Hi everyone! My name is Hannah, I’m originally from a small village in Oxfordshire, but I have lived all over the world. I’m a current postgraduate student in MSc Marketing here at the University of Exeter, and study in the University’s Business School on Streatham Campus. Today I’m going to be talking about the Business School, why I chose to study there, as well as the subject that scares most people – careers!
Why the Business School?
I finished my undergraduate degree in June 2025, and while I always knew I was going to do a postgrad straight after my graduation, I really struggled finding the right fit for me and to be honest, I felt like I was eighteen again trying to choose what university to go to and what degree was going to give me the best opportunities and path for my career. Choosing a postgraduate degree is just as hard, if not more difficult, as it’s one step closer to starting your career and finding a job, two things I found really scary!
As I mentioned, I am currently on the MSc Marketing course, and I really love it, but narrowing down different universities and courses was extremely difficult, and honestly, very overwhelming. Aside from the attraction of the Business School, I felt that when doing countless hours of research on where I should attend, Exeter seemed the most appealing and put my mind at ease because it clearly explained everything the course offered, from the accreditations to the numerous modules I could choose, all the information set my mind at ease and made me feel more confident in my decision.
As a postgraduate, you must choose a university that is going to give you everything you need and more to help you achieve your career goals, and for me Exeter had all of that and more! What attracted me most to the Business School at Exeter was the excitement of attending an award winning and triple accredited school. I mean, anywhere is good, but I knew that going to the Business School here was going to add to my prospects and boost my career and knowledge, and it 100% has.
The Business School has definitely earned its recognition and awards as it supports its students immensely by providing many opportunities to boost prospects and help with preparation for careers and life after graduation, as well as helping students make the right choices for them when entering the ever-competitive job market. From guidance and advice, career mentor schemes, and work experience opportunities, the Business School has it all.
Never fear, Careers is here
Now while the academics and achievements of the school are a huge part of applying to universities, so is the atmosphere. I have loved studying at Exeter and in the Business School as all of the staff are so nice and welcoming, and are always there to help!
I’m currently at the stage where I’m halfway through my degree and I’m starting to look at and think about my future more, and that very scary word… JOBS! I don’t know if it is just me, but I’ve been feeling extremely overwhelmed with this process and the uncertainty of what’s next, especially when it comes to writing my CV, clicking apply on numerous jobs, and starting interview prep.
When I started these processes I had no idea what to do, or what employers looked for, so I turned to the Business School Career Zone for advice and guidance. Simply by searching Exeter Career Zone I stumbled across all the information and videos they share about how to write and structure CV’s to look clean and professional, as well as what is necessary to share and what isn’t! The Career Zone allows you to book appointments and have meetings with the team who can advise you on your CV, or even just where to start.
One of the best things about this is that all of the support and guidance is tailored to you, meaning the interaction with the Career Zone feels way more personal and approachable, helping confidence grow overall. This has definitely reduced so much of mine and my friends’ stress and anxiety around this topic. I’ve also found the interview prep advice very helpful, and have learnt to slow down what I’m saying and answer questions in a way that sounds friendly but also professional! Because of all of the opportunities the Business School provides, I feel so much more comfortable when applying for jobs, doing interviews, and more confident in my ability and knowledge of marketing itself.
The Career Zone not only provides tailored help and experience, but promotes numerous employer events, career fairs and networking experiences which are all there to help students future their prospects and build their careers. All of this definitely fulfils every need and represents the Career Zone’s goals for its students; decide, plan, compete.
Career Mentors and Networking
One thing I really appreciate about Exeter’s Business School is their Career Mentor Scheme, which as a postgrad is vital. This scheme is designed to match students with professional mentors and alumni to give them advice and guidance based on real industry experience, as well as insight into the world of work and how to better prepare for it. There is definitely a shared experience between postgrads when it comes to an enthusiasm for networking and learning everything we possibly can about our chosen industry before we enter it, and the Career Mentor Scheme does an amazing job of giving us all of the information we need to better prepare ourselves, as well as the reassurance that all of our hard work is about to pay off.
Plus, did you know that all of the Business School alumni still have access to this scheme for up to 3 years after they graduate? This just shows how much the University of Exeter cares about its students and helps them find the right path. Being able to have access to these mentors during my degree and then after graduation as well, is incredibly reassuring. These mentors know the struggle and experience of applying for jobs better than anyone, which makes applying for and starting my career way less daunting as they can offer me different perspectives than my lecturers as well as defining different paths I can take. I think this incredible opportunity really sets Exeter apart from other universities as it shows their students and potential students that they are passionate about helping you network and fulfil your potential, as well as making that transition from student life to work life easier!
Work Experience, Internships, and Placements
The Business School does an amazing job of placing so much emphasis on gaining practical experience, and the University of Exeter provides so much support when it comes to discovering work experience opportunities for its students.
The University advertises so many opportunities through the My Career Zone platform (formerly known as ‘Handshake’), where students are able to find opportunities that align with their interests and aspirations, helping them further their careers. Currently, I’m looking at and applying to internships that I can do over summer that I can add to my CV, just to gain a little bit more experience and improve my employability prospects. The University has provided me with so much guidance when applying for these through workshops on applications and interviews.
Being able to have access to this level of support and opportunities for my career makes the process so much less overwhelming and scary, and helped me understand how to market myself, my academics, and skills to employers. I would highly recommend using all of these resources the Business School provides as they can help you discover your interests and dislikes in industries as well as help narrow down what path you would like to take in the future.
What I Wish I Had Known
There are so many things that I wish I had known about the Business School when I applied, but we don’t have all day so let me summarise a few of the points for you!
The Business School places so much emphasis on academic, wellness and career support, which is amazing, and I wish that I had known how much was truly available to me. I think when you start a postgraduate degree it’s a little bit daunting because it feels like a huge step up from your undergrad, and you’re one year closer to leaving education and venturing out into the real world. I didn’t use nearly half of the support that was available to me in my first term because I was trying to find my footing, but also procrastinated thinking about my career and what to do when I graduate this year. If I had started this process earlier I think I would be feeling a lot less stressed and overwhelmed because I would have a good idea of where to start! So that is my main piece of advice I can give. Use all the support available to you from the beginning so you can reduce your stress, build a relationship with the Career Zone, and take advantage of all of the workshops that they provide!
I hadn’t realised how supportive the whole community is here in the Business School and at the University in general! I’ve built such good relationships with my mentors, my tutors and my course mates, and I really believe that makes all the difference when you’re studying as a postgraduate because you can lean on others for advice and support when you’re having an off day!
Overall, the Business School has provided me with an experience that is so much more rewarding than just academics. I’ve had the opportunity to attend one of the top five schools in the UK for my course, have experienced career-focused support, gained skills that will be useful to me for the rest of my life, and have been welcomed into an extremely supportive community and environment. All of this and more is why I would highly recommend the University of Exeter Business School to anyone looking to apply here.