Best affordable undergrad target-schools in Europe
Hi,
I will be graduating from high school next year (one of the best high schools in my country, with a GPA in the top 5%). I have always dreamed of pursuing an IB -> PE career (especially in London, but I don't mind Frankfurt and Zurich as I am learning German, currently B2). However, my parents aren't incredibly wealthy, so I'm looking for a university with tuition fees under €10k. It would also be nice if I could take a part-time job that would cover part of my living expenses. I have a CAE certificate, EU citizenship and many achievements in various economic olympads and economic competitions, which should make recruitment a little easier for me.
I think the best choice would be Erasmus University Rotterdam, but here comes another question - which degree should I choose? I am considering Bachelor International Business Administration (3 years), International Bachelor Economics and Business Economics (3 years) or Double bachelor BSc² in Econometrics and Economics (4 years). Then I would probably either do a master's degree at a target school like LSE/Oxbridge/Bocconi (and take out a loan for it) or immediately after getting my bachelor's degree I would find a job at IB and after 2-3 years do a master's degree and then move to PE.
Is my plan realistic? Which bachelor's degree should I choose? Maybe there are better cheap target-schools in Europe that I should consider? How should I find and apply for internships? Is it possible for someone from continental Europe to get SW/SA/OC in London? I am ready for all kinds of suggestions, advice and tips.
Yes, Erasmus is the best. Probably IBA for business and IBEB for business. IBEB more mathematical and IBA more general course. Depends what you like and want to study.
Thanks for the answer! Which one do you think will give me a better chance of getting into IB and then PE? On the one hand, the IBA program seems more interesting to me. But on the other hand, I think that IBEB will give me better opportunities to get a job in IB. Do you think I have a chance as an EU citizen to get SW/SA/OC in London? It seems to me that this type of internship is much less structured and less popular in continental Europe (e.g. Frankfurt). How should I gain experience and build a solid CV in college? How to apply for various types of internships at IB/PE? Getting what part-time job would allow me to earn extra money and gain some related experience? Do you think that, for example, working as a "Business Analyst" would be something I could put on my CV? Thanks in advance for your answer, which will be very valuable to me.
Both cqn but IBEB is more suited. You can do any master with this bachelor if your grades. are good. Hope it helps
How do you think RSM compares to HSG (and to Mannheim, which someone suggested in the comments)?
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- What about applying to some top universities and receiving a scholarship? If you a top GPA and some competitions, then you should get some financial support, maybe not 100% but everything between 20% - 60% is also helpful.
- Check some local banks that may lend to students to support their studies. There are some banks that have such loans and may not have high interest because they see it as some type of benefit to community, not solely profit.
- You can also work on the side during your studies, at least on the weekends, to support yourself financially.
- Research like crazy for grants. Check your local embassy in the country you would want to study if they have some type of scholarships. If not, check maybe some big companies/banks that may give some grants. For example in Spain I know that Santander has a page full of grants that they give to Spanish citizens for different things like "100% scholarship if you want to study some type of Environmental science", 2k EUR if you have extraordinary results and want to pursue a Master in Economics, etc. etc. - they're for Spanish citizens, but maybe you know some other companies/banks, that have something similar?
- If you already somewhat secured the GPA at your high school, then start working now on something to save money. You may be able to share your ambitions with your professors and they may understand it and be easier on you so you can combine work and school.
- Besides your parents, also see if you some of your distant family member (grandparents, parent's brothers/cousins, etc.) may also be willingly to lend you some money.
Choose HSG and never look back.
No. 1 school for IB in ZH/FFM.
Great placement in London, too. JPM/MS/etc. all have ACs held on campus for their SA programs in Ldn
Thanks! I'm afraid the cost of living might be too much for me (my annual budget is around €20-25k plus what I earn), but I'll apply there anyway. Do you think that Economics or Business Administration will give me better opportunities in IB/PE?
Don't worry about the costs. Sure, CH is expensive. But St. Gallen is much cheaper than most other Swiss cities (especially rent). I guess you could even survive on €15k if you budget. €20-25k should be more than enough.
BA for sure... DACH IB is much more restrictive in terms of subject choice. But at HSG, you'll have to choose in your second year
How do you think HSG compares to RSM (and Mannheim)?
RSM and Mannheim are both great business schools. But honestly, they do not compete with HSG.
HSG has about 3k alumni working at BBs and MBB. For RSM and Mannheim, that number is about 1k each
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I go to ESE, I study BSc2 there. It is not that good, would rather gone for IBA or IBEB at ESE. I think that the cohort matters a lot, and in my experience, econometric students are kinda autistic and very hard to network and make friends with. Very weird personalities who do not want to be with you or do not even process you when you talk with them.
Thanks for sharing your very valuable insight! So do you think I should choose IBEB or IBA? On the one hand, IBA seems more interesting, but on the other hand, I think IBEB can give me better job opportunities. Do you have any opinions about HSG? If you had to choose a university again (as someone from outside the Netherlands), which one would you choose (and why)?
HSG is really good, especially if you speak German. Both are quality schools. IBA is more general business administration stuff with a very international batch over 75% while IBEB more economics and finance related. Would say both options are good but IBA would be more renowned but then matters more what you want to study afterwards to have the skills needed to succeed at the master level. Hope it helps!
If yo u want to stay in German speaking countries the majority of your life pick HSG if not RSM :)
How do you think RSM compares to HSG (and Mannheim)?
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The best schools within your affordability constraints and considering you speak German imo is Mannheim. COL is very affordable, Semester fees are just 200 per semester and great placement ofc and strong network especially via student societies here
Actually, I am not German. Do you think that the exit options are similar to those in Erasmus Rotterdam or St. Gallen? From what I've heard, they are weak outside Germany, and even in Germany they are below HSG. In fact, my German is currently around B2, so in St Gallen I was thinking more about studying in English, and as far as I know, all the good courses at Mannheim are in German. In the next half a year, I would be able to enter the lower border of C1 (although I feel very insecure when speaking German), and I don't have any German certificate, so I don't know if they will accept me there. Do you think I could cope with studying German with a B2/C1 level? As you mentioned, a relatively low cost of living would be an undoubted advantage. Thanks in advance.
I would definitely say Mannheim > Erasmus University Rotterdam. Better placement and Mannheim gets plenty attention in recruitment. You will have to do lots of internships tho as is typical in Germany. For that the semester times in Mannheim are really nice though. You only get a very short window for internships at HSG in the Bachelors and much more ppl get culled in the assessment year. I’m pretty sure both at HSG and at Mannheim you’d have to take your courses in German though. Taking all the courses in German will be a challenge at B1 but provided that you manage to get through it, it will be a major long term advantage for you as a second language is something very beneficial for Exit opps in Europe. You should also apply to WHU, if your family meets the threshold to be entitled to Bafög, then you could study there for free as well.
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Could I ask you from what country are you? Because it might have some impact on the uni you should choose.
So I'm from Poland (with family in Norway), but neither country offers education that would enable me to work at IB/PE in one of the European financial hubs.
What did you do in the end? I am in a similar situation, where I have to choose between Erasmus, Bocconi, IE, and HSG, and dk what to do. (also pursuing IB --> PE) and financials are not SO big of a deal
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Any of the Swiss schools
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