A Brit in the Business School

By Hannah, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey – New Brunswick, NJ, United States

During my exchange year at Rutgers University, I had the opportunity to take two-thirds of my classes at Rutgers Business School (New Brunswick).

Rutgers Business School Newark and New Brunswick is recognised as one of the top three public business schools among Big Ten (BTAA) schools and is the highest-ranked public business school in the Northeastern United States. As someone studying Fashion Management (FBT) at Manchester, I was excited to explore a wider range of business subjects and experience a different academic environment.

Getting enrolled in these classes required support from Lauren in the Rutgers Study Abroad team and Dean Norott, so I would like to say a huge thank you to both of them for helping make it possible.

The Classes I Took

Semester One

In my first semester, I took Retail Marketing, Cross-Cultural Management, and Introduction to Supply Chain Management.

All three modules were interesting in different ways, but Introduction to Supply Chain Management was particularly valuable because it opened the door to more specialised supply chain modules later on. Before arriving at Rutgers, supply chain wasn’t an area I knew about in depth, so it was interesting to learn about the systems and processes that sit behind the products we use every day. I want to explore this within fashion, particularly sourcing.

Semester Two

In my second semester, I built on this foundation by taking Procurement and Global Sourcing Strategy, Consumer Behaviour, and New Product Planning.

My favourite class was definitely New Product Planning. I was fortunate to be part of a great group, and together we worked on developing a new product concept called Heirloom. This was an AI-powered fashion recommendation app. Users could describe an item or style they were looking for, and the platform would generate more sustainable alternatives designed to become long-lasting wardrobe pieces. It was a project that combined technology, sustainability, and fashion, which made it particularly enjoyable for me.

Academic Life at Rutgers

One thing that surprised me about studying in the US was that the content itself wasn’t necessarily harder than what I had studied in Manchester, but the workload was much more consistent throughout the semester.

There was always something due, whether it was a SmartBook assignment, weekly quiz, reading task, or test. SmartBook was a platform used in a few of my classes where we needed to complete questions based on weekly readings. We could track our understanding of the material through practice questions.

The tests were more frequent than I was used to in the UK, but they were usually worth less towards the final grade. In some ways this reduced the pressure of individual assessments, but it also meant there was less opportunity to fall behind. Keeping on top of the readings could be challenging at times, especially alongside making the most of exchange life, but I quickly realised how important they were because professors regularly referred back to them during class discussions.

Overall, the experience helped me develop better time-management skills and a stronger work ethic.

Opportunities Beyond the Classroom

One of the best things about being a student at Rutgers Business School was the number of opportunities available outside of lectures.

Rutgers offers courses such as Doing Business In…, which combine academic study with international travel. During my time there, students had the opportunity to visit destinations including Singapore and India. For three academic credits, they could spend a week abroad learning about international business while networking with Rutgers alumni and industry professionals. If I was there longer, I would have signed up for this.

I also got involved with Rutgers FORM, a student organisation focused on fashion and retail careers. Through FORM, I visited Bloomingdale’s and learned more about the retail industry from professionals working within it. Throughout the year, the organisation also hosted CV workshops and company visits to businesses including Tapestry and Tiffany & Co.’s Landmark store in New York City.

The career fairs were another standout feature of Rutgers. They were on a scale I had never experienced before and really highlighted the emphasis that US universities place on networking and career development. It was inspiring to see so many employers actively engaging with students.

Final Thoughts

Looking back, studying at Rutgers Business School was one of the most valuable parts of my exchange year. I even have a stole to commemorate my year, which I will wear at graduation in Manchester next summer.

The experience introduced me to areas of business that I may not otherwise have explored, particularly within supply chain management and consumer behaviour. Studying subjects outside of fashion, while still seeing how they connected back to the industry, helped me become more commercially minded and broadened my understanding of business as a whole.

Most importantly, it challenged me to adapt to a different academic system, manage a much more continuous workload, and make the most of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom.

I am returning to Manchester with new perspectives, a stronger work ethic, and experiences that I know will benefit me throughout the rest of my degree and beyond. Studying at Rutgers Business School was an experience I am incredibly grateful for, and it was undoubtedly one of the highlights of my year abroad.