How a master’s degree in Economics can help you achieve your career goals

Radboud University, Nijmegen School of Management

Anotinya from Bulgaria always wanted to live and study in an international environment, being exposed to other cultures and languages. So, after high school she decided to study abroad. Antoniya studied Economics but she learned so much more than just academics in the Netherlands.

“I wished to continue with my Master studies in an internationally renowned university, that offers a Finance programme suitable to my interests. I also wanted to study fully in English, since my Bachelor studies were completely in German. And lastly, I always found the Netherlands very welcoming with its friendly people, unique culture and history. Hence, with an English-taught Finance programme from a research university ranked in the top 100 in the world, I was very excited to be accepted at Nijmegen School of Management and continue my journey there!”

What can you gain from a degree abroad, and how can it help you launch the career of your dreams?

1. Broad Understanding

With a master’s degree you can get a competitive advantage in your field, not only by specialising in a certain area, but also through gaining a broad understanding of the financial world around you. The studying structure at Nijmegen School of Management allows you to expand your knowledge in interactive and small scale classrooms, and the continuous assessment helps you gaining a thorough understanding of your subjects: “Weekly online tests were a nice way to keep up with the learning material without having the “exam-fever” by sitting comfortably in your own home chair. Even the online portal we used to submit our calculus results from tasks the professor has just given in class, was a fun and quick way to engage the audience and keep the attention high!”

2. Career advantage

There are a number of reasons why a master’s degree can give you a career boost: “Firstly, my study programme was able to send me on multiple paths, depending on my own wishes. I could choose from an academic future in a Research environment, or go private in any business sector, without any limitations. Furthermore, most of the work done during the studies was closely related to the current economic developments and to actual business cases happening at that moment. And last – but definitely not least – the internationally recognized diploma was a huge plus when going on the job market for the first time.”

3. Support and network

Obtaining a valuable network is probably one of the most important parts of going to university. Your course mates and professors, the faculty’s alumni and the industry partners are all-in the exact same field that you want to be in. These people are your future colleagues, mentors and perhaps competitors, so connecting with them can bring a lot of opportunities, from internships, through jobs, to new business partners.

But studying in a new international environment can be daunting as well, so making friends in your classes and study organisation can certainly help. However, the university is also always there for you, providing you with a safety net to successfully navigate your life abroad: “My whole transition to the Netherlands was made extremely smooth with the help of the International Office, hence I did not face any major challenges when arriving. The thing I had to get used to very quickly was that I had to cycle everywhere I go. So, the habit of not forgetting your lights, or bike keys, or anything else bike-related, took some time to develop.”

4. Gaining essential skills

A master’s programme teaches you a variety of skills in analysis and leadership, both of which are highly valued in the corporate world. In your courses, you will work on different case studies, through which you can put theory into practice and see how to come up with realistic and sustainable solutions. Of course, there are also a number of practical skills, such as finance and accounting, which equip you with the right technical knowledge for your career.

But one of the most important skill you learn is collaboration, which is a key element of any professional working environment. By working together with your peers in the classroom – whether you like them or not – you are not only learning the material, how to delegate tasks and solve problems as group, but it is actually a great opportunity to make friends too: “For every subject of our curriculum, we had to do weekly group assignments, which made it possible to get to know your classmates very well, and group assignment were also very common, giving you the opportunity to be part of a team.”

5. Boost your confidence

Earning a master’s degree is a huge step in itself. You specialise in your field, gain a variety of skills, and experience, which will all help you in your professional career and life as well. Not to mention that by gaining essential communication and problem solving skills while achieving a major milestone, will also boost your confidence. And greater confidence leads to greater career advancement, as studies show that those who report higher confidence levels earlier on, earn better wages and get promoted quicker!

“I definitely recommend doing your master’s in the Netherlands! Radboud is one of the best universities in Europe, Nijmegen School of Management has amazing study programmes, and last but not least, Nijmegen is a really cool place to live.”

Antoniya Petrova graduated from Nijmegen School of Management in 2016 with a Master of Science degree in Economics. She specialised in finance and she is currently working as Senior Associate Business Analyst in the Strategy Department at Sutherland Global.

Learn more about Radboud University, Nijmegen School of Management