– The expertise you get through the MSc in Business Administration gives a good foundation for any job in economics and finance

Why did you choose to take the MSc program in Business Administration?

I became interested in economics in high school, especially social economics after studying game theory, which I found very exciting. It became clear to me then what I wanted to focus on.

Why did you choose the University of Stavanger and UiS Business School?

The first main reason for choosing UiS and the Business School was practical reasons. But there are many reasons I've continued to select UiS again (and again). I experienced a tremendous social and professional environment, including the lecturers and students. The professional offers were also attractive and suited my interests well, especially the specialisation in Economics. The quality has been solid with competent lecturers, which is also very important.

Tell us how a typical day at UiS was for you?

I have studied for some years and tested different kinds of days. The one I found most positive was the one characterized by frequent participation at lecturers, groupwork and using the library or the reading rooms. To have «whole» school days as a routine, even though there weren't lectures all day, was motivated to keep up a good workflow. It was also really social, and I got to know my fellow student this way. There were also some periods when I was engaged in student organizations and politics, and I was often on campus outside the average study time. That was very enriching for me.

Do you have any special memories?

I have lots of good memories! Being engaged in different activities gave me a new experience as a student, and I got to know many new people - both other students and employees at UiS.

Some of the things I liked the most was working with more significant academic tasks. The biggest ones were my bachelor's and my two master's thesis. Maybe I was blessed with excellent supervisors, but I had a good time. I liked this way of working; with this kind of work, you'll show your abilities differently than in regular exams. It was also motivating that my supervisors encouraged me to develop professionally and showed excitement for my enthusiasm. My exam periods were also good memories: Then we spent much time on campus and had company in good and bad times.

How was the study environment?

I have only good experience with the study environment at UiS. I was a student with and without more engagement, and the more, the better. The study environment is great, and it should be sought actively.

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What have you been working with after you graduated?

I started as an accountant at KPMG when I graduated as a "civil economist" (siviløkonom), and I'm still working there. It's an exciting job where I learn a lot, and it is a dynamic environment and varied workdays, which suits me well.

The expertise you get through the MSc in Business Administration gives a good foundation for any job in economics and finance. Especially analytical qualities have been essential for my challenges at my job.

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Why did you choose Economics and Finance as a specialization and minor?

I chose Economics as my specialisation because it was the direction I've always been most interested in and looked interesting. I have always been interested in micro- and macroeconomics and wished to absorb myself into these subjects. Environmental and Resource Economics were fascinating parts of microeconomics.

I chose Finance because this direction looked like an excellent supplement to the competence I would achieve through the MSc, and I thought the combination would give me more opportunities in the work market.

What was the most interesting part of your studies?

The most exciting part was the social economics courses, primarily Environmental and Resource Economics, where I found the new subjects about environment and resources quite interesting from the social and economic perspectives. So much so that I chose to write my master's thesis within this field, which resulted in an orderly survey with 1500 people. The chance to develop professional knowledge through research is fun and rewarding work, and informative. Now that the study programme focuses more on method and research, I believe it's inspiring to be a student. I recommend it to everyone - it is challenging and worth it.

Read more: Two master students from UiS Business School have got their research published in an international journal

Do you have any tips to future students?

To get the best out of your time as a student, I think it's important to throw yourself into it. I think many students are afraid to fail and therefore scared to try, but to fail is usually something you can learn from and rarely a disaster. Making routines from the beginning could be helpful for many.

You should start your semester by joining the "fadder-week". That makes a start much more manageable. And I would also recommend participating in the study environment by volunteering, for instance.

Try to participate actively in lectures, engage in teamwork, and find somebody you can read and work with. If you need help with something, contact your lecturers or the administration at UiS Business School. The administration is helpful and finds solutions to most of your problems.

Last but not least: Remember that you'll most likely like all your classes equally well. But that's normal, and it's good training in learning to complete boring stuff (cause you will also experience that in your work life).

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