Student portraits

What topics did you deal with during your studies?

In my studies, I specialised in two things: Microeconomics and quantitative methods. Although global and often complex macroeconomic issues certainly have an appeal, I find it more exciting to deal intensively with human behavior on a smaller scale before aggregating and transferring the results to a heterogeneous society.

I have particularly enjoyed central questions in the field of behavioral economics (e.g., what does it mean to act rationally and when/why people do not act rationally?). Moreover, I have been able to combine this behavioral economic approach with my Complementary Studies in Psychology. In addition, I attended every quantitative subject that was offered as I am particularly interested in the valid estimation of causal effects.

What is your take-away of the undergraduate program at Leuphana College so far?

My experience during my Bachelor studies at Leuphana College have notably exceeded my original expectations. I switched from the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich to Leuphana University Lüneburg because I was missing thinking outside the box. However, I did not expect that the interdisciplinary and tailor-made study format at Leuphana College would fulfill me so much.

Thanks to the small groups, the Leuphana Semester and the Complementary Studies, I was able to meet a huge number of exciting people across subjects and years. All these students did not only help me to adopt new perspectives, I was also able to learn a lot from them.

Who would you recommend to study at Leuphana College? Why?

I think you need two things to feel comfortable at Leuphana College. On the one hand, openness to other perspectives; on the other, a certain curiosity to learn new things. If you bring these characteristics with you, I am convinced that you will love the unique study model of the Leuphana University Lüneburg just as much as the many students here on campus do. Students are often involved in countless honorary positions or take additional courses on a voluntary basis.

Have du done an internship during your studies?

Yes, I did an internship at the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) in Berlin at the beginning of the year. Currently, I am doing a second internship at KPMG in Hamburg. At the BMF, I was able to directly apply the knowledge from my major studies as I carried data analysis on the federal aid packages against the pandemic. At the same time, I attended various G20 events that allowed me to experience international relations first-hand. At KMPG, I do public sector consulting. Currently, I am contributing to an IT consolidation project for the federal government and to the digitisation of individual ministries. At first glance, this has little to do with my major studies, but I have learned to quickly find my way around new situations.

Do you work besides your studies?

Since the third semester, I have been working as a tutor for the courses Statistics I and Statistics II. In addition, I have earned some extra money with other side jobs (e.g., as an extra on 'Rote Rosen' or with private tutoring).

Do you volunteer besides your studies?

I invest almost my whole free time in my honorary position as a coach for a youth American Football club in Luneburg, the Lüneburg Razorbacks. This activity does not only help me to gain insights outside the 'Leuphana Bubble', it is very fulfilling to follow the progress of the teenagers from training to training.

Future perspectives – what are your next steps after studying at Leuphana College?

Since I am doing my practical 'gap year' before the bachelor's thesis (many students do this after the completion of the bachelor's degree), I will start the master's in Economics at Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU) directly after my Bachelor degree.

With the placement in the quantitative science track I will be able to continue with the main focus of the major in Economics. But I am pretty sure that I will still find time to visit Leuphana University Lüneburg from time to time (e.g., on the occasion of the opening week).

What aspects did you deal with in the course of your economics studies?

At the beginning of my studies, I first learned the basics of macro- and microconomics. Later on, there are many electives and complementary modules. In 2019, the Nobel Prize in Economics was awarded to three economists for their research on fighting global poverty. I was totally impressed by that – we economists do not do boring calculations, instead we can give advice to policy-makers, solve real world problems and improve living conditions! And we can use quantitative methods to arrive at new findings and prove them too!

In addition to development economics, I also found gender economics very exciting. In doing so, I specially looked at whether the assumptions about the homo economicus are gender-specific and to what extent the gender pay gap also exists in digital labor markets.

What are the advantages / disadvantages of studying at Leuphana College?

A big advantage of studying at Leuphana College is that you start your undergraduate very generally through the Leuphana Semester, in which you learn the role and methods of science and how to write a term paper. Thanks to the combination of major, minor and Complementary Studies you learn to work in a transdisciplinary way.

One disadvantage, however, is that certain courses are only offered on a yearly basis, either in the summer or in the winter term. As there is a lottery procedure to take some courses, it might happen that you cannot attend a course that you would have liked to take.

What is your take-away of the undergraduate program at Leuphana College so far?

I am now in my last semester and very happy with my studies at Leuphana College. The opportunity to study a major and a minor subject was just right for me as I was very undecided at the beginning and it was very hard to commit to just one thing. Due to the numerous electives in the Complementary Studies, I have always found interesting courses and alternatives to complement my major and minor studies.

Who would you recommend to study at Leuphana College? Why?

The study programme is suitable for all those who would like to approach questions in a interdisciplinary way and are interested in sustainable and resilient solutions to real world problems. If you want to expand your knowledge beyond the own field of study, Leuphana College is the place to be.

How did you experience the admission process?

It seemed fair to me. By considering other aspects and qualifications than just the high school graduation grade (e.g., admission test, motivation letter), I had the feeling that they perceived me as a person independent of the 'numerus clausus'.

