Studying in Nuremberg

Kristina, Master’s degree program in Business Education

I’ve finished school – now what? This was the question that Kristina was asking herself four years ago after completing vocational school. She wanted to study a varied degree program, ideally including a foreign language, and she wanted to have the opportunity to make use of her previous knowledge of business. It took Kristina a long time to find the right degree program for her that met all these requirements. In the end she chose the degree program in Business Education at the School of Business, Economics and Society – and today she is confident that she made the right decision.

Kristina found out about the degree program in Business Education through FAU’s Student Advice and Career Service, which suggested possible degree programs to her on the basis of her interests. ‘The Business Education degree program fulfils all of the criteria that are important to me: it provides business know-how; my chosen second subject, English, allows me to improve my language skills; and it is preparing me for a career in a wide range of areas,’ Kristina says. The School of Business, Economics and Society not only convinced Kristina through the subjects on offer, its location was also perfect for her as she is from the Nuremberg area.

The 25-year-old remembers what it was like when she was a new student well. ‘The mentoring program helped me a lot when getting to grips with organizing my studies and also helped me make new friends.’ During her studies she has also acted as a mentor herself to support new students arriving at the University. Kristina also took advantage of the range of other opportunities offered by the School of Business, Economics and Society. She regularly attends events run by the Career Service to prepare for her professional life.

Her semester abroad at Jyväskylä in Finland was a particular highlight, allowing her not only to discover a new culture but also to make international contacts. ‘It’s great how much is on offer for students at this university. It has allowed me to gain a lot of valuable experiences,’ Kristina says. Like many other students, Kristina also has a part time job. She is a student assistant at the School of Business, Economics and Society, which enables her to gain an insight into the inner workings of the University. Of course, she makes sure to find time to have fun alongside studying and working. Kristina appreciates how much there is to do in Nuremberg which guarantees she never gets bored. Whether it’s festivals, museums or the famous Christmas market – there’s always something going on in Nuremberg.

Moni, Bachelor’s degree program in Business Studies

Moni always knew she would study business, even when she was in kindergarten. ‘I always wanted to open my own shop. Back then I didn’t know that that requires business skills.’ Today Moni is in her fourth semester of her Business Studies degree program. After finishing school, she originally wanted to study in Berlin. But in the end she decided that she couldn’t bear to leave Nuremberg, her home town. ‘Nuremberg is essentially perfect. Not too big, not too small. Everything you need is located very centrally and you can get there on foot in just a few minutes.’ She also didn’t want to leave her friends, although she admits that they can be a distraction. ‘There’s so much to do in Nuremberg. You have to be careful not to forget that studying should be your priority.’

Moni came to Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg directly after finishing school. ‘My path through education was quite typical – from primary school to high school and then straight to university. Although its very typical it suited me.’ At 21, Moni has already gained a lot of experience. Like many students in the Nuremberg area, she works alongside her studies and is a working student at Siemens. In her free time she volunteers for a student initiative, Ring Christlich Demokratischer Studenten (RCDS), where she acts as a mentor for students who are new in Nuremberg, gives advice, and organizes parties and events. At the end of next semester she will have gained another new experience, as she will be spending the coming winter semester in Budapest in Hungary.

While many students hope to spend a semester abroad in Barcelona or the USA, Moni knew she wanted to go to the Corvinus University of Budapest. ‘I had already made friends in Budapest through an exchange program at my church and they helped me organize things for my stay. As a free mover, these contacts are essential.’ Moni is classified as a free mover as she is not taking part in the Erasmus program like most students, which means she has to organize everything herself. Students at the School of Business, Economics and Society who had already been abroad were there to support her. ‘People were so helpful, some of them even found phone numbers and e-mail addresses for me that they hadn’t used in years.’ She is naturally looking forward to meeting new people, discovering a different culture and maybe even making friends for life while she is in Budapest. But above all she is excited to become more independent. Here in Germany, Moni lives with her parents. ‘It will definitely be a big adjustment for me, but I’m really looking forward to it already.’ With her confidence and enthusiasm her stay is sure to be a success.

Interview with Reinhard, Bachelor’s degree program in International Business Studies

Why did you decide to study a Bachelor’s degree program at the School of Business, Economics and Society?

Reinhard: I wanted a degree program with an international focus which is why I decided to study International Business Studies at the School of Business, Economics and Society. This degree program includes a semester abroad. Internationality is very important at the School: hardly any other university in Germany has so many partnerships and collaboration with universities in other countries as the School of Business and Economics at FAU – whether its in China, Japan, France or America.
And the fact that I can take a break after completing my Bachelor’s degree after three years was another important factor that convinced me to study this program. During that time I can gain some professional experience or go abroad again before I start a Master’s degree program.

What tip would you give new Bachelor’s students?

Reinhard: Make sure you apply for the School’s mentoring program! If you’re accepted you’ll have access to workshops and placements at big-name companies like Siemens AG, TeamBank and Müller Medien. By doing an internship you might be recommended for a position as a working student, allowing you to work alongside your studies. I’m a trainee at a large German bank where I work 10 to 15 hours a week. If you plan your tutorials well then fitting everything in isn’t a problem.

What do you like about Nuremberg?

Reinhard: If university life starts to get a bit too stressful, you can go to the zoo in Nuremberg or go walking in Fränkische Schweiz to the north to get away from it all. I also really like the cultural activities on offer in the region – there’s something going on every weekend. The highlights are the Bergkirchweih in Erlangen, the Blaue Nacht and, in particular, the Klassik Open Air concert in Nuremberg.

Why did you decided to study a Bachelor’s degree program at the School of Business, Economics and Society?

Julia: I wanted my studies to be challenging and the Bachelor’s degree program in Business Studies with a specialization in Business Education at the School of Business, Economics and Society certainly is. I also had the opportunity to choose English, a subject I’m very interested in, as a second subject here. There are only three other universities in Bavaria that offer similar degree programs. The best thing here is that the career prospects are good. There aren’t that many graduates in business education yet and there is high demand for them which is likely to continue to be the case for the foreseeable future.

What tip would you give new Bachelor’s students?

Julia: It’s important that you don’t just learn things for exams but that you can still apply your knowledge months later. Especially in math. You will need to use what you learn as a basis in more advanced semesters. And if you’re good at accounting in the first semester, you will have less problems when you study annual financial statements in the second semester. You should also make as many contacts as possible, as there’s always someone who knows more than you do. Another tip: the first semester gives you a good overview of the material that you will learn more about in the second semester.

What do you like about Nuremberg?

Julia: Nuremberg is not too big and not too small. You always bump into fellow students in the city and it’s not as anonymous as other big cities. I also like the friendly mentality and the beautiful old town. There are lots of bars and beer gardens and it’s great for shopping. There are lots of things to do in your free time in the surrounding area in places like Fränkische Schweiz. Which ever direction you go in, you’ll find something to do.