Yong Sebastian pursued his Master's programme in Marketing and Communication at the Rome Business School. He found this programme via Studyportals. We asked Yong Sebastian about his experience of searching and applying to a university abroad.
Tell us a bit about yourself. What is your name? How old are you? Where are you from?
My name is Yong Sebastian Nyam, I am 24 years. I originally come from Bamenda, Cameroon, but I finished my high school studies in Buea, Cameroon, West Africa.
Where are you studying now? What university and programme are you enrolled in? What degree are you pursuing and how long is your programme?
Currently, I am doing a Master's programme in Marketing and Communication at the Rome Business School Rome, Italy. My degree program is one year long, from October 2014 to October 2015.
The curriculum consists of 6 months of in-class lectures, company tours, study abroad programmes and a 6 months internship in Italy or abroad. It’s a very interactive 12 months programme.
Why did you want to study abroad?
My decision to study abroad was based on the fact that I wanted to go to a different country, meet different people, and learn about new cultures. I definitely wanted to develop personally and professionally.
How did you find your study programme? Why did you choose this particular university? How did Studyportals help you?
I am currently still doing my degree programme and it is fantastic. I am definitely not regretting taking the decision to study abroad. I didn’t know about the business school and, in fact, I had never heard of it.
All I had in mind was the course I wanted to study and the country. I did the search on Studyportals and found this amazing business school. Studyportals did play a vital part.
Did you know about that university and/or programme before seeing it on Studyportals?
No.
On what stage of the application were you using Studyportals? Did you miss any important information on Studyportals?
I started using Studyportals when I was searching for possible universities in Europe, where I could apply. Studyportals helped provide many options from where I was able to make a decision as to where I wanted to go, after reading and researching more about the university.
What were your main priorities when choosing your university and your programme (e.g. academics, accommodation, university services & facilities, personal & professional development, city & culture, cost & funding, practicalities, social life)?
Since I was going to fund my studies myself, my priorities were tuition, accommodation and other related costs. Student life and culture of the university and country were also factors I considered. My personal and professional development was the main priority.
Was it your first study choice? What other universities did you consider? What was the main reason of your final choice?
My first study choice was Marketing and the second Management. I came across so many universities offering these courses and in a very attractive way. Rome Business School caught my attention, because they didn’t just do Marketing, but Marketing and Communication.
To me, it was a more complete programme and one that best suited me. That’s the reason I chose Rome Business School. Besides, the school is also outstanding in terms of teaching quality.
Did you know from the start that you wanted to study in that particular country and city? Why did you choose for this particular location?
Yes. It was easy for me. I’ve always wanted to go to Italy and when I got the opportunity to study abroad, Italy was the only place I wanted to go to. My sister also studied in Italy, so it was an easy decision for me. I like the UK and the USA, but Italy was my choice.
Did you do a language test (e.g. TOEFL