In June last year, Faculty of Science student Foo Weoi Ming returned to Malaysia after completing his double degree at the University of Kent. He was the first product of an academic pathway program that enables a third year Industrial Mathematics undergraduate student at UTM to obtain an Actuarial Science degree qualification from the United Kingdom.

Under this pathway, Foo successfully graduated with a first class degree in BSc (Industrial Mathematics) from UTM in 2016 and later obtained a second class upper in BSc (Actuarial Science) from University of Kent in 2018.

After graduating, Foo received continued success by landing a job as a Technical & Quantitative Analyst in a fund management and investment advisory firm in Kuala Lumpur. Using both degree certificates, he received the job offer just a week after his recruitment interview. Currently his work includes monitoring local and international fund performances and analysing daily stocks listed in Malaysia and overseas. Foo’s Industrial Mathematics and Actuarial Science degrees have provided a good grounding in starting his new career.

In a telephone interview recently, Foo reflects that although he feels that there is not much difference in terms of learning experience studying locally or abroad, the opportunity living overseas has definitely made him more resilient and independent. When asked how he coped with his lessons at the university, he mentioned that he always made a point to do all the tutorial questions handed out in class and check the solutions given after. He would discuss with his course mates and enquire his lecturers after class if he has any queries. Foo received three professional actuarial examination exemptions with his Actuarial Science degree at Kent.

Foo also expressed his gratitude to Prof. Datuk Ir. Dr. Wahid Omar, UTM Vice-Chancellor and trustees at Yayasan UTM for their funding assistance and the given opportunity for him to pursue this double degree program pathway. He is also ever grateful for the support and assistance from UTM-Kent coordinators and lecturers at the Department of Mathematical Sciences, Faculty of Science UTM. He is also indebted to the support from his parents, family and friends.

His advice to junior Mathematics undergraduates at UTM is to work hard. Studying for two undergraduate degrees can be difficult but is rewarding in the end.

“I loved my study at UTM and Kent, and would not change anything about my experience.”