{"id":16447,"date":"2025-04-25T14:20:04","date_gmt":"2025-04-25T12:20:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wiwi.uni-mainz.de\/?page_id=16447"},"modified":"2025-10-10T13:01:17","modified_gmt":"2025-10-10T11:01:17","slug":"interview-with-laura-and-martin","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wiwi.uni-mainz.de\/en\/studies\/master\/warschau\/interview-with-laura-and-martin\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview with Laura Fleckenstein and Martin Schott"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/jgu-base-pageheader>\n
\n
\n

Laura and Martin began their Double Degree Program at the Warsaw School of Economics in the winter semester of 2019. A few semesters later, they\u2019re back in Germany, transitioning from student life to professional life \u2014 and taking the time to share their experiences. In a humorous interview, they exchange anecdotes from their time as students and come to a unanimous conclusion: the Double Master Degree was well worth it. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n<\/jgu-base-imagegallery>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/jgu-base-heading>\n\n

Laura<\/strong>: \u201cIt was clear to me that I wanted to spend part of my Master studies abroad. But in my degree program, International Economics and Public Policy (IEPP), it was quite difficult to find suitable courses at foreign universities through a regular Erasmus semester that would later be recognized.
In my first Master semester, I became friends with a Polish student who was part of the Double Degree Program, and she encouraged me to apply. The great thing about it: since it\u2019s an integrated program, I didn\u2019t have to worry about getting the courses I took in Warsaw recognized.
Plus, you even get a second degree for the year abroad \u2014 a clear advantage! And let\u2019s be honest: studying abroad in England or Spain is pretty \u201cstandard\u201d these days \u2014 but Poland? That\u2019s something special!\u201d <\/p>\n\n

Martin<\/strong>: “My path to the double degree program was a bit different: I really wanted to go to Warsaw and had actually already been accepted to SGH \u2014 but through the Erasmus program. When I heard about the Double Master, I initially went to the International Office just to ask whether it would theoretically be possible to switch later on.
Instead, I was encouraged to take a leap and join the Double Degree Program right away. At the time, I was still missing the TOEFL test to prove my English proficiency, which I had to complete on very short notice \u2014 and that definitely cost some nerves!
Well, the rest is history. Now here I am, doing this interview as a Double Degree graduate, holding my diploma in hand \u2014 so I guess all that stress back then really paid off!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/jgu-base-heading>\n\n

Laura<\/strong>: “Yes, to be honest, I did! I chose the Finance and Accounting program at SGH and was unsure whether my background knowledge in that area would be sufficient. I had studied a bit of it during my Bachelor in Munich, but in my economics-focused Master program in Mainz, it definitely wasn\u2019t a central topic. I decided to just give it a try anyway. If earning the Double Degree had meant writing two Master theses, I probably wouldn\u2019t have gone through with it \u2014 but luckily, that wasn\u2019t required.\u201d <\/p>\n\n

Martin<\/strong>: “At first, I was expecting a relatively \u2018relaxed\u2019 Erasmus semester, so I had serious doubts \u2014 especially about whether my English skills would be good enough for the Double Degree Program. You just don\u2019t really know what to expect at SGH, and at first glance, the curriculum definitely looks demanding.
But to give away the ending: it was absolutely fine. My concerns quickly disappeared once I got there.\u201c <\/p>\n<\/jgu-base-heading>\n\n

Martin<\/strong>: \u201eNie<\/em> (\u201eNo\u201c in Polish)! My plan was to get most of the mandatory courses done during the winter semester so I\u2019d have more time to travel in the summer semester \u2014 and maybe even learn a bit of Polish then. But the pandemic disrupted those plans in the spring, so I never ended up taking a language course. In the end, I just communicated in English \u2014 or with hand gestures when necessary. And honestly, it wasn\u2019t a problem at all. For example, I played on the university handball team, which was almost entirely made up of Polish students, and even there, English always got me through just fine.\u201c <\/p>\n\n

