From a Business Management degree at Queen Mary to tech-driven finance: Festina’s journey to UBS
Thinking about studying BSc Business Management? Meet Festina Nushi, a recent graduate of the School of Business and Management at Queen Mary University of London.
Festina graduated in 2023 and is now thriving in the financial services sector, having secured a place on UBS’s highly competitive Technology Graduate Talent Programme.
Here, Festina shares how Queen Mary helped her gain the skills, confidence, and experience to succeed — and offers her advice on how you can make the most of your time at university.
Why Festina chose Queen Mary University of London
When Festina was deciding where to study, it was the flexibility and reputation of Queen Mary that stood out. She explains:
"I chose to study BSc Business Management at Queen Mary University of London as I liked the wide range of modules I could choose from for my degree. I was able to tailor my degree to suit my career choices, which enabled me to excel in subjects I was most confident in. I also chose Queen Mary to study business as it was a Russell Group university which had a good track record of alumni success in Business & Finance."
Where is Festina now?
Fast forward to today, and Festina is making her mark at UBS. She joined their Technology Graduate Talent Programme after a successful summer internship at UBS the year before. Describing her role, Festina shares:
"I am currently part of UBS’s Technology Graduate Talent Programme, which I joined in February 2024 following a summer internship at UBS in 2023. In my first year, I worked as a Business Analyst in the Group Data Management Office. I am now in my second rotation, where I work as a Business Analyst / Junior Business Manager in the IB COO team, specifically within the Electronic Trading & Governance team, for six months."
How Queen Mary helped Festina’s career
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Reflecting on how her degree prepared her for life after university, Festina highlights key modules and skills that stood out:
"Modules such as International Business and the Business Management Dissertation were particularly valuable from my degree. Studying International Business gave me a broad understanding of how businesses operate in a global context, which has been useful in my role at UBS. Completing my final-year dissertation helped me develop essential skills such as time management, organisation, and independent problem-solving."
Festina’s advice for future students
For anyone thinking about studying BSc Business Management at Queen Mary, Festina has clear advice:
"I would encourage any student interested in studying BSc Business Management to research the elective modules offered to make the most out of their degree. The degree is quite flexible and offers a range of modules to choose from, which is highly beneficial when selecting modules that align with your career aspirations."
She also recommends making full use of the support on offer:
"I recommend students to be proactive in their studies by making full use of the available resources to enhance exam preparation and coursework. There are multiple avenues of support, such as office hours and extra reading materials, which can make a significant difference when preparing for final assessments."
Finally, she suggests looking at all the programme options to find the best fit:
"SBM offers a range of degree programmes, with each leading to different but similar career paths. Researching alumni career outcomes can provide valuable insight into potential opportunities and help students shape their own career aspirations."
Making the most of university life
Festina believes university life is about more than lectures:
"I would advise students to make the most out of the opportunities Queen Mary has to offer, whether that is through micro-internships, campus jobs or student ambassador roles. Looking back, I wish I had made more use of the multiple opportunities that SBM and Queen Mary had to offer as a whole. There are several short-term jobs and projects within the university that can help you build valuable skills needed for the workplace, which give you a great chance to enhance your skill set and CV."
She highlights the real-world experience she gained at Queen Mary:
"Participating in The Student Consultancy Project was a great way to gain real-world experience that strengthened my applications post-university as it gave me the ability to draw on examples similar to work.
Her advice is simple:
"By engaging in diverse experiences during your studies, it not only enhances your CV but helps you develop transferable skills that will be valuable in any role."
Festina’s final thoughts
Reflecting on her time at Queen Mary, Festina shares:
"Overall, I enjoyed my experience at SBM and Queen Mary, as I believe it helped me grow both personally and professionally after completing my studies. The university is a great place when starting out in higher education as the support I received during my studies benefited me greatly when I started my career."
She adds:
"Queen Mary is a great university for those looking to study in a diverse student environment with enriched support for studies and wellbeing."
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