used during your studies?

City St George’s offers more than lectures and labs – it’s a full ecosystem of support and opportunity. The Data Science and Computer Science Societies host workshops, bootcamps, and hackathons that helped me bridge theory and practice, especially coming from a non-technical background.
I joined university-wide events like the CityVentures Hackathon and a government-led data science hackathon on food security, both expanding my skills and network.
City St George’s also collaborates with other University of London institutions, offering joint events that enhance learning. It’s an environment where learning extends far beyond the classroom.

What advice would you give to someone considering a degree in your subject?

You don’t need to be a coding expert or have a CS degree. This course builds confident data scientists who can apply insights in real-world contexts.
Data science is for problem-solvers in any field - healthcare, finance, the arts. It’s reshaping decisions across industries.
Yes, the learning curve can be steep, especially from a non-technical background like mine. But City St George’s offers strong support.
Stay curious and open, it’s not AI taking jobs, it’s the people who know how to use it. If you’re a mid-career professional, yes, you can do it!