Priyal
MSc Business Analytics and AI (Online)
An online degree doesn't have to mean a smaller experience – the range of what you do and who you do it with is far wider than you'd expect.
From India to London, Priyal’s journey to Imperial brings together her interests in data storytelling and entrepreneurship with her creativity and global ambition. She reflects on choosing Imperial’s flexible online Master’s, building community across time zones and how she’s getting the support to shape a clear career path.
Before Imperial
I completed my BSc Business Analytics with Proficiency in Entrepreneurship at the University of Exeter after moving from my hometown of Nasik, India following my A-levels. I enjoyed learning how data can be used to understand problems and support better decisions, while entrepreneurship pushed me to think about people first, develop strong storytelling skills, and understand how ideas can be turned into something meaningful.
Through all of it, the experience that had the biggest impact on me was the data visualisation work that kept tugging at me. Learning to use Python and Tableau to turn complex, messy datasets into stories that stakeholders could actually understand was the moment everything clicked. That curiosity stayed with me throughout my degree and ultimately inspired me to apply to Imperial to develop a deeper and more technical side of the field, while also providing the kind of ambitious and fast-paced environment that I had enjoyed throughout my time at Exeter.
Why did you apply to Imperial?
When I realised that data visualisation and business intelligence were the areas I wanted to explore further, Imperial was one of the first places I looked. To my surprise, Imperial offered exactly the kind of course I was searching for – the MSc Business Analytics and AI (Online). The most important factor for me when choosing a Master’s was the course content and if it would teach me something new, which this course would – from machine learning and econometrics to healthcare, digital marketing and leadership.
I found it exciting to study with professionals from leading organisations around the world who were at completely different stages of their careers and could share their first-hand experiences.
What attracted me most to the course was the opportunity to apply analytics across a range of industries and business challenges. Since I was still early in my career, I didn’t want to specialise too quickly and have the space to explore different industries before deciding where I wanted to focus long term. Imperial’s course gave me that flexibility.
The second thing that stood out to me was the teaching team and the people I would be learning alongside. At 20, I found it exciting to study with professionals from leading organisations around the world who were at completely different stages of their careers and could share first-hand experiences of the challenges they were solving in their organisations. Many of my coursemates brought years of industry experience into classroom discussions, and listening to their insights and stories from workplaces across different countries added another dimension to the learning experience. I knew I’d be exposed to perspectives that were very different from my own on this course, and that was something I actively wanted.
Doing an online postgraduate course at Imperial
When I started my Master's, I'd just completed my undergraduate degree. I knew I wanted to keep learning, but I didn't want to pack coursework, career planning and everything else into another intense 12 months – which is why I intentionally chose to do a part-time degree at Imperial which would allow me to do a degree ranked 8th in the world while working towards my wider goals.
Through doing a part-time course, I had the time to explore dissertation ideas properly, develop a startup concept with the support of Imperial's Enterprise Lab, voluntarily contribute to Imperial's sustainability initiatives and think about the career I wanted after graduation rather than rushing into traditional applications.
This way of studying and working online was a rehearsal for exactly how I'll work in a distributed BI or consulting team, and it gave me something the on-campus students didn't get: a network of people already inside industry rather than just studying it.
Apart from this, the course is structured in a hybrid format where some modules were fully online and others had in-person teaching, so I could study from different cities and countries and still come onto campus when it mattered. I usually took two to three modules per term while pursuing other activities outside of Imperial.
Studying online, the cohort doesn't naturally come together the way it would on campus as you have to build the community across screens and time zones. I became one of the people pushing this community along, starting the group chat, pulling together study calls and keeping the conversation going. A lot of those group calls happened at odd hours to catch people in other parts of the world, and there's something genuinely strange and modern about it: a year of working closely with people I'd only ever seen as faces in a video tile, who I'd still trust completely with a deadline.
Looking back, this way of studying and working was a rehearsal for exactly how I'll work in a distributed BI or consulting team, and it gave me something the on-campus students didn't get: a network of people already inside industry rather than just studying it. The best part was when the webcam videos became real people in front of me during in-person events like Leadership Week and the Imperial Business School’s Annual Winter Ball at the Natural History Museum (which I got to do twice as a part-time Master’s student!).