Laura<\/strong>: \u201eTak<\/em> (\u201eYes\u201c in Polish)! I actually took several Polish courses from the very beginning of my studies at SGH \u2014 and even after returning to Germany, I\u2019ve kept up with it. But Martin is right: whether in class or during free time, you can absolutely get by in Warsaw without speaking any Polish.\u201c <\/p>\n<\/jgu-base-heading>\n\n

Laura<\/strong>: “You mostly spend time with other international students from various double degree programs, and you also attend many classes together with other German students. But I had already become good friends with two Polish women from the Double Degree Program during our time at JGU, so thanks to them, I got to experience Polish culture up close \u2014 at parties, for example, including a memorable New Year\u2019s Eve celebration.\u201c<\/p>\n\n

Martin:<\/strong> “Yes, though I actually made a conscious decision to distance myself a bit from the other German students! My main goal was to improve my English, and I knew that wouldn\u2019t happen if I stayed stuck in the \u201cGerman bubble.\u201d That\u2019s what motivated me to join the university\u2019s handball team, where I was one of the only \u201cforeigners.\u201d I was fully integrated there, got to take part in SGH\u2019s \u201cSport Ball,\u201d and was invited to lots of parties hosted by my teammates. At the university itself, interaction with Polish students is a bit more limited, since they usually choose the Polish-language course offerings.” <\/p>\n<\/jgu-base-heading>\n\n

Laura:<\/strong> “At the moment, I don\u2019t see myself living or working in Poland in the near future \u2014 but I have to say this clearly: ever since my time in Warsaw, I\u2019ve started to seriously consider Poland and Eastern Europe in general as part of my job search. Before that, it wasn\u2019t really on my radar. During my studies at SGH, I took part in several recruitment trainings hosted by major companies and realized that English is the primary language of communication in many of them \u2014 which makes the job market there really interesting for me.
The Double Degree Program opened the door to a whole new world I hadn\u2019t considered before.”<\/p>\n\n

Martin:<\/strong> “I can absolutely confirm that. On top of that, I got to know Warsaw as an incredibly modern and vibrant city. To be honest, my expectations \u2014 especially when it came to the Polish capital \u2014 weren\u2019t all that high, and they were far exceeded. Even just on the way from the airport to the city center, I remember thinking: \u201cWow!\u201d”<\/p>\n<\/jgu-base-heading>\n\n

Martin:<\/strong> \u201cIt was a bit chaotic at first \u2014 but that\u2019s part of the experience. I just asked around and talked to people whenever I was looking for something. That worked surprisingly well \u2014 you often find \u2018allies\u2019 who are searching for the same office! In the end, everything worked out, and overall, I felt very well supported. The international office in Mainz stayed in contact with us the entire time. Also, in Poland, deadlines aren\u2019t always as strict as they seem \u2014 it\u2019s surprising how things somehow always work out in the end. A positive attitude and a friendly smile toward the university staff always helped me a lot.\u201d <\/p>\n\n

Laura:<\/strong> \u201cThe main building of SGH is fairly old, but really beautiful \u2014 it reminded me a lot of my Bachelor studies in Munich. I also really liked how everything on campus is so close together. Finding my way around was tricky at first, but it really helped that a local friend gave me a campus tour. So when someone said, \u2018You need to go see the dean for that\u2019, I wasn\u2019t completely lost anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/jgu-base-heading>\n\n

Laura:<\/strong> \u201cThere was a huge range, from very easy to extremely difficult courses. What really worked in my favor in some classes was the chance to earn extra credit through strong participation or regular homework assignments. Those bonus points only counted if you passed the final exam, but they definitely helped me achieve very good grades overall. Apart from that, studying at SGH was quite similar to JGU. There are large lecture halls with up to 1,000 students, but also small seminar groups with a maximum of 15 participants. One difference, though: many courses have mandatory attendance, and some instructors even know you by your first name.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Martin:<\/strong> \u201cOh yes, I can definitely confirm that! One time, I missed a class, and the next day I ran into the lecturer in the hallway, he asked me, quite concerned, if I was okay. That\u2019s something I\u2019d never experienced in Mainz. I was enrolled in the Management program at SGH, so I took mostly different courses than Laura. Most of mine were in smaller groups, and presentations were a major part of the assessment \u2014 I had to give at least 15 presentations over the two semesters. What I really liked: especially in the elective modules, there was a great selection of attractive courses, for me, particularly in the field of digitalization and innovative technologies. In terms of difficulty, I found the program very manageable and still had plenty of time for leisure activities. I remember the exam period as being ‘short but intense’, but even then, I had enough time to properly celebrate after completing exams. It was important to me to not only focus on studying but also experience the vibrant lifestyle Warsaw has to offer. One piece of advice for future students: definitely look for accommodation in a central location, along the metro line. That way you can get to the university quickly and still be right in the middle of everything this lively city has to offer.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/jgu-base-heading>\n\n