Do you volunteer in a student initivative, a student council or an association besides your studies?

Yes, I was member of the student council of the programme in economics, responsible for training courses of the BEM student council (Business, Economics and Management) and co-chair of the 'Zwiebel' (a student initiative in charge of a clothing exchange room). Currently, I am recruiter at the General Students’ Committee (AStA).

How do you like Lüneburg as a place to study?

Really good! Lüneburg is the perfect balance between a big city and a small town. Lüneburg has great connections to Hamburg, while it can be easily covered by bike. The town has a beautiful old town with many pubs and cafes. The Ilmenau and the Kreidebergsee provide refreshing swimming opportunities in summer, while you can even go ice skating if it's cold enough in winter. Lüneburg has some museums, an opera, a theater and a ballet that offer a cultural variety. A few clubs also provide a small party scene.

Future perspectives –what are your next steps after studying at Leuphana College?

I will study the Masters degree in Economics at the FU Berlin. But I can also imagine deepening into the field of business psychology or doing an internship.

What are the advantages/disadvantages of studying at Leuphana College?

Advantages of studying at Leuphana College are the interdisciplinary thinking, which is indispensable to solve complex problems. In addition, you meet students from other disciplines quite easily and quickly. I have found this to be an enrichment, even if this reduces somewhat the degree of depth in the major – the opportunities for specialization within your major studies are somewhat less.

What is your take-away of the undergraduate program at Leuphana College so far?

The unique concept of Leuphana University Lüneburg and its size allow for a very enriching experience that I would probably miss at a larger university. I particularly like the proximity to professors and teaching staff. In addition, Lüneburg is a small but lovely city.

Who would you recommend to study at Leuphana College? Why?

I think studying at Leuphana College is a unique experience that is probably not possible elsewhere. For those who like to think outside the box, enjoy working across disciplines, and prefer to meet people in an uncomplicated way, Leuphana University Lüneburg is the place to be. Complex problems and their solutions are the focus of the joint work.

How do you like Lüneburg as a place to study?

Lüneburg is a pleasant cozy town in close proximity to Hamburg. The local transport connections and shuttle services are good. But you can also reach your destination by foot or by bike in a short time.

Future perspectives – what are your next steps after studying at Leuphana College?

At the moment, I am planning to attend the master in Bioeconomy at the TUM in Straubing. This will not only foster my economic thinking but also give me the opportunity to gain specific insights into the technical aspects of sustainability.

What are the advantages / disadvantages of studying at Leuphana College?

A huge advantage of Leuphana University Lüneburg is its international orientation and the transdisciplinary approach. The major-minor studies combined with the Complementary Studies make it possible to go beyond the boundaries of one study field. All this contributes to a comprehensive and academically challenging undergraduate programme.

What is your take-away of the undergraduate programme at Leuphana College so far?

My experience at Leuphana College is very positive. The study format makes it possible to pursue inter- and transdisciplinary interests. The Institute of Economics is also very active and facilitates networking among fellow students.

Who would you recommend to study at Leuphana College? Why?

I can recommend studying at Leuphana College to anyone who does not want to focus on only one discipline but enjoys interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary education. In addition, you also feel very welcome at the Institute of Economics.

Do you work besides your studies?

At the beginning of my studies, I took advantage of the good train connection to Hamburg and worked for the marketing department of a legal firm. Now, I work as a student assistant at the university sports center. I really enjoy working on campus among fellow students.

Do you volunteer besides your studies?

Leuphana University Lüneburg offers a lot of opportunities to be active besides your studies. For several semesters, I have been a member of the student council for economics. As a result, I have been very active and was able to meet fellow students from study programs close to economics. In addition, I have discovered the 'Rock Your Life!' association where I took the mentoring role for a high school student.

How do you like Lüneburg as a place to study?

I can only recommend Lüneburg as a place to study! Especially if it is for an undergraduate program. Lüneburg is a small town with the second highest density of pubs in Europe. In addition, it offers many sports clubs and a good connection to Hamburg. But more importantly: The main campus makes networking among fellow students very easy and fun.

Future perspectives – what are your next steps after studying at Leuphana College?

After graduation, I plan to complete an internship and to pursue a Masters degree in economics.

What career stages have you pursued since graduating from Leuphana University Lüneburg?

After my Bachelor's degree, I first worked as a business risk specialist for a multi-national investment bank and financial services company in Frankfurt.

Where and in which area are you currently working?

I currently work in a family office in Hamburg where I manage various assets by making use of different financial instruments.

Why would you recommend studying economics at Leuphana University Lüneburg?

Due to the extended admission procedure, it is possible for people with professional experience but no advanced level qualification to complete this study programme and to further develop academically and professionally. I would recommend this study programme because the different major-minor combinations allow you to tailor the programme to your personal academic interests. The programme in economics is about understanding the economic system and context as a whole and not about just learning things by heart. By having completed a banking apprenticeship and advanced vocational training in business management before my studies, I was able to optimally complement the major in economics with the minor in business law in order to gain comprehensive knowledge about the functioning of the economy.