Florian

Why did I choose my programme (and CBS)?
I chose the Advanced Economics and Finance degree at CBS because I wanted to pursue a degree that combines economics with finance since my bachelor's degree was pure economics and my interest lies within capital markets and banking. CBS' high academic level and reputation and the beauty and life quality of Copenhagen itself made the choice even easier. On top, I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and challenge myself to study abroad.

What do I like the best?
What I like the most is the fact that our class is such a diverse group of people with different nationalities, study backgrounds and future goals. This diversity gave me the opportunity to learn a lot about different cultures and intercultural differences and build up a network. The most important learning for me was how to overcome these differences, grow all together and treat these differences as a valuable source for idea generation as well as considering circumstances from different perspectives.

How do I experience the difference in academic level between my bachelor and master programme?
For me, the two biggest differences are the pace and study input and the independent study style. The material taught is much more in-depth than on bachelor’s level, but it’s taught on the same time horizon, which results in a lot more study material. Secondly, the expectations of the student’s self-discipline are much higher than during the bachelor’s degree. You rely on yourself to organise and prioritise your studies. But after the first semester, I had already figured it out, and it felt normal to me.

What are the biggest challenges in my programme?
The biggest challenge, but with it also the greatest learning I had during my studies was to figure out how to handle my studies next to my professional work, voluntary engagement, sports and private life. Since the pace of a master's degree is way faster than that of an bachelor’s degree, it is important to be able to prioritise the tasks at hand and organise yourself. This challenge will also prepare you for the corporate world.

What would I have liked to have known before starting my programme?
Before starting my master's I would have liked to have known that there is always somebody you can ask for help or advice. Whether it is the student hub, your programme manager or the students from the earlier cohort, there will always be someone you can talk to. CBS itself offers many different sources to get the answer to your question. We were and are all in the same situation and therefore work together as a community. You just have to ask!

What do I want to do after finishing my programme?
After my graduation, I am looking for an interesting and challenging opportunity within the field of banking, asset and wealth management or finance. Since I started my studies at CBS, I also noticed the enormous focus on graduate programmes within companies. Step by step, I got to know more about the advantages of it and sorted out the different graduate opportunities with companies. Therefore, I am also applying for these entry positions with all their opportunities after the 1 to 2-year intro phase.

If I could give myself a piece of advice, before starting it would be…
Enjoy life and the two years of your master's programme to the fullest. For the majority of students, it is the last chance to live, structure and shape your life the way you would like it to be, because you have few obligations and a lot of free time. The freedom of self-determination, which is given to you during your studies, is a chance, and you are likely to not have that in the corporate world anymore.

Cheers and enjoy your studies!