As RSM starts to find the most promising students to fill the second cohort of its newest master programme, members of the first cohort have shared their early experiences – and their changing career expectations. This highly selective and advanced programme promises to reward participants with more personal and closer interaction with career coaches, financial institutions, consulting firms and corporates, and a bigger step up into their chosen career in the finance and investments industry. So how has it measured up to students’ expectations?
Student Jimmy Teelen acknowledged the high workload – particularly at the start of the programme – but has valued getting closer to business with company visits and the study trip to Frankfurt: “I now have a better idea about what I want to do in the short and the long term. This master programme is helping me to achieve those goals,” he said. “The best thing so far was doing a complete valuation of a company; challenging but rewarding!”
About his classmates, Jimmy said: “My classmates are very impressive, there’s so much talent in one room! But at the same time they are all very social and nice to hang out with.
Academic Director Dirk Schoenmaker of the MScFI-A said the attitude of these elite students makes a difference to the experience of teachers – as well as to the outcome of their studies. “The students are really motivated and keen to learn. Usually, students do their reading after a lecture. These students prepare in advance, which makes it possible to have a good dialogue in class. This is fun for both the teacher and students,” he said.
Outside of the classroom, students on the first run of the advanced finance and investments programme have taken advantage of its interaction with the finance industry. “It works very well,” said Prof. Schoenmaker. “Industry is keen to get to know our students and do real-life cases with them. Students also love visits to industry, and guest lectures from leading industry executives. This interaction boosts their practical skills and gives them a head start on the job market.”
Chong Peng has valued the ‘fantastic and practical courses’ which she says are intensive and challenging. The classes are held alongside company visits and projects. The Living Management course taught by Deloitte and a panel of alumni panel provided Chong with particularly useful insights for real business, she said.
Students embarking on the next iteration of the MScFI-A in September 2017 can expect the same combination of core courses and living management cases with leading financials and corporates. Career development coaching will start early in the academic year to help students to achieve the best career-boosting internships and job applications. Applications for the September 2017 intake of the MSc Finance and Investments Advanced close on 31 March 2017. www.rsm.nl/fi-a
