Let’s be honest: transitioning to a Master’s degree is a distinct kind of culture shock. I came to AMBS from a high school and undergraduate background where high support was the norm, like most people from India. I was used to smaller ecosystems where resources were abundant, and the path was always well-lit. Coming here, stepping into a world-class institution with a much larger academic environment, made me have reservations because I thought I’d be completely left to my own devices. The imposter syndrome was real. I worried that in an institution this size, I might just become another random student ID number in the files. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

What I’ve discovered during my time here is that while the academic load has undeniably increased, the support infrastructure is impeccable to support it. As someone who tries to stay super involved in the community, whether I’m discussing marketing frameworks in class or just organizing the next social for the course, I’ve seen first hand how this safety net operates.

Take the Student Support Hub. In theory, it’s supposed to be a desk for administrative queries. In practice, it’s the core of the student experience. The staff there is equipped to solve problems with a level of empathy that actually de-escalates the stress. Although they have helped me hundreds of times by now, I have a perfect example of this.

Last month, during the peak holiday season, I was heading towards a crucial case study exam. If you know me, you would know I usually have all logistics on lock, but exam nerves have a way of scrambling your brain. I arrived on campus and realized I had forgotten my highlighters. It sounds super trivial, right? But for a case study analysis, where highlighting key data points is half the battle, it felt like a disaster. I was spiralling with no one around me who could help. Jenny, a friend of mine, calm as ever, suggested I just run to the Student Support Hub at AMBS. I was sceptical and awkward to ask. Surely they have bigger fish to fry than a disorganized student needing stationery? But I went, and bam, no questions asked, no judgment. Just a warm smile and a highlighter were handed over immediately. It was such a small, tangible interaction, but it signalled something massive to me.

The support doesn’t just come from the staff, it’s further embedded in the student community itself. This is where the Cosy Campus Room comes into play. There is a specific sociology to this space that makes it unique. It’s not a study space (too quiet), and it’s not a cafeteria (too loud). It’s perfect, a home between accommodation and class. It’s where the masks of perfection come off. You walk in and see the reality of student life: people reheating their lunch in the microwaves, others napping on the sofas between lectures, and groups debating the finer points of a group project.

I remember one exam break afternoon, which has genuinely gone down as truly one of the best days of my life here. My friend Ayaa and I had retreated to the campus room after getting kicked out of the study room by our friends for being loud and noisy. We were reading through some exam material. I won’t get into the context, but something random about it just set us off. We started laughing relentlessly. And I don’t mean a polite chuckle, I mean that deep, tears-in-your-eyes kind of laughter that you usually suppress in academic buildings.
We sat there for hours, just laughing while reading this document, totally unguarded. And the best part? Nobody judged us. In fact, the vibe in the room is so communal that people just smiled as they walked by. It is a judgment-free zone where you can decompress, recharge, and remind yourself that while we are all here to achieve great things, we are also just people looking for connection.

These hubs are integral to maintaining our sense of community. It’s a space that invites you to just be. It’s easy to talk about rankings and employability statistics, and those are great, but the real value proposition (speaking like the real MSc Marketing student that I am) of this school is the ecosystem of support. It’s the feeling that whether you need a highlighter to pass an exam or a safe space to laugh until you cry, the staff and the community are there to catch you.

Written by Param Bhatia, a current MSc Marketing student.

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