7 Questions with an Alumni
April 2022 — by Rozemarijn van der Knaap
Choosing a master’s degree comes down to a few considerations: the programme itself, the university, the city, but we shouldn’t forget one of the most important ones: the implications for your future! In order to shed some light on all of the above-mentioned topics, we interviewed SBE alumni Max. Read on to hear all about his experience during and after SBE!
Question #1: Give us a little background about yourself!
My name is Max, and I am currently 25 years old. I grew up in The Hague and Vught in the Netherlands, and I currently live in Amsterdam. After my studies in Maastricht, I found a job at a finance and real estate consultancy firm in Utrecht. I worked there for a year before deciding to move to an analyst role at an investor mainly focusing on private equity and private real estate.
Question #2: How was your overall experience at SBE?
I started my studies in Maastricht in 2015 at the University College, which is an open-curriculum bachelor’s where I decided to combine business courses with a broader set of topics like law and history. From the start, I had the idea of doing a master’s in business, probably at SBE because some professors offered courses at the University College. After following some courses on (sustainable) finance, I decided to do a Master’s in International Business with a specialization in Sustainable Finance in 2019.
I really enjoyed both the bachelor’s and master’s period at Maastricht University and the transition between faculties was very easy. What I especially liked was the high level of motivation from both the professors as well as my fellow students in the master’s track.
Question #3: What did you like most about studying at SBE?
I think the Sustainable Finance track in general is unique in the Netherlands as it is focused on a relatively new topic. Before I had my first courses, I was worried it might be too narrowly focused. However, the professors’ level of expertise and knowledge on this topic took all my worries away. I really felt that the academic ‘world’ of Sustainable Finance was shaped at SBE as many professors wrote high-quality articles on the topic. I think that SBE and UM want to be very ambitious as they are a young university, which is very beneficial for the quality of the courses you follow.
Question #4: How did you experience student life in Maastricht?
Because I started in 2015 (and graduated in 2020), I spent quite some time in Maastricht. I became a member of a student association in 2015 and enjoyed that during the first years. However, during my master’s, I got to meet a lot of new people that were in the same track because you work together a lot. The city itself is very nice to live in as it is quite small but very historic. There are many great bars and restaurants to go to with friends and you won’t be bored by what the city has to offer!
Question #5: Do you think SBE gave you a good preparation for the labour market?
I was satisfied with how SBE prepared me for my first jobs. It really depends on how active you want to do this at SBE. They host career days that help you meet up with large companies. I also noticed that several professors are actively helping students find a first job as they have a large network. That is also how I found my first job!
Question #6: If you could do it all over again, would you again choose SBE for your master’s studies?
I definitely would! As I said before, I really enjoyed the topic of Sustainable Finance, and it was very nice to learn from the professors I had. I am very happy to have done my master’s studies at SBE.
Question #7: Any last advice for prospective master’s students at SBE?
What I noticed is that a year flies by very fast, especially if you enjoy your master’s. So, I would advise everyone to think ahead about what they want to achieve during and after their master’s (besides the courses you are following). This helps to get the most out of that year. Another piece of advice I would give is not to worry too much about your thesis. It might seem like a very big (unachievable) assignment, but SBE helps you to cut it into pieces and offers you the right support!
We hope this blog post gave you a better picture of what choosing SBE means for your student time and beyond. Max, thank you again for taking the time to answer our questions!
Best,
Rozemarijn
