Nicklas

Why did I choose my programme (and CBS)?
Primarily, I chose my programme as it's a natural progression of my bachelor programme and thus presented the best opportunity, in my opinion, to further develop my skills and knowledge within the field I'd previously studied. I come from a bachelor programme with a strong emphasis on China, and so it would often be the Chinese context in which we were introduced to new knowledge. Therefore, I also chose this programme to experience and work with my field in other contexts than just China.

What do I like the best?
Most of our teachers have had practical research experience within their fields of expertise and actively contribute to the literature, which naturally influences our courses as well. Generally, our teachers have also been keen to draw on their professional networks and regularly invited guest speakers from e.g. start-ups in emerging economies or top-level managers from multinational enterprises. Furthermore, the amount of students is quite modest yet very diverse in terms of cultural background, which adds a lot of different perspectives.

How do I experience the difference in academic level between my bachelor and master programme?               
Even though people from my programme come from very different academic backgrounds around the world, the general expectations of you as a master student are higher, compared to being a bachelor student. To some extent, teachers expect that you have a predefined understanding of being a business student, and the workload on most of my courses has been heavier. Thus, it also takes more effort to achieve a high grade on your master's, in my opinion.  

What are the biggest challenges in my programme?
It can be hard to maintain your foreign language, especially when you're in a country where you're not forced to use it on a daily basis. On the Asian concentration of my programme, the mandatory regional track course, which is Chinese mandarin in my case, is taught in English and so you have to be very disciplined and regularly spend time on improving and maintaining your language skills if you expect to make use of it after ended studies. 

What would I have liked to have known before starting my programme?
I wasn't too sure about how high the academic expectations to the students were when time came for our first exams. I started panicking a little and doubting my own abilities, especially because everyone else on my programme seemed so capable. Everything worked out fine in the end, so go into your master’s programme with an open mind and trust the abilities that you have accumulated during your previous education. 

What do I want to do after finishing my programme?
I'm open to work within most fields, and I see myself working in a larger international organisation that deals with sustainability and positive development in the markets they operate within. I haven't quite landed on a specific direction yet, but I'm keen on pursuing a job that allows me to use my knowledge about especially Asian markets. One of the good things about Business and Development Studies is that it touches so many disciplines that allow you to look for jobs in many different directions.

If I could give myself a piece of advice, before starting it would be…
A master’s programme has a tendency to be much more career oriented, which is only natural as you narrow down the field you specialise in. Some might have a very clear plan for their career after graduation, maybe even have a full-time job lined up with their current employer, others might still not know exactly where they're going. Thus, it is easy to stress and compare yourself to others, so learn to focus on yourself and your own path, even if it's not clearly outlined yet.