Pushing my curiosity in data science further

The buzz around data science, and my previous work which had an element of data interpretation in it, increased my curiosity even further and it eventually pushed me to pursue data science.

I decided to study with the University’s School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics because of the way the course was structured. It was a perfect blend of business, computing and mathematics and this is what I was looking for.

We were introduced to different programming languages during Semester 1, such as R, Python and SQL. During Semester 2 it became more intensive as we studied statistics and its applications using machine learning.

I am currently working on pricing of financial options using non-parametric distribution for my dissertation. I believe that there is scope in this area for improvement as financial options have until now been priced using parametric distributions. So, I wanted to take a different view on the topic and see if it yields better results as it accommodates more extreme events compared to the previous work done in this area. Also, I wanted to work on something related to finance and therefore I went ahead with this topic.

There are some micro internships which are available during the holiday breaks which students can apply for. I am hoping to gain some industry related work experience after completing my programme. I want to be a professional data scientist in the long run but initially I want to kick things off by becoming an analyst. I want to stay in the UK initially as I want to gain experience here and then carry the best practices from here back to my home country.

Since I like exploring natural places, I would highly recommend future students to explore the little gems in and around Plymouth. Cornwall is right next to Plymouth and is a really beautiful place. Take a trip to Dartmoor, Mount Edgcumbe, Plymbridge, Looe, Polperro and the list goes on and on.

I am planning to join some adventure related clubs during summer as I want to explore some new skills like surfing or paddle boarding. The Students' Union (SU) organises various events which is a great thing for students as they can get a feel of different activities and choose which one, they want to carry on with. Also, the SU is a great place to unwind and relax and they organise many events and parties throughout the year.