How UCL and London Opened Doors I Never Expected.

When I was searching for a Master’s, my goal was simple: I wanted to study at a university that would help me reach my goal of launching a venture in the pharmaceutical industry. I already had a strong clinical background as a pharmacist, but I was looking for a course that would deepen my knowledge of formulation while also building my entrepreneurial skillset. 

From the beginning, the structure of my Master’s - MSc in Pharmaceutical Formulation and Entrepreneurship - supported my long-term goals. I’ve attended guest lectures from pharma executives, investors, and regulatory experts. We visited NHS innovation hubs, explored real-world case studies, and learned from people building solutions across sectors including major tech firms like Amazon. My final project is a three-month internship at a pharmaceutical company, rotating across departments including formulation, quality, and regulatory. This kind of exposure is exactly what I came for.

Career-defining Moments

UCL’s impact on my career goes far beyond the classroom. For example, being part of The Entrepreneurship Society and UCL Explore Programme gave me a mindset of bold problem-solving. You're in a room full of people who genuinely believe they can change the world, and when you’re around that kind of energy, it rubs off on you. I found myself believing more deeply in my own ideas, and in the long game.

I pitched an AI wellness app which opened the door to tech entrepreneurship. I also took part in a hackathon where the challenge was set by a GSK executive. We pitched an AI-powered asthma management app for kids and won first place, which gave me real confidence in high-pressure, interdisciplinary settings.

Honestly, there have been multiple moments that felt like career kick-starters; speaking TEDxUCL, the hackathon for consulting and innovation, my internship, and wherever my path leads, UCL will be part of the reason I got there.

The Unexpected Advantage of London

I’m originally from Kano, a major city in northern Nigeria, but I’d actually lived in the UK for about ten years before moving to London, so I wasn’t coming to London as a wide-eyed international student. I thought London was too chaotic, too fast, too impersonal. I came with zero expectations; I was just here for the course. But over time, London changed my mind.

The thing about this city is that everyone is from somewhere. It’s full of international students, immigrants, wanderers, entrepreneurs. You don’t have to shrink or shift who you are. If you lean in, London leans back.

Just to give you an idea: I was featured in The Economist and The Londoner for taking part in a 'chessboxing' match. I’ve had dinner with the Goldsmiths' Guild and the Merchant Taylors' Guild, two of the most prestigious livery companies in the City of London. I served as a rapporteur at the Commonwealth Trade & Investment Summit 2025, where I met several prominent Nigerian political and business figures. I also had the incredible honour of carrying the Nigerian flag at the Commonwealth Day ceremony at Westminster Abbey, in the presence of the King, Queen, and Prime Minister, a surreal experience I never could’ve imagined when I applied to UCL.

These are not things I would have predicted. But London is that kind of place. It rewards curiosity, rewards people who put themselves out there.

Find out more about studying a Master’s at UCL and register your interest