'Being a Chartered Accountant in India (similar to RA in The Netherlands), I had experience in financial reporting and financial risk management. In 2022, I decided to move to the Netherlands. Because of its inclusive culture, it seemed that it wouldn't be that difficult to integrate. Also, financial institutions in the Netherlands are increasingly prioritising sustainability in their operations and investments, aligning themselves with broader environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals. I wanted to be a part of that.

Now that I actually live in Amsterdam, I find that people are open and always ready to help. The colder weather actually took some more time to get used to. But I really like the city and feel at place here.

I’m currently working with Aegon Asset Management. My first job in the Netherlands was at ING, where I worked for close to 1.5 years. During that time, I realised that the finance industry is different here than in India. For example, people here invest in alternative asset classes. So, I was keen to learn how finance/investment works in the Netherlands and across Europe. I started looking into different courses and universities. While researching, I came across the Executive MSc in International Finance (MIF), which immediately appealed to me. Because it's in English – not many programmes are - and internationally oriented, the student population is very international. I expected that this would help me build a relevant network, and make learning from fellow students much easier.

Apart from that, I wanted to learn more from the programme than just theories. I was looking for something more practical and work-oriented that would give me a deeper understanding of the advanced concepts of finance and investments. The Fintech track, for example, is beautifully combined. The courses help you understand how machine learning & AI are shaping the Finance and Investment industry. Plus, how you, as a finance professional or entrepreneur, can play an active role in these developments.

Before I started the Master's, I followed the ABS’s Pre-Master's programme; a short curriculum designed for students to brush up their basic finance, statistics, and business research skills. This enabled me to be more confident with my basics and cope with the advanced concepts in the Master's programme.

The small class sizes are a real plus for me. Lecturers can pay attention to each student, which makes much more room for discussion. Students are expected to read the topics and various academic articles associated with the topic. The classes are very interactive, with interesting questions and insights from the lecturer. This leads to new, deeper insights or maybe a different question you can find the answer to together. The lecturers form a nice blend of industry experts, researchers, and guest speakers. They know how to link theory to practice, are very approachable, and are quick to answer any questions you may have if you email them.

Career wise, following the MIF programme, has already paid off. It helped me build a strong network of professionals within the industry, deepen my knowledge, and helped me develop expertise in my area of interest. I work in the asset management industry, but the 11 subjects show that finance is much more than this. I just started the Fintech course, and it got me thinking about the knowledge I could bring to my current work area.

Because I follow the programme part-time, I have enough time to do the work between courses. And at the same time, apply what I've learned directly to my work. This makes the study load comparatively less heavy.

If you are considering the MIF programme, I think it's important to ask yourself what you want to get out of it. This will help you stay focused during your study, because there is much to extract from it. If you are working in or close to finance and want to gain more profound knowledge, this course is a great choice. Within Europe, it's one of the best programmes to go forward with. I would definitely advise registering for the information session if you want to learn more about the programme.'