Elyor Mukhamedov hails from Uzbekistan and decided to leave his home country to pursue the Master’s in Management program at ESMT Berlin. Elyor caught up with the team at MASTERGRADSCHOOLS to talk about his experience, sharing his inside knowledge of the ESMT MIM program, his top tips on moving to Berlin, and his advice for prospective students.
What were you doing before deciding to study at ESMT Berlin?
After my Bachelor’s I was working for 3 years until I decided that I wanted to further develop my knowledge and network with like-minded individuals. I was also excited to experience something new!
For my Bachelor’s degree, I studied at the Westminster International University in Tashkent, which is the first international university in Uzbekistan. After graduating from my undergraduate degree I joined Asian Development Bank where I was an Economic Researcher for 3 years.
What is the MIM program?
MIM stands for Masters in Management, at ESMT Berlin it’s a two-year program which consists of a compulsory 6-month internship. During the second year, students are free to choose one of four specializations: Finance & Investments, Business Analytics, Entrepreneurship & Innovation or Global & Digital strategy. The program is taught in English but students come from all around the world to study the MIM at ESMT Berlin.
How diverse is your MIM Class at ESMT Berlin?
In my class, there are over 100 people from more than 40 different nationalities. It’s amazing to have people from all around the world come together and chase the same goal, to become responsible leaders of the future.
I have become very close with my peers and having this experience in common has been incredible, it’s great to get to know people with shared ideas and interests.
What should students prepare before moving to Germany?
Make sure you have planned ahead and you’re prepared. It’s always a good idea to prepare any documents you may need in advance, whether that’s your visa or opening a local bank account. My advice would also be to start thinking about where you’re going to live around 5 or 6 months before you arrive in Berlin. Berlin is a big city with a lot of students from all over the world so it can be difficult to find accommodation.
What is it like to live in Berlin?
Berlin is a very safe city, it’s also a very vibrant and modern city with different sub-cultures. You can find a part of yourself in Berlin – it’s a city for everyone.
Berlin is also a very international city, it’s not essential to speak fluent German – although it’s always good to have and to know at least a little German. However, it is possible to get away with just speaking English.
Any advice for future MIM students?
I know it can be difficult to leave behind your home country and embark on a new journey but personally, I can definitely say that it’s truly worth going and trying out this new path in your life. It will bring a lot of opportunities further down the line.
This article was originally published by MASTERGRADSCHOOLS on October 16, 2020, and republished with permission.
Learn more about the ESMT MIM program here.
