My 5 Reasons to Do a Double Degree (Even in Year 2020)
Marlon Martin tells about his experience at the Aix Marseille School of Economics
I’m Marlon, 23, German, and in 2019 I started my Double Degree programme in Economics at the University of Konstanz and the Aix-Marseille School of Economics. Many people asked me why I chose a double degree program, even during the Covid-19 year. In this report, you will find my top five reasons.
Teaching approach
The University of Konstanz and the University of Marseille contrast strongly in their approach of teaching. I think that Konstanz is more theoretically and mathematically oriented, whereas Marseille highlights the importance of practitioners’ experiences, focusses on the models currently used in practice. Konstanz provided me with the foundation and economic knowledge, easing the comprehension and evaluation of the current practical methods, taught in Marseille. Courses in Konstanz are almost exclusively graded by exams, but in Marseille I can do many student projects instead. Furthermore, in Marseille the first semester is split up into two parts offering less simultaneous courses and fewer exams at the end of the semester.
Career
Participating in a double degree allows you to graduate with two masters in the time of one. Adopting to two different styles and approaches to teaching is both a chance and a challenge. What I especially liked about the double degree program is that my specialization in Quantitative Finance and Insurance (in French: finance quantitative et assurance, short FQA), is itself a cooperation of two universities in Marseille, allowing me to attend courses from three universities during my master’s program. Further, the FQA specialization finishes with a half-year internship. The internship report, extended by an academic part, sums to my master’s thesis. The master’s thesis thus combines my practical tasks during the internship with the underlying academic literature.
Culture
Marseille is THE cultural melting pot of France. Due to its closeness to Morocco and the African continent, Marseille is strongly influenced by near eastern cultures. I especially enjoyed weekend markets, which offer not only fresh French products, but also Arabic spices and specialties. Aix-en-Provence is close, offering the “pure French” market with fresh seafood, cheeses, vegetables, bread and meat. However, the criminality in Marseille is more prevalent than in German cities - slight caution. If you follow the local rules, then Marseille won’t be more dangerous than any other city. Your room will be in a building on a guarded campus, offering great security, yet, if possible, refrain from unaccompanied tours at night.
Corona
The Covid-19 crisis fully affected the duration of my master’s program. The University of Marseille offered hybrid courses before the lockdown, allowing you to either attend in person or follow online. Ever since the lockdown all courses and exams are entirely online.
I consider the lockdown rules in France more severe than in Germany, however, they are less restrictive than they appear: Even though I need a reason and attestation to go outside, these reasons include exercise and shopping. The filling and signing of a form is enough to be able to go outside. Since the lockdown only applies to public space, I am still able to walk around on campus, where I live.
The spread of the coronavirus and the lockdown sadly and greatly restricted the number and ease of my interactions with locals and eating out. I hope that these downsides won’t affect other future double degree generations, but they also underline the resilience of the exchange programmes to unforeseen circumstances.
Friendships
In the first year of my master programme in Konstanz, I already got to know my French fellow students with whom I returned to Marseille for the second year. You should take advantage of this unique opportunity to build border-crossing friendships! It is a great experience to first present your home, culture and mindset in Germany, and then reverse roles in France. The double degree already selects for open and experience-hungry students, thus new friendships are almost guaranteed. If you do have questions, either in Konstanz or in Marseille, you always find someone to talk to.
All in all, I would definitely recommend students to do a double degree as their first stepping stone to international cooperation and networking.
