Student Presentive - The Benefits of Studying Abroad

After several years as a graduate student and two Master’s degrees, I’m now preparing to re-enter the workforce. In 2010 I entered the Master of Science in Management program at the University of Lethbridge, which does a great job of preparing students for research work in business. As a marketing major, I gained a strong knowledge of the marketing field and performed my own marketing research during my thesis study.

I was also the first student from the program to take advantage of a new dual-degree program in partnership with the Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences in Germany. Through this partnership, students who begin their studies in Lethbridge can elect to study in Germany for one semester and complete one thesis that counts toward two different degrees.The German opportunity allows a student to be immersed in a different culture, while taking practical business and economic courses that complement the coursework offered in Lethbridge. The end result of the program is a Master of Arts degree in International Business and Economics to go along with the Master of Science in Management degree from the University of Lethbridge.

Through both programs I have met students (who are now international business contacts)from around the world who I will keep in contact with for many years to come. In just over two years since I started my Master’s studies I now have a strong foundation on which to build a solid career with many different possibilities.

Written by: Daniel Rutledge, M.Sc.(Mgt), M.A. IBE candidate