FINANCE OR ENGINEERING OR BOTH: DILEMMA OF A FIRST CLASS ENGINEERING GRADUATE WITH PASSION FOR FINANCE

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Dear Jarus,

A’salam alaekum! I came across your website some few days ago and I have, since then, been exploring the contents. The website is such a perfect avenue for the teeming Nigerian youth population to get such kinds of information which would hardly be found in the school curriculum. Had I found this kind of website earlier on, I would have been better informed. I really appreciate the efforts of your team.

I recently graduated with a First Class in Chemical Engineering from a Nigerian (First generation) University and do not know how my career path should be. I developed passion for accounting and finance at about the middle of my undergraduate studies and had to suppress it, during semester, in order not to have my academic pursuit at stake. I later came across the New ICAN syllabus and found it relevant pass through the training. I then developed plans of going for ICAN professional exams through scholarship (DIAMOND) as I am not financially buoyant. I would be 25 sometime around the last quarter of this year. My questions now are:

  1. What are the exam expenses ICAN scholarship cover and how long would it take one to get the scholarship?
  2. I would actually find it difficult ignoring engineering job opportunities and fully face finance or can I combine both career together? I now love both careers equally.
  3. I would also love to have my masters in Chemical engineering, but after some experience in business finance and accounting. What do you see to that?
  4. I would also love to know UK and US universities that offer full tuition postgraduate scholarship Chemical Engineering graduates and how to get those scholarships.

I would appreciate your quick response.

Jide

 

graduation cap

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Dear Jide,

Wa alaikum salaam.

Thanks for the kind words.
1, I don’t know what expenses ICAN scholarship covers and have no idea about how long either. You will do well getting the info from the body giving it. There should be an FAQ or “contact us” section there.
2, Well, I think your first job will determine this. Mr. Femi Adeyemo, Group CFO at Oando, had first and second degrees in Engineering, but his first job was with PwC. He ended up as an accountant/finance person.
3, There is no problem in going back to Engineering for Master’s after experience in Finance. I have a friend that had a First Class in Microbiology, and got first job in PwC where he was trained in finance, but after 3 years, he returned to Sciences for Master’s and PhD. He never lost sight of his Science despite shortly working in a professional services firm. When he returns from Europe, where he is currently doing his PhD programme, he may decide to use his PwC experience to return to Finance/Accounting career or use his academic qualifications and remain in sciences.
4, Yes, you should be able to get scholarship to UK and US schools. See this article for tips on what to do.
Also, for mentoring in chemical engineering, I will advise you read about and follow these guys: Michael, Tope. For mentoring in finance, you have enough resources here and elsewhere.
I wish you all the best.
Jarus
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1 comment

  1. Emkz 3 May, 2016 at 11:08 Reply

    Similar dilemma, finishing this year almost certainly with a first class in Petroleum Engineering, inclined more towards finance and consulting. Torn between going for a masters in Pet(my field) or instead branching out into consulting and getting an MBA much later

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