The moment I knew Imperial was the right place for me was smaller than any of that. I'd be working through coursework late in the evening, fire off a question I assumed would sit until morning, but get a thoughtful reply from a lecturer that night. That willingness to show up for us as students told me how genuinely invested the teaching team was in our learning.
At the Science Museum for Welcome Day!
At the Science Museum for Welcome Day!
In the Natural History Museum for Imperial Business School's Winter Ball
In the Natural History Museum for Imperial Business School's Winter Ball
Doing an online postgraduate course at Imperial
When I started my Master's, I'd just completed my undergraduate degree. I knew I wanted to keep learning, but I didn't want to pack coursework, career planning and everything else into another intense 12 months – which is why I intentionally chose to do a part-time degree at Imperial which would allow me to do a degree ranked 8th in the world while working towards my wider goals.
Through doing a part-time course, I had the time to explore dissertation ideas properly, develop a startup concept with the support of Imperial's Enterprise Lab, voluntarily contribute to Imperial's sustainability initiatives and think about the career I wanted after graduation rather than rushing into traditional applications.
This way of studying and working online was a rehearsal for exactly how I'll work in a distributed BI or consulting team, and it gave me something the on-campus students didn't get: a network of people already inside industry rather than just studying it.
Apart from this, the course is structured in a hybrid format where some modules were fully online and others had in-person teaching, so I could study from different cities and countries and still come onto campus when it mattered. I usually took two to three modules per term while pursuing other activities outside of Imperial.
Studying online, the cohort doesn't naturally come together the way it would on campus as you have to build the community across screens and time zones. I became one of the people pushing this community along, starting the group chat, pulling together study calls and keeping the conversation going. A lot of those group calls happened at odd hours to catch people in other parts of the world, and there's something genuinely strange and modern about it: a year of working closely with people I'd only ever seen as faces in a video tile, who I'd still trust completely with a deadline.
Looking back, this way of studying and working was a rehearsal for exactly how I'll work in a distributed BI or consulting team, and it gave me something the on-campus students didn't get: a network of people already inside industry rather than just studying it. The best part was when the webcam videos became real people in front of me during in-person events like Leadership Week and the Imperial Business School’s Annual Winter Ball at the Natural History Museum (which I got to do twice as a part-time Master’s student!).
The moment I knew Imperial was the right place for me was smaller than any of that. I'd be working through coursework late in the evening, fire off a question I assumed would sit until morning, but get a thoughtful reply from a lecturer that night. That willingness to show up for us as students told me how genuinely invested the teaching team was in our learning.
At the Science Museum for Welcome Day!
At the Science Museum for Welcome Day!
In the Natural History Museum for Imperial Business School's Winter Ball
In the Natural History Museum for Imperial Business School's Winter Ball
Being an international student at Imperial
What I'd say to anyone applying from India is that the leap feels bigger from the outside than it is. I found Imperial's application process refreshingly clear, with genuinely useful resources at every stage and the support teams are well worth using.
As an international student, studying in the UK was something my parents backed me to do, and I've never taken that lightly – it's shaped how seriously I've taken every opportunity here. By the time I applied to Imperial, the UK didn't feel foreign at all. It was where I'd already built my academic life, so choosing London was a deliberate step up into a faster, more ambitious environment. The UK opened up a way of learning, with real breadth and access to people, that I'm not sure I'd have found at home.
What I'd say to anyone applying from India is that the leap feels bigger from the outside than it is. I found Imperial's application process refreshingly clear, with genuinely useful resources at every stage and the support teams are well worth using. My advice is to reach out early, ask questions and try to attend the virtual open days before you apply.
Exploring London with my cohort!
Exploring London with my cohort!
Receiving the 'Cheer Captain' title for our Level 1 Team
Receiving the 'Cheer Captain' title for our Level 1 Team
Community and societies at Imperial
I'd recommend joining clubs and societies at Imperial as it’s a chance to explore new things and meet people, especially if you're in a new country.
