“International mobility is like in marketing, many students want to participate and it is important to show your advantages over others”

Irina Vasilieva, a second-year student of the master's program in Marketing continues to tell about the program of international mobility. Irina is currently studying at the Zagreb School of Economics and Management in Zagreb.

About filing documents

I began to collect the necessary documents during the fall semester as I needed to pass IELTS. Generally, I cannot say that the process of collecting documents is very laborious, if you clearly understand what and when you need to do: pass the English language test, select the appropriate universities, write your motivation letter. A detailed study of all the universities and courses takes a lot of time, since you need to pay attention to many things: the number of credits, the availability of required courses, the possibility of completing the course in English, etc.

This is the same as in marketing - you need to understand that many students want to participate in the mobility program and it means that it is important to show your advantages over others. For example, if you can’t change the place in the ranking, then you need to try to pass the foreign language test well and write decent motivation letter in order to convince the commission that you deserve to participate in the mobility program.

About the first impression

I was a little confused during the first day of my studies  since this is my first experience of studying at a foreign university. I did not know what to expect from classes and I was afraid that I would not be able to conduct a dialogue with the professor and classmates.

About the differences between academic programs

It is quite difficult to learn abroad, but it is very interesting. The time for preparation depends on the course and the task to be carried out - sometimes you need to read a small article, and sometimes you are to make a project, cooperate with fellow students and think over a work plan. In my opinion, learning process here requires more independence.

About academic disciplines

I have not only marketing courses, but also human resources and management ones- this is what I lacked during my bachelor's studies, and I am glad that now I have such an opportunity.

About the relationship with the group

Of course, initially it is hard to work with people from different countries, since everyone has their own mentality and preferences, but we adjust to each other very quickly. Moreover, during the execution of projects we constantly share  our experiences with each other and that  is very important for self-development.

About extracurricular activities

During our free time, we often have some events organized by the university: trips to other cities, hiking in the mountains, visiting museums, festivals, etc. During these events, we gather with other students, sometimes even from other universities, and spend time together: we explore the country, share our impressions and experiences.

Do not be afraid of another country or some uncertainty! Ultimately, you will not regret it! Studying in a foreign university, communicating with different people in another language, exploring a new country, culture — this is only a small part of the experience that you will get by participating in the program of academic international mobility!