Laura<\/strong>: \u201cThe Double Degree is always well received, I\u2019ve even been contacted by companies I never applied to! I\u2019m just about to graduate and have already had several job interviews. You can really tell: having international experience is a big plus, and mentioning Warsaw makes you stand out even more. I\u2019m still figuring out exactly where I want to go professionally. I\u2019m interested in the banking sector and might pursue a trainee program. But I haven\u2019t completely ruled out an academic path, possibly a PhD. Thanks to the combination of International Economics and Public Policy and Finance and Accounting in the Double Degree, I now have a very broad foundation, and I\u2019m looking to the future with confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Martin:<\/strong> \u201cI\u2019ve now been working for two months at the auditing firm PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers GmbH), and I\u2019m very happy with how things have turned out. With the Double Master under my belt, I received job offers quite quickly, the program is the perfect conversation starter in interviews. There\u2019s a lot you can talk about, and it\u2019s a great way to highlight your personal strengths. For me, it was the first time I\u2019d lived abroad for an extended period, and it was a truly intense experience. The tougher phases, like powering through some of the more demanding courses, are already fading in my memory. I honestly enjoyed the experience from start to finish. Most of all, the program helped me overcome my fear of speaking English.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n \n <\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Laura and Martin began their Double Degree Program at the Warsaw School of Economics in the winter semester of 2019. A few semesters later, they\u2019re back in Germany, transitioning from student life to professional life \u2014 and taking the time to share their experiences. In a humorous interview, they exchange anecdotes from their time as … Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":266,"featured_media":0,"parent":16421,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16447","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"content_raw":"\n

\n
\n

Laura and Martin began their Double Degree Program at the Warsaw School of Economics in the winter semester of 2019. A few semesters later, they\u2019re back in Germany, transitioning from student life to professional life \u2014 and taking the time to share their experiences. In a humorous interview, they exchange anecdotes from their time as students and come to a unanimous conclusion: the Double Master Degree was well worth it. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

Laura<\/strong>: \u201cIt was clear to me that I wanted to spend part of my Master studies abroad. But in my degree program, International Economics and Public Policy (IEPP), it was quite difficult to find suitable courses at foreign universities through a regular Erasmus semester that would later be recognized.
In my first Master semester, I became friends with a Polish student who was part of the Double Degree Program, and she encouraged me to apply. The great thing about it: since it\u2019s an integrated program, I didn\u2019t have to worry about getting the courses I took in Warsaw recognized.
Plus, you even get a second degree for the year abroad \u2014 a clear advantage! And let\u2019s be honest: studying abroad in England or Spain is pretty \u201cstandard\u201d these days \u2014 but Poland? That\u2019s something special!\u201d <\/p>\n\n

Martin<\/strong>: \"My path to the double degree program was a bit different: I really wanted to go to Warsaw and had actually already been accepted to SGH \u2014 but through the Erasmus program. When I heard about the Double Master, I initially went to the International Office just to ask whether it would theoretically be possible to switch later on.
Instead, I was encouraged to take a leap and join the Double Degree Program right away. At the time, I was still missing the TOEFL test to prove my English proficiency, which I had to complete on very short notice \u2014 and that definitely cost some nerves!
Well, the rest is history. Now here I am, doing this interview as a Double Degree graduate, holding my diploma in hand \u2014 so I guess all that stress back then really paid off!\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Laura<\/strong>: \"Yes, to be honest, I did! I chose the Finance and Accounting program at SGH and was unsure whether my background knowledge in that area would be sufficient. I had studied a bit of it during my Bachelor in Munich, but in my economics-focused Master program in Mainz, it definitely wasn\u2019t a central topic. I decided to just give it a try anyway. If earning the Double Degree had meant writing two Master theses, I probably wouldn\u2019t have gone through with it \u2014 but luckily, that wasn\u2019t required.\u201d <\/p>\n\n