Even before I started at Imperial, I'd gone through the full list of societies and cheerleading was the one that jumped out at me. So during the Welcome Fair, I made a point of finding their society stall, hit it off with the people there straight away and signed up on the spot. I joined with zero experience, purely on curiosity and through sheer commitment to the training, I ended up as captain of my team.
Practising cheer in the shadow of the Royal Albert Hall never stopped feeling slightly surreal. That curiosity didn't stop at cheer either, and pole and aerial classes quickly became another thing I looked forward to each week. Beyond sport, I also became a Sustainable Imperial ambassador, working as a student auditor on the SOS UK Green Impact audits and even delivering talks to Imperial staff.
Honestly, the hardest part was wanting to try everything before my degree ended. There's an enormous amount on offer, and what struck me most was how seriously sport is taken alongside academics, from the huge Ethos gym at genuinely student-friendly prices to indoor basketball and access that even extends to alumni. There are innovation, entrepreneurship, cultural and academic societies too, but sport was where I found my people.
I'd recommend joining clubs and societies at Imperial as it’s a chance to explore new things and meet people, especially if you're in a new country. By all means join a cultural society for that sense of home, but go beyond it too and try the things you'd never normally do. Get in early, go to the taster sessions and choose at least one society that genuinely takes you out of your head, because between academic pressure and the job hunt, looking after your mental health matters more than people admit. Go to the socials, meet people and say yes to trying!
Student life in London
Most of my time in London is spent tracking down new places, cafés, pop-ups and little food spots that never make it onto the usual tourist lists – the food scene in London is boundless.
The course being online gave me the freedom to base myself anywhere, and I picked London knowing the city itself would be half the experience. I lived in Notting Hill, right by Portobello Road Market, so my weekends usually started with a wander through the stalls then ending up somewhere I hadn't planned to be. Beam Cafè became a regular, and I got surprisingly into the pottery cafés dotted around the city, which was my way of doing something creative away from a laptop.
Living in London on my own has probably been the part that's changed me most. Moving here from India, I've had to figure everything out myself, which I’ve genuinely enjoyed. It's taught me more about myself than I expected, and it's exactly what I was hoping for when I moved to London.
For a slower reset, there’s Hyde Park near South Kensington Campus, and because Imperial sits right by the Natural History Museum, walking past a dinosaur skeleton somehow turned into a normal part of my week, which I never quite got over. When I wanted the opposite of quiet there was never a shortage of options – from Imperial Lates to evenings out around Chinatown and Soho with friends. I also spent a fair bit of time on campus by choice, heading into South Kensington or White City to study, particularly while job-hunting, because I always worked better with people around me than on my own at home.
Living in London on my own has probably been the part that's changed me most. Back home in India, a lot is taken care of for me, but in London I've had to figure everything out myself, which I’ve genuinely enjoyed – the independence, learning to manage my own money and routines and building a life that's entirely mine. It's taught me more about myself than I expected, and it's exactly what I was hoping for when I moved to London.
Living in private student accommodation in London
I live in private student accommodation at Chapter Portobello, which I found just by searching online for student housing in London. During my accommodation search on Imperial Home Solutions, I looked at GradPad Wood Lane Studios which is on Imperial’s White City Campus, which I also really liked the look of – so it’s well worth exploring too if you want something closer to the university.
I also searched for accommodation using sites like Zoopla and Rightmove to compare options. My main priority throughout the search was staying near campus to cut down on travel time, which I'd really recommend. London is big, and the time you save not commuting adds up quickly, both for getting to campus and for actually enjoying the city.
Exploring Portobello Road on the weekend
Exploring Portobello Road on the weekend
Student life in London
Most of my time in London is spent tracking down new places, cafés, pop-ups and little food spots that never make it onto the usual tourist lists – the food scene in London is boundless.
The course being online gave me the freedom to base myself anywhere, and I picked London knowing the city itself would be half the experience. I lived in Notting Hill, right by Portobello Road Market, so my weekends usually started with a wander through the stalls then ending up somewhere I hadn't planned to be. Beam Cafè became a regular, and I got surprisingly into the pottery cafés dotted around the city, which was my way of doing something creative away from a laptop.
