We know that deciding on your higher education pathway is a big decision, so we decided to catch up with two of our students, Cecily (22) and Josh (19), to ask them why they chose to study with us, and how they would describe a typical day and week studying at OMBS.
First let’s meet Cecily, who after taking her A-Levels went into employment for two years as a Graduate Assistant in a UK boarding school. Although she enjoyed the position, she was keen to return to education. She chose to study at OMBS as she wanted to find a reputable alternative to a university course that would lead her to a career, and she felt unsure as to whether studying for an academic subject would get her there.
Next, meet Josh, who joined us from Seaford College in Sussex. He studied there from Year 9 to Year 13, taking English Language, Geography and Business A-Levels. Josh wasn’t sure a three-year university course was the right choice for him and felt that the smaller and more personal setting of OMBS would suit him much more.
Can you describe a typical day and week for us at OMBS?
Cecily – “The best word to describe a typical day at OMBS is “busy!”
My classes all happen to start at 9 am (this isn’t the case for everyone I might add – it depends on your timetable), which I really like, because when my lessons finish, the rest of the day is mine.
Three days a week I finish at lunchtime, despite spending a minimum of 20 hours in the business school a week. On the other two days I am in from 9 until 5 pm and 9 until 4 pm respectively, but that’s ok as I know that’s what employment is all about!
It’s about a 30-minute walk in from my OMBS accommodation house in Jericho, and I often swing by Edge Coffee for one of their delicious pastries on the way in. Lessons are two hours long, so you need to have a full water bottle and be logged into your computer ready to go. The lesson time gives ample opportunity for us to be able to chat with tutors about anything we’re learning that we might need help with or need extra support for.
On the days I finish early, I’ll head straight to the local Buzz gym for a workout, or if the weather is nice, I’ll play tennis with friends at Brookes University in Oxford. Then I’ll head home, make lunch and get into my assignments, as there’s always something that’s due to be handed in. As we are continuously assessed, staying on top of what we’ve been learning is super important, so that when you have the assessment you’re prepared and can perform well.
In the evenings a lot of OMBS students will head out to the pub together, and Jericho has brilliant wine bars and pubs. Alternatively, I might just hang out with my housemates for the evening. You can also meet up with other OMBS students from other houses who live in different parts of the city.
Home is Cape Town for me, so I stay in Oxford at weekends too. There is always a lot to do, Jericho recently had a vintage clothing market in one of it’s wine bars, and I can also meet other friends living here, or head into Summertown where there’s always something going on.
A lot of OMBS students will head home for the weekend, because lessons finish on a Friday lunchtime for everyone.”
Josh – “ A typical day for me is waking up around 8, as I only have two 9 am starts in the week. The other days I start my lessons at 11 am. I live in OMBS accommodation in Cowley, so the walk in is on average around half an hour through the parks. I will admit that we catch the bus if the weather is terrible!
When I’m in OMBS I’ll grab a snack or lunch locally, and after or in-between lessons I’ll head to Pure gym as it’s pretty much right outside of OMBS. Sometimes we eat lunch in the Westgate Shopping Centre as there’s a social area you can hang out in with great eating options like burritos, burgers and pizzas. Now it’s getting sunnier, we’re starting to head to Christchurch Meadow to eat lunch as it’s just a few minutes away.
If I’ve got extra work on, I’ll do studies in the afternoons and evening. I also prefer to complete assignments with my OMBS housemates at the weekends when we are all studying together. In the evenings we cook and eat together in our house, and if it’s a chilled evening, we’ll watch films and sometimes play cards. If we’re headed out, it’s usually to a pub or a club in Cowley (there’s loads to choose from), or we’ll join the OMBS guys in the house next door and have drinks. It doesn’t matter where you live across the city, as we’re all happy to visit each other…
At the weekends I enjoy a lie in, and quite often as housemates we’ll head to the gym together and do essential things like laundry. I’ve also made friends at Brooke’s through my OMBS peers as well, which is great…”
What do you like most about studying at OMBS?
Cecily – “One of the best bits of studying is that everything is so intentional. It feels like there’s a purpose to everything we’re learning, and I can see how I can apply the skills in the workplace. Because we learn skills in depth, it really gives you a lot of confidence. For example, we’ve just been learning about how businesses work and operate, which we discuss every week in class. We’ve reviewed how what’s happening in the world impacts the financial markets, and because I picked an airline – The International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG) – it’s been really interesting with recent world events!
We’re also assessed in different ways – by speaking to our groups, individual assignment completion and group work. I can see how this is relevant to the workplace, and for me personally this works really well…”
Josh – “ I like the fact that you get to know everyone on the course and the tutors know you really well. Because it’s small, we all know each other, and that works for me. I like the fact that the course content applies to real life, in fact my Dad is now asking me about Excel functions and tasks, which highlights how relevant the skills are!
The variety of skills we are learning is broad, and personally I’m really enjoying the Business and Personal Development Planning modules. I find the Business module really interesting as I’m closely following Rolls Royce for my share report project. I’ve been following it for 18 weeks and the share price is currently at an all-time high, which has been really interesting to watch!…”
What about the “not so good” bits?
Cecily – “ Because it’s such an intensive course, it feels like everything happens at once! Assignments can all come at the same time, so you might have a really busy few weeks in the term and need to knuckle down with your studies. Time management is really important at OMBS, as you need to stay on top of your studies and assignments. I’m lucky because my previous employment experience has really helped me with this. You are given support with time management skills though, which is helpful for lots of people.
Attendance is critical at OMBS because it counts towards your final mark, so there are times when we have to be in the business school even when I’d much rather be in a quiet space somewhere else. I do understand why this is important for us though…”
Josh – “ The assignments can feel like a lot! We can have multiple assignments all due in the same week, which can be overwhelming, but it’s about organising your time and yourself, and not letting everything build up. I knew it was an intensive year when I signed up though, so that’s not a surprise…”
What would you say to someone considering studying at OMBS?
Cecily – “No matter how old you are, or even if you don’t know really know what you want to do, you’ll never regret studying at OMBS. It’s valuable for everyone, no matter what your reasons are for choosing to study here.
I want to go straight into the workplace as I’m older, but some of my peers will head to uni, some will take a gap year travelling, and some will get jobs after graduation.
If you’re looking to enter employment, the opportunity is huge. We constantly have different job roles being shared with us by Jo, our Careers Advisor. We also have individual conversations with her about our future career possibilities, and she’s constantly recommending ideal positions and job sectors to me, which I find really exciting!…”
Josh – “If you aren’t sure about what to do after A-Levels, then coming to OMBS is an excellent option. I am unlikely to head to university after studying here, as I don’t want the debt that uni can give you. I pretty much know that this course will enable me to go and get a really good job after graduation. I’ve also had loads of support from Jo regarding reaching out to contacts in the property sector, and she’s been great at motivating me to start conversations about future possibilities. I know I wouldn’t get this sort of support at university…”
Find out more about studying for the Professional Business Diploma at one of our regular open days, or contact us at any time to make an appointment.
