Shakeel Kathrada

Shakeel Kathrada graduated from Leeds after studying Financial Mathematics BSc and now works at Deutsche Bank working alongside Private Bankers who help individuals preserve and grow their wealth by providing specialised services.

Why Leeds

“I chose the University of Leeds as it is not only a member of the Russel Group with an excellent reputation but also offers a great campus experience which you would not find when studying in big cities such as London. 

The fact that the course is taught by internationally renowned academics in both fields of mathematics and finance has made it more compelling for me to apply and study at the University of Leeds. Students benefit from great resources and have access to modern facilities throughout the university. Moreover, I chose Leeds as it’s a vibrant friendly city and there’s something for everyone!”

Best aspect of studying 

What I really liked about my course is that you learn from experts across both fields and develop a solid grounding in mathematics, finance, economics and probability and statistics.

“Having enjoyed mathematics in high school, it only felt natural to pursue a degree in mathematics but at the same time I wanted to dip my toes into finance. This turned out to be one of the best decisions I have made in my life. 

What I really liked about my course is that you learn from experts across both fields and develop a solid grounding in mathematics, finance, economics and probability and statistics. The programme emphasised a lot on small tutorial groups which I have found to be immensely helpful as you get the chance to solve problems as a team. Students got to dive deep into the subject matter and whenever we got stuck on a problem, we would have constructive and supportive discussions along with the guidance of a supervisor. 

What’s more, our class was assigned coursework on a weekly basis which helped a lot to understand concepts whilst sharpening our research and problem-solving skills. Overall, I enjoyed being able to pave my own path as the course provides the flexibility to study a customizable program.”

Activities outside studying

“I was a member of the Leeds RAG (Raise and Give) Society and in my first year, I hitchhiked from Leeds to Amsterdam without spending a penny on transport. I took on this challenge to raise money for my chosen charity, the Refugee Council UK – a charity which helps and supports refugees and people seeking asylum in the UK. 

I also went on a lot of hikes during my time at Leeds, through Get Out Get Active, which is a programme that allows students to engage in fun activities in and outside of Leeds.”

Since graduating 

“Upon graduation in July 2019, I moved to Switzerland to complete a 6-month internship at a Private Equity Asset Management firm based in Nyon. Following this brief but insightful experience in Switzerland, I then moved to Luxembourg to intern at Deutsche Bank within the Wealth Management department for a year. Towards the end of my internship, Deutsche Bank then offered me the opportunity to work as an analyst at their UK office based in the City of London. 

My current role at Deutsche Bank is to work alongside Private Bankers who help High Net Worth (HNW) and Ultra High Net Worth (UHNW) individuals preserve and grow their wealth by providing specialised services. In terms of my career, I will shortly start studying for the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) Level 1 exam to broaden and further develop my knowledge in finance. “

Advice and tips

“One of the main reasons I would recommend studying my course at the University of Leeds is the stimulating learning environment. The professors were very engaging, and everybody is intelligent and highly motivated. 

I found my course to be challenging and fun at the same time but in the end, your success is completely up to you. The University of Leeds is a great place to learn, for anyone with an intrinsic drive and to build long lasting friendships!”

Find out more about our Financial Mathematics BSc.