Gwenael

Why did I choose my programme (and CBS)?
I chose the FIN programme at CBS mainly for three reasons. Firstly, I wanted to do my entire master’s abroad, as I didn’t have the opportunity to go on exchange during my bachelor’s because of the pandemic. Secondly, CBS has a very good reputation, not only in the Nordic countries, but also in Germany (where I am from). Thirdly, I realised during my bachelor studies that I have great interests in asset management and quantitative work, which I hope(d) to gain deeper understanding of through the FIN programme.

What do I like the best?
What I enjoy the best is the positive atmosphere among the students. I have found most of my classmates to be genuinely friendly and approachable. I appreciate the opportunity to interact with people from diverse backgrounds and learn from their perspectives. The programme can be challenging at times, but it's great to have classmates who are willing to help each other out. This sense of community has made my learning experience more enjoyable and rewarding.

How do I experience the difference in academic level between my bachelor and master programme?               
I would say that the difficulty level is comparable, though the workload is higher. For example, in corporate finance we went through virtually the entire range of topics I had covered in all of the corporate finance courses I took in my bachelor's degree. If you haven’t previously studied at CBS or another Scandinavian university, the teaching methods can also be quite different: We work a lot with Excel, and exams are mostly open book and done on computers.

What are the biggest challenges in my programme?
I would say the biggest challenge is to stay up to speed with all the lectures and exercise classes, especially if you work alongside studies (which is very common in Denmark and particularly in the FIN programme, I would say). You usually cover 60-90 slides per lecture, the pace is fast, and you are required to understand the materials that were discussed in previous lectures, as topics build upon each other. If you at some point fall behind, it’s hard to close the gap.

What would I have liked to have known before starting my programme?
I would say that the information on CBS's website provides a good overview about studying at CBS and the specific programmes.

What do I want to do after finishing my programme?
I’m not yet sure. Before I moved to Copenhagen, I was really certain to directly jump into a fulltime position after my master’s. Since then, my perspective has changed, and I’m considering two paths: Either I will try to get into a graduate programme at one of the big asset managers/banks or I will further build up on my master’s and pursue a PhD. I hope that the remaining one and a half year of my studies will help me to find out what suits me the best.

If I could give myself a piece of advice, before starting it would be…
I would advise myself not to stress too much. The master’s at CBS is definitely a challenge, but if you did well in your bachelor’s and you get admitted for the master’s programme, there is a reason for that. So, as long as you put in the work, you will be fine and have a great time.

Also, it takes time to settle in Copenhagen, finding an apartment, getting your CPR number and getting a bank account takes time, so I can only recommend to start informing yourself about the above early on.