Niyati Somani

BA(Econ) Economics

Niyati is a Data Analyst. She graduated from Manchester with a BA(Econ) in Economics in 2023.

My current role and how I got there

I am an Analyst working within the Data & Statistics division at the Bank of England. I am currently on their Graduate Development programme and have previously completed a placement year in the same team. My day-to-day role primarily includes data stewardship responsibilities, alongside managing process improvement projects and conducting analysis for our quarterly data publications.

The flexibility of the BA Economics course at Manchester allowed me to explore a range of specialisms, from Finance to Policy to Entrepreneurship. I was very fortunate to be able to enrol onto more Statistics heavy modules, even from the second semester of first year. Having more freedom to mould my degree to my strengths, combined with the practical experience gained during my placement year and my involvement in societies like MUDSS, played a key role in shaping the start of my career in data science.

My experience at Manchester

I was deciding between a few options, but attending a dedicated offer-holder day for London applicants made my decision clear. Beyond the flexibility to tailor my course to my interests, I was drawn to the opportunity to experience life in a vibrant city outside of London.

Looking back on my time at The University of Manchester, I not only enjoyed my degree and the meaningful connections I built with students and professors, but I also fully embraced everything the city has to offer. From attending gigs, including those at the iconic Depot Mayfield, to exploring the Northern Quarter’s bars and trying out Manchester’s unique independent restaurants and cafés, I was able to strike a great balance between academics and social life. Few universities outside of London offer such a well-rounded experience, and I couldn’t have chosen a better place to study.

I’ve always enjoyed problem-solving and recognised it as one of my strengths back in secondary school. Coming to University, I was exposed to a broader range of opportunities and degree pathways which I had never considered before. By making the most of the resources available; whether it was trying out new courses or being immediately connected with professionals in every industry, I was able to narrow down the field that most interested me and focus on tailoring my degree towards that career path.

The biggest things I took away from my course at Manchester were levelling up my programming skills and meeting some fantastic people along the way. In my chosen field, knowing how to program is important: it lets you do so much more than just looking at data. For example, data analysts help make sense of information, but if you want to work with raw data, clean it up, or even use advanced techniques like machine learning, programming is key. Studying at Manchester really helped me build those skills and feel confident using them in my job.

Beyond the technical skills, the people I met had just as much of an impact. I was lucky to learn from some truly inspiring professors, a few of whom I still keep in touch with today. In my final year, after my placement year working in Data, I enrolled onto the Data Science Modelling module taught by Tatjana Kecojevic. It was an incredibly useful course; especially for those without a STEM background, and Tatjana’s preparation and teaching style made it one of the most engaging classes I had. I also got the chance to connect with Jackie Carter, who’s a huge advocate for getting more women and non-STEM students into the data industry. I really believe this combination of practical skills and strong mentorship continues to shape my career today.

My advice for future students

One thing I wish more students knew is just how many resources you have access to at university. There’s support for everything, from mental health to career advice, but for me, the most valuable resource was the people.

I made a real effort to connect with my supervisor and the professors in the subjects I was most interested in, and that made a huge difference. Even now, two years after graduating, I’m still involved in the data community in Manchester and have been invited back to lead workshops on technical subject matters and host panel sessions with students and those working in industry.

At the end of the day, university is what you make of it. The more you put in, the more you’ll get out: so take every chance to get involved, ask questions, and build connections.