“Since high school I wanted to pursue higher education abroad. I regularly visited Belgium because my sister already lived there. With its high international ranking and an affordable tuition fee, KU Leuven therefore became somewhat of an organic choice. As a maths and computer science student I had good quantitative skills, but I was also very interested in the humanities. The Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) looked like the ideal mix because of its broad range of courses. Plus, the professional options afterwards are just as varied. That was the deciding factor for me as I do not want to get stuck in a very specific job.”

“My very first trip to the Brussels campus to enrol still makes me laugh, because I basically crossed the entire city centre while it is actually so centrally located that it cannot be much easier to find. Apart from, that, the entire arrival process went smoothly and I adapted myself quickly. Before the start of the academic year, I did the maths brush-up course to decide what math track to take – an excellent opportunity to meet other students. The person who sat next to me on the first day is still my best friend. We got some general sessions about the credit system, the exam period, etc. The curriculum in the first year is rather well defined, so you basically only need to decide about the language courses. After my first year, Belgium more or less felt like home and going to Romania was like a holiday.”

“My favourite course in the bachelor was Statistics, the course which usually everyone hates, but I took as a challenge not to fail. Of course my background in maths was helpful, but I also enjoyed it because it is not about memorising but about doing the exercises and understanding how it works. Introduction to law in the first year was more stressful. We had to compare the Belgian public system to that of our own country, but Belgium is so complex that it felt like my brain would explode. I managed to pass but still wonder how many Belgians grasp such a complicated system.”

“I absolutely loved the contact with the other students and especially the lunch breaks. Since the campus is so centrally located, we discussed days ahead about where we would be going next to eat. The Brussels campus is a perfect starting point to hang out with friends outside classes and that is what I missed most during COVID lockdown.”

“The pandemic hit in my third bachelor, an interesting year. During the first semester I went on exchange to Edinburgh and did an internship at AB InBev, so I missed some classes. In March I made up my mind to catch up and to attend courses more regularly, but after just two classes the whole country went in lockdown… The professors recording classes during that period had both upsides and downsides. On the one hand you could watch a class whenever you wanted, but on the other hand I sometimes spent a lot of extra time on those recordings, since I could easily go back to recap. I appreciated the online approach and believe adapting to the situation was a good exercise for the university. However, the social side of going to class and hanging out with friends definitely cannot be matched in an online environment.”

“In my final years I took up quite a few extracurricular activities, which I absolutely recommend. Honestly, I wish I had done that right from the start because it develops your skills and is an excellent way to try different things and see what you like best.”

“Between my second and third bachelor I attended a summer school in China. I applied rather last-minute but got accepted and even obtained a scholarship from Tsinghua University. Despite leaving my comfort zone – travelling outside Europe for the first time – it was a very nice experience. Even for international students there are plenty of reasons to go abroad. Every country is different and brings new insights and the chance to make new friends. I only realized how much I had become used to living in Brussels once I arrived in Edinburgh and needed a few weeks to find my bearings. You learn a lot about yourself living abroad on your own. And it makes the world a smaller place. I still have friends from China, who now actually live in Brussels and in Edinburgh I befriended Belgian students from Leuven.”

“In my master I also became the vice-president of Capitant Brussels, a major financial student society. Despite the pandemic, it was an excellent way to network with students from different cities and from other universities. The experience was a major topic of conversation when I applied for my first job at Deloitte, because it illustrates how you function in a team and communicate, skills which are highly valued by employers nowadays. In addition, I was part of Brussels Model European Union for two years and gained knowledge about the EU politics and institutions. Their yearly conference is quite big and sponsored by the EU, so they have to live up to expectations. To be involved in that is very insightful.”

“On top of that I also did two internships, one in my third bachelor with the internal control department of AB InBev and one in my master with UPS about pricing. As studying at university can get somewhat abstract, this is the way to find out how you can apply what you have learned and how the corporate world works before you actually enter it. Just like being part of a student society, companies nowadays greatly appreciate these experiences, sometimes even more than your education. To that regard, the Faculty of Economics and Business of KU Leuven offers plenty of opportunities. The field is wide open, it is up to you to apply! The many options are both the nicest and most challenging part of the BBA programme. I sometimes wonder if I will find the perfect job, because you can really do almost anything with it.”

“After I graduated in 2021, I started a job in VAT compliance and technology at Deloitte in September. I liked the work and the colleagues even better, but it was rather specific. Because of my broad interests I was looking to change departments, but after eight months I ended up switching to QSRP (Quick Service Restaurant Platform), a company of fast-food restaurants in Belgium and Europe with brands such as Quick, Burger King, O’Tacos. I was particularly attracted by the chance to move amongst departments and to further explore. I also love fast-food and was very curious how a Romanian would fit in this Belgian company that is growing more and more international. I am now in the management trainee programme of group controlling. Plus, I sacrifice my Saturday mornings to Dutch classes. My first Dutch course at KU Leuven was intense but I am glad I did it because I made a lot of progress in a short period of time. Now I can approach it more relaxed. I always joke that I want to become the perfect Belgian, speaking French, Dutch and English.”

“At my arrival I was surprised at how many languages are spoken here. So I would definitely advise students who want to live and work in Belgium to learn the languages, even though companies are more and more open to internationals and working in English. I believe it really helps if you want to integrate and do things outside your study or work. And do come live in Brussels. It is such an international and cosmopolitan city.”

Veerle De Grauwe