Returning to education after six years working with one of the Big Four accountancy firms has exceeded expectations for Joseph Eloi (Public Policy MPhil 2023).

After an undergraduate degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics at the University of Manchester, Joe joined EY (formerly Ernst and Young), where he was a tax and trade specialist before changing track to fiscal policy, tax policy and trade policy.

He matriculated at Gonville & Caius College in October and is a recipient of the Tammy Chen Postgraduate Studentship, which provides financial support to postgraduate students studying Humanities subjects at Caius. It was established in memory of Tammy Chen, a PhD candidate at Caius killed in a terrorist attack in Burkina Faso in August 2017.

Joe had long thought he would like to do a masters,  refining policy and statistical skills, building networks and for personal growth. Only two of the 30 candidates on his Public Policy course (MPP) at the University of Cambridge are British, providing a diversity of experience and thought. He is happy to be able to lean on his life and career experience.

“As soon as I got the offer I knew I had to go – this is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Joe says.

“Everyone’s coming into the course with professional experience; an average of about five years. There’s speech writers,  junior ministers, news anchors, engineers…”

Joe considered completing a part-time masters at a London university alongside his employment, but is grateful EY were happy for him to take a nine-month sabbatical to live and study in Cambridge. The course includes an 11-week work placement with the World Bank, including five weeks onsite in Washington DC.

He adds: “I’m very happy I chose to come back at the time that I did. I was glad I took the time to clarify what I wanted. I’ve come in with skills I didn’t have before, which makes studying more effective and more enjoyable.”

I’ve come in with skills I didn’t have before, which makes studying more effective and more enjoyable

Joe admits to having had a degree of trepidation about coming to Cambridge and Caius, but his experience has been overwhelmingly positive. Joe has joined the Caius football team, the rock climbing society and is active within the MCR, the postgraduate community. He has also explored societies in the wider university, such as the Cambridge Union.

“There are so many things to do in London it’s constantly busy; I didn’t know it was possible to be busier but I am,” he adds.

“I’ve met a lot of people that I get on with really well; so many more than I expected. It’s completely exceeded expectations.

“Going out for drinks with the MCR and playing football… there's also talks on every night and also in the day. And there’s always someone to go for coffee with, to talk about everything from academic work, research, the football at the weekend, to X,Y and Z…

“The whole MCR community is really together. The majority are in their 20s, but some are early 30s, some older. It’s a complete merge -apart from better beard coverage and a few more wrinkles here and there.”