Living in London on my own has probably been the part that's changed me most. Moving here from India, I've had to figure everything out myself, which I’ve genuinely enjoyed. It's taught me more about myself than I expected, and it's exactly what I was hoping for when I moved to London.
For a slower reset, there’s Hyde Park near South Kensington Campus, and because Imperial sits right by the Natural History Museum, walking past a dinosaur skeleton somehow turned into a normal part of my week, which I never quite got over. When I wanted the opposite of quiet there was never a shortage of options – from Imperial Lates to evenings out around Chinatown and Soho with friends. I also spent a fair bit of time on campus by choice, heading into South Kensington or White City to study, particularly while job-hunting, because I always worked better with people around me than on my own at home.
Living in London on my own has probably been the part that's changed me most. Back home in India, a lot is taken care of for me, but in London I've had to figure everything out myself, which I’ve genuinely enjoyed – the independence, learning to manage my own money and routines and building a life that's entirely mine. It's taught me more about myself than I expected, and it's exactly what I was hoping for when I moved to London.
Living in private student accommodation in London
I live in private student accommodation at Chapter Portobello, which I found just by searching online for student housing in London. During my accommodation search on Imperial Home Solutions, I looked at GradPad Wood Lane Studios which is on Imperial’s White City Campus, which I also really liked the look of – so it’s well worth exploring too if you want something closer to the university.
I also searched for accommodation using sites like Zoopla and Rightmove to compare options. My main priority throughout the search was staying near campus to cut down on travel time, which I'd really recommend. London is big, and the time you save not commuting adds up quickly, both for getting to campus and for actually enjoying the city.
Exploring Portobello Road on the weekend
Exploring Portobello Road on the weekend
What's life at Imperial really like?
Connect with current students and explore the vibrant community that makes life at Imperial so unique.
How Imperial is supporting my career
A lot of my work and study at Imperial has fed straight into my career goals, from a data-warehousing build for Stella McCartney to designing my own luxury retail website from scratch to run A/B tests and Google Analytics on.
I want to work as a business intelligence and insights analyst, ideally within consulting or the luxury beauty and retail space, and I'm increasingly drawn to brand marketing analytics alongside that. A lot of my work and study at Imperial has fed straight into my career goals, from a data-warehousing build for Stella McCartney to designing my own luxury retail website from scratch to run A/B tests and Google Analytics on.
Imperial has changed how specific my career ambitions have become. I started my Master’s wanting to explore a lot of different directions at once, but the course gave me enough exposure to the range of industries out there to narrow that down to where my skills, knowledge and interests actually fit.
Imperial's Careers Service has been a big support. Their industry experts have guided me directly on everything from my CV and application forms to interview preparation, and I use Symplicity, the Imperial Business School job search platform, regularly for roles aimed specifically at Imperial students.
The most useful thing I've learned is to stop treating the degree and the job search as two separate things fighting for your attention, because in reality they feed into each other far more than you'd expect. Wherever you get to choose your modules and projects, it's worth choosing with some sense of where you want to end up, since the work you produce along the way quietly becomes the portfolio you'll be talking through in interviews.
Just as important is staying disciplined with your time, because a job search alongside a Master's can quietly expand to fill every hour if you let it. I set aside dedicated time for applications rather than refreshing job boards constantly which also helped me protect my study time.
I'd also make the most of being a current Imperial student while it lasts, whether that's reaching out to people or accessing roles, because that door is open far wider now than it will be after you graduate.
Top tips for postgraduate students at Imperial
These two years showed me an online degree doesn't have to mean a smaller experience; it's demanding and fast, but the range of what you do, and who you do it with, is far wider than the course title suggests.
For anyone thinking of applying, even without a ‘typical’ educational background, I’d say do it! My journey to Imperial wasn't a straight line, and the things I'd done off the conventional path counted for more than I assumed, so apply with what you've actually got rather than the CV you think you're meant to have. Also, don't be put off if everyone around you seems further along – I was usually the youngest in the group, and what helped was treating that experience gap as a resource rather than a threat, because you learn faster from people ahead of you. The mix of their real-world experience and a fresh pair of eyes on a problem is often where the best thinking comes from.
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