After graduating with a Master of Chemistry from the University of Oxford, I realised I am a people person, and I wanted to apply my analytical skills not just to molecules, but to markets and people. That desire for a more interactive, fast-paced environment is exactly what brought me to the Master of Finance in Financial Technology here at HKU. I chose HKU because I wanted to be right at the centre of the action. Hong Kong is a global financial hub, and this programme offers the perfect bridge between my STEM background and the financial world.

My time here has been transformative. The highlight was definitely Professor Meng’s course with its model trading simulation. It converted theoretical concepts about stocks, bonds, and leverage into practical skills. At my internship at Sun Hung Kai Properties, I got to apply it all in the real world, using those trading models and data analysis skills on actual market data and client portfolios.

I majored in Physics during my bachelor studies at Peking University, with a specific focus on particle physics. However, during my third year – a critical time for postgraduate recommendations – I realised I wanted to apply my knowledge practically to everyday life. This led me to choose finance as my new direction.

There were good opportunities in Singapore and America, but HKU Business School gives students the flexibility to choose between a one-year or two-year curriculum. This provides students who have changed disciplines with enough buffer time to get used to the new environment and teachings. Additionally, Hong Kong is an international financial hub that offers rich internship and career options, which are important for my future career planning. Accommodating visa policies and other local advantages also swayed my decision.

I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spark and previously operated my own web development company. But I realised that if I want to build a real startup down the line, I need a serious skill set. That’s why I chose the MFFinTech programme. It’s the perfect blend of finance and hard-core coding skills. Courses like “Investment and Portfolio Management” are incredibly practical. We aren’t just learning theory; we are writing Python code to analyse market sentiment.

For me, Hong Kong is the perfect “soft landing”. It has the international ease of Europe and the dynamic energy of the Asian financial markets. I’m here to work, learn, and build the foundation to one day launch my own venture.