Martin<\/strong>: \"At first, I was expecting a relatively \u2018relaxed\u2019 Erasmus semester, so I had serious doubts \u2014 especially about whether my English skills would be good enough for the Double Degree Program. You just don\u2019t really know what to expect at SGH, and at first glance, the curriculum definitely looks demanding.
But to give away the ending: it was absolutely fine. My concerns quickly disappeared once I got there.\u201c <\/p>\n\n

Martin<\/strong>: \u201eNie<\/em> (\u201eNo\u201c in Polish)! My plan was to get most of the mandatory courses done during the winter semester so I\u2019d have more time to travel in the summer semester \u2014 and maybe even learn a bit of Polish then. But the pandemic disrupted those plans in the spring, so I never ended up taking a language course. In the end, I just communicated in English \u2014 or with hand gestures when necessary. And honestly, it wasn\u2019t a problem at all. For example, I played on the university handball team, which was almost entirely made up of Polish students, and even there, English always got me through just fine.\u201c <\/p>\n\n

Laura<\/strong>: \u201eTak<\/em> (\u201eYes\u201c in Polish)! I actually took several Polish courses from the very beginning of my studies at SGH \u2014 and even after returning to Germany, I\u2019ve kept up with it. But Martin is right: whether in class or during free time, you can absolutely get by in Warsaw without speaking any Polish.\u201c <\/p>\n\n

Laura<\/strong>: \"You mostly spend time with other international students from various double degree programs, and you also attend many classes together with other German students. But I had already become good friends with two Polish women from the Double Degree Program during our time at JGU, so thanks to them, I got to experience Polish culture up close \u2014 at parties, for example, including a memorable New Year\u2019s Eve celebration.\u201c<\/p>\n\n

Martin:<\/strong> \"Yes, though I actually made a conscious decision to distance myself a bit from the other German students! My main goal was to improve my English, and I knew that wouldn\u2019t happen if I stayed stuck in the \u201cGerman bubble.\u201d That\u2019s what motivated me to join the university\u2019s handball team, where I was one of the only \u201cforeigners.\u201d I was fully integrated there, got to take part in SGH\u2019s \u201cSport Ball,\u201d and was invited to lots of parties hosted by my teammates. At the university itself, interaction with Polish students is a bit more limited, since they usually choose the Polish-language course offerings.\" <\/p>\n\n

Laura:<\/strong> \"At the moment, I don\u2019t see myself living or working in Poland in the near future \u2014 but I have to say this clearly: ever since my time in Warsaw, I\u2019ve started to seriously consider Poland and Eastern Europe in general as part of my job search. Before that, it wasn\u2019t really on my radar. During my studies at SGH, I took part in several recruitment trainings hosted by major companies and realized that English is the primary language of communication in many of them \u2014 which makes the job market there really interesting for me.
The Double Degree Program opened the door to a whole new world I hadn\u2019t considered before.\"<\/p>\n\n

Martin:<\/strong> \"I can absolutely confirm that. On top of that, I got to know Warsaw as an incredibly modern and vibrant city. To be honest, my expectations \u2014 especially when it came to the Polish capital \u2014 weren\u2019t all that high, and they were far exceeded. Even just on the way from the airport to the city center, I remember thinking: \u201cWow!\u201d\"<\/p>\n\n

Martin:<\/strong> \u201cIt was a bit chaotic at first \u2014 but that\u2019s part of the experience. I just asked around and talked to people whenever I was looking for something. That worked surprisingly well \u2014 you often find \u2018allies\u2019 who are searching for the same office! In the end, everything worked out, and overall, I felt very well supported. The international office in Mainz stayed in contact with us the entire time. Also, in Poland, deadlines aren\u2019t always as strict as they seem \u2014 it\u2019s surprising how things somehow always work out in the end. A positive attitude and a friendly smile toward the university staff always helped me a lot.\u201d <\/p>\n\n

Laura:<\/strong> \u201cThe main building of SGH is fairly old, but really beautiful \u2014 it reminded me a lot of my Bachelor studies in Munich. I also really liked how everything on campus is so close together. Finding my way around was tricky at first, but it really helped that a local friend gave me a campus tour. So when someone said, \u2018You need to go see the dean for that\u2019, I wasn\u2019t completely lost anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Laura:<\/strong> \u201cThere was a huge range, from very easy to extremely difficult courses. What really worked in my favor in some classes was the chance to earn extra credit through strong participation or regular homework assignments. Those bonus points only counted if you passed the final exam, but they definitely helped me achieve very good grades overall. Apart from that, studying at SGH was quite similar to JGU. There are large lecture halls with up to 1,000 students, but also small seminar groups with a maximum of 15 participants. One difference, though: many courses have mandatory attendance, and some instructors even know you by your first name.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Martin:<\/strong> \u201cOh yes, I can definitely confirm that! One time, I missed a class, and the next day I ran into the lecturer in the hallway, he asked me, quite concerned, if I was okay. That\u2019s something I\u2019d never experienced in Mainz. I was enrolled in the Management program at SGH, so I took mostly different courses than Laura. Most of mine were in smaller groups, and presentations were a major part of the assessment \u2014 I had to give at least 15 presentations over the two semesters. What I really liked: especially in the elective modules, there was a great selection of attractive courses, for me, particularly in the field of digitalization and innovative technologies. In terms of difficulty, I found the program very manageable and still had plenty of time for leisure activities. I remember the exam period as being 'short but intense', but even then, I had enough time to properly celebrate after completing exams. It was important to me to not only focus on studying but also experience the vibrant lifestyle Warsaw has to offer. One piece of advice for future students: definitely look for accommodation in a central location, along the metro line. That way you can get to the university quickly and still be right in the middle of everything this lively city has to offer.\u201d <\/p>\n\n

Laura<\/strong>: \u201cThe Double Degree is always well received, I\u2019ve even been contacted by companies I never applied to! I\u2019m just about to graduate and have already had several job interviews. You can really tell: having international experience is a big plus, and mentioning Warsaw makes you stand out even more. I\u2019m still figuring out exactly where I want to go professionally. I\u2019m interested in the banking sector and might pursue a trainee program. But I haven\u2019t completely ruled out an academic path, possibly a PhD. Thanks to the combination of International Economics and Public Policy and Finance and Accounting in the Double Degree, I now have a very broad foundation, and I\u2019m looking to the future with confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Martin:<\/strong> \u201cI\u2019ve now been working for two months at the auditing firm PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers GmbH), and I\u2019m very happy with how things have turned out. With the Double Master under my belt, I received job offers quite quickly, the program is the perfect conversation starter in interviews. There\u2019s a lot you can talk about, and it\u2019s a great way to highlight your personal strengths. For me, it was the first time I\u2019d lived abroad for an extended period, and it was a truly intense experience. The tougher phases, like powering through some of the more demanding courses, are already fading in my memory. I honestly enjoyed the experience from start to finish. Most of all, the program helped me overcome my fear of speaking English.\u201d<\/p>\n","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wiwi.uni-mainz.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16447","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wiwi.uni-mainz.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wiwi.uni-mainz.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wiwi.uni-mainz.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/266"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wiwi.uni-mainz.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16447"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/wiwi.uni-mainz.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16447\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17571,"href":"https:\/\/wiwi.uni-mainz.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16447\/revisions\/17571"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wiwi.uni-mainz.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16421"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wiwi.uni-mainz.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16447"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wiwi.uni-mainz.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16447"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wiwi.uni-mainz.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16447"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}