Stephanie Niven

Merton 2002, History (Modern)

I am currently a portfolio manager at a hedge fund (Javelin Capital LLP).

I did not know what I wanted to do career-wise, so I chose a subject that fascinated me. History is a subject where you can never know all the answers, and you have to do a lot of research to draw your own conclusions. I considered these to be skills that would equip me for any career path.

Furthermore, I liked the fact that at Oxford you could both specialise (for example I studied a number of papers surrounding the Norman Conquest and the Crusades) and generalise (looking at the whole course of European history in the nineteenth century).

Living in college is a totally unique experience. My year had fewer than a hundred people in it, so I got to know everyone. It was really stimulating to share tutorials with people from very different backgrounds. It made me appreciate that diversity can open up your eyes to new ideas and ways of thinking. 

Studying in college means you are in an environment where everyone wants to learn. There is no shame in showing interest in your studies and working hard. I also found that, in contrast to friends at other universities, by living in a small college I made a lot of friends from different subjects.  As a History student, it was refreshing to hang out with mathematicians and lawyers in the evenings. The college system also provides you with a support network.

Clearly one of the unique benefits of Oxford is the tutorial system. You cannot hide behind someone else. You have to know all the material yourself, process it quickly and efficiently, and respond. This experience leaves you equipped with the ability to face any challenge in a business environment and respond to questioning in a succinct, intelligent fashion. It really is world-class.

One of the most significant things I learnt was to have confidence in my own opinions. The tutorial system teaches you to speak up and not be intimidated by those who might appear to know more. I was educated in the state sector, but I was encouraged to challenge and contradict those with a public school background. Oxford teaches you that intellect, and the importance of listening to a diverse range of opinions and approaches, are crucial.

The workload – often three essays on three new topics per fortnight – meant I had to develop strong time management and planning skills. In addition to my degree, I also competed in two Blues sports (swimming and water polo) for the University, which meant I was required to fit in a high volume of training sessions. Oxford gave me the confidence to prioritise and manage my time. Without that experience I would be totally overwhelmed in my current job. 

I really benefitted from the strong sports ethos of the university. Oxford is equipped with a competition standard sports centre. In my third year my water polo team were British Universities National Champions, resulting in us being awarded Extraordinary Full Blues.  At Oxford you are surrounded by people who want to achieve, and want to compete, and you really develop as an athlete. 

Oxford was instrumental in my subsequent career. Promotional events and career networking enabled me to be selected for an internship with Goldman Sachs, after which I was offered a full time job upon graduation. The strength and reputation of Oxford is such that employers really seek you out; they are interested in recruiting individuals from Oxford and there is a lot of focus on the talent available there. 

I really think that Oxford opens the doors to a wide range of careers and top employers.  Furthermore, having an Oxford education made it easy to make the transition from an arts degree to a finance career.  Oxford's reputation is so strong that the specific degree you take is not important. This is crucial in allowing you to study what interests you most and delay specific career choices until later.  Oxford gives you the confidence to be hungry for life: always actively seeking new challenges and experiences. Without my experience of Oxford, I think my life would be a lot less varied and exciting than now.