Master's in Germany + work in Germany/UK — is my plan realistic?
I'm currently a second-year actuarial science student at a Chinese university ranked in the QS top 200. I hope to pursue a master's degree in Germany and work in Germany or the UK. I have internship experience at a Big Four firm and in industry research, and I'm interested in three career paths: actuary, Big Four audit, and project manager. I have a few questions:
1. What are the current employment outlook and future prospects for these fields? I'm studying actuarial science, but I've heard actuaries may be replaced by AI, and the exam costs in both money and time feel quite high to me.
2. For these three industries in the UK and Germany, is internship experience or target school more important? If I want to work in Germany, would choosing a school in a financial hub (Berlin, Frankfurt) give me an edge for internships and jobs?
3. As a second-year student, what skills should I focus on improving? My IELTS is 7.5 and I'm currently studying B2. What computer or professional skills do you think are essential?
4. Any advice on my overall plan? Thank you very much, and have a nice day.
To achieve your goal of pursuing a master's in Germany and working in Germany or the UK, here's a breakdown of insights based on the most helpful WSO content:
1. Employment Outlook and Future Prospects
2. Importance of Internship Experience vs. Target School
3. Skills to Focus On
4. Advice on Your Overall Plan
Your plan is realistic, but success will depend on your ability to gain relevant experience, build language proficiency, and develop technical skills. Good luck!
Sources: Germany Sucks, MSF Class of 2018, Need advice on my internships options for this summer, Is target MSc Finance still possible in my situation? (Bocconi, HEC, LSE, HSG....), International Student - Chance of getting an IBD internship in London?
Well, I think audit is a very realistic option.
You should join as many student clubs as possible and attend their events. Getting to know people at the firms beforehand might help you get past the initial screening.
During my Big Four internships (Audit & FDD), we had people who didn’t speak German, as well as quite a few students whose German was around B2/C1 level.
I’d recommend reaching out to Chinese employees at the firms and simply asking them about their experience. In the meantime, work on getting your German to a level where you can comfortably have conversations and use it at work, ideally B2/C1.
Also, don’t worry too much about the university. It matters less than in China or the UK. Most of the bigger universities can get you into the Big Four, but choose a relevant major. If you want to work in accounting, focus on accounting.
Mannheim would probably be my first choice for that. WHU and Frankfurt School are also options, though significantly more expensive. Then there’s Münster, Cologne, Goethe, LMU and TUM. For getting into audit, the difference between them probably won’t matter much.
As for internships, just try to get something relevant. Audit isn’t too competitive to get into here, and it’s often people’s first internship.
Thank you very much for your detailed advice. 🥺At present, I will also put German learning and understanding audit work first. Wishing you smooth work and have a nice day.☺️🥰
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