“From there, I spent over two years as a market strategy consultant in the life sciences sector. After a while, I wanted to be closer to the business itself, so I changed jobs and sectors. I am now a Product Manager at Toyota Europe, in the Sales and Business Transformation division.”

“The industry is very different from healthcare consulting, but the work feels similar. I used to be client-facing, but I have always enjoyed data analysis. I worked on many dashboards in my previous job, and I continue to do so now. The sector comes with different challenges, but I draw on similar skills to tackle them.”

“My master’s programme gave me a strong technical foundation. I took many econometrics classes, and the advanced micro- and macroeconomics courses were quite technical as well. There were many technical options among the electives. Even if there is no direct link to my job today, those courses taught me the language, the way of thinking, and how to crunch numbers – things I need in my current role.”

“Because of my career switch, my job is very different from what I studied. However, education has many different layers. At KU Leuven, I learned to interact with people from different nationalities, and to speak in a structured way about a problem, and how to solve it. These are skills I continue to carry forward in my career.”

“Regarding the programme itself, I found anything technical interesting. I specifically remember econometrics because it involved a lot of coding, and I could apply some of it to my work, which was nice. Another course I found particularly engaging was Advanced Development Economics. The professor was amazing, and we exclusively read and discussed research papers. Instead of talking about theory first, we started directly with real issues, such as development challenges in different economies. Economics can become very abstract, but in this course I felt like I was applying knowledge straight away. It was what I was most interested in at the time.”

“Overall, I found the programme manageable, not too challenging. The advanced microeconomics course was tough. My biggest adjustment, however, was learning how to answer exam questions. In my country, we tend to write everything we know, but KU Leuven professors appreciate concise, to-the-point responses. Once I started giving only the necessary information, my grades improved. Early on, I was sometimes confused after classes that felt more like discussions than traditional lectures. Luckily, you can always ask professors and assistants for clarification.”

“Studying during COVID was challenging, but I was lucky to have a good cohort of people with whom I had already bonded before the pandemic through classes, projects and social activities. KU Leuven organised many orientation events, and some of the friends I met there I’m still in touch with. Online classes were not ideal, but given the circumstances they were well organised, and by staying in Leuven I still felt like a student.”

“Life outside the classroom was vibrant, with many opportunities to socialise. I often went to Pangaea and different libraries to study. The faculty bars were fun, not just our own but others as well. Making friends was easy because of the many events. We had a lot of fun and went on many trips together. I still visit some of these friends in different parts of the world. Leuven is a very friendly environment, which made it easy to build a big circle of international friends, even if mixing with locals felt a bit harder.”

“I have three tips for international students who want to apply to KU Leuven. Firstly, try to find out more about the programme you are considering. Talking to people who have done it before is always useful to get a good idea of what the content and student life will be like. For example, the Master of Economics is more academic than industry-driven. I didn’t realise that when I applied, nor that the faculty offered other economics programmes. It worked out well, but I sometimes wonder what I would have chosen had I looked deeper into all the options.”

“Secondly, be curious and keep an open mind towards courses, opportunities and people. I understand that international students often hang out with people from their own community, but it limits the experience of studying abroad. Meet people from different nationalities and find mentors within your faculty. Ask questions. For example, if you meet a professor whose work you like, ask them about it over coffee. Curiosity is very important.”

“Finally, assess your exit opportunities when choosing a programme. Try to have some idea of what you want or don’t want to do afterwards, because the year flies by. If you have an idea upfront, you can better assess both the programme and the country. Belgium is great for people interested in policy because of the European Commission, the Parliament, NATO... I don't think it's ideal for consulting because of the language requirements.”

“Finding a job in Belgium as an expat is challenging, especially if you are from outside Europe or do not speak Dutch and/or French, which are required for the majority of vacancies. As many internationals are competing for the remaining jobs, you need to be strategic and apply in a smart way. I learned that from my mentors and from my own experience. In this market, you don’t land a job by simply applying online. Networking is extremely important. I put in a lot of effort: researching contacts on LinkedIn, asking for referrals, reaching out to HR. Some luck is involved, but the key is to keep going. Try not to be emotional about rejection. I separated that feeling from the job search and just kept contacting people until it worked out. I am glad the faculty now organises a job event for international talent. I missed that kind of guidance after graduation.”

“I wish I had learned Dutch earlier, before moving to Antwerp for my previous job. But then again, I never intended to stay long. I did learn French for a while because I thought I would move to Brussels afterwards. I had only planned to stay for two years, so I’m a bit shocked that I’m still here seven years later – but things are going well. COVID played a big role. Had I returned to India like many of my friends, I might have chosen a different path. But once you start working and building a life, things unfold naturally. And here we are.”