Geoffrey Tomaino – Economics MSc

“The thing I enjoy the most about economics is the challenge of it. Economics requires you to both follow mathematic rules and have philosophic creativity. The opportunity to utilise the two skill sets concurrently is very exciting.

Prior to studying at the University of Surrey I worked in events and promotions. My choice to come to the University of Surrey was based on a combination of the location of the University campus and its high placement in the rankings and league tables.

The academic staff on my programme are very knowledgeable, especially in regards to Economics as it exists in academia. Through the support and guidance of the academic staff in the Economics department I am currently applying for PhD programmes.

“Spending a year in another continent, especially at a university as internationally focused as Surrey, has certainly made me more appreciative of other cultures.”

During my degree I lived in student accommodation at Hazel Farm. The opportunity to live with individuals from a diverse set of nationalities was fantastic. Getting to swap food, stories, and overall culture from our respective countries was absolutely a highlight of my experience at the University of Surrey. Also, due to Hazel Farm’s being off campus, the whole area held a sense of comradery.

Additionally, I truly enjoyed serving as a Course Representative for my programme. This not only gave me the chance to further engage with both my cohort and the faculty, but also it allowed me to learn quite a bit about student activism within academia.

In particular, I was able to attend the NUS postgraduate conference as a course representative. There I was able to engage with other students from across the UK as well as help voice Surrey’s opinions to the NUS. Exchanging ideas and discussing how to make University of Surrey even better with student from across the country was absolutely a great experience.

Due to the ease of getting from Guildford to Gatwick, I’ve been able to enjoy much of western Europe during my time at Surrey. This has been an absolute privilege since, being American, European travel would usually be prohibitively expensive for me.

“Proximity to London was one of the best parts of my experience. Getting to take advantage of a global cultural capital, while still getting to call the idyllic English town of Guildford home, provided a great balance.”

Additionally, I’ve been able to see more of England than just the southeast and have enjoyed trips to Dartmouth, Birmingham, and many other spots of interest in the country. The Students’ Union sponsored coach trips in particular provide a wonderful opportunity to see the country in a convenient and affordable way. Guildford itself has a great deal of history and serves as an excellent hub for seeing the rest of southern England.”

Discover more about our economics programmes, including our MSc Economics.