A multidisciplinary master’s programme in energy and finance

At the age of 37, Arhnue Tan Malaysia chose to get her MSc in Energy Trade and Finance at Cass Business School in London. Why, you might ask? To refresh her knowledge and improve her technical skills. 

Besides, London is one of the most vibrant cities with a mix of different cultures. The Malaysian also chose Cass Business School because it was the only school that offered the course she was looking for and is highly-ranked by Financial Times in 2019 as 19th best. We caught up with Tan via email to find out more about her course find out more below with five questions:

What has been your most memorable class at Cass Business School so far — and why?

“Quantitative Methods” has been very memorable for me, but also challenging. I have never been particularly fond of mathematics, but the way it was presented to me now, seeing how it relates to finance and economics, makes it quite interesting. 

Do you have any fond memories with teachers at Cass Business School that stood out for you?

As it’s only been one semester so far, nothing in particular has stood out for me. That said, I have found the lecturers at Cass Business School very easily approachable in terms of any questions I might have. Their teaching has also been methodological and clear. 

Tan is enjoying her time in London and has plans to put all she’s learnt at school to good use by getting straight back to work after graduating. Source: Arhnue Tan

What are the practical learning elements in your course?

The MSc I am getting at Cass Business School is very geared towards real world application and will give you enough ground to confidently join the investment banking side of the energy and trade markets, or even the corporate side. For instance, we study Energy Economics which is essential learning for any aspiring investment or market analyst. 

We also study oil and energy trade which carves a path to become commodity traders. The course also provides extensive lessons on Excel modelling, an essential skill for the working world. 

What are your academic goals in this course?

I have only been at Cass Business School for 10 weeks — including two weeks of induction, and I have gained plenty. I have a better understanding of mathematics related to business and refreshed my knowledge on statistics. 

I am also learning the intricacies of energy trade which in turn gives me ideas of how I want to progress with my career after the course. No grandiose academic goals other than to learn a thing or two while I am here, then to go back into the working world with added confidence and expertise knowledge. 

Do you plan to progress into further study after getting your MSc in Energy Trade and Finance? What do you plan to do with this degree after graduating?

I will go back to work after getting this degree at Cass Business School. My goal is to work in the renewable energy sector but I have not yet decided where I fit into the value chain. It could possible be investment research, corporate finance, trading — be it physical or derivatives, or even corporate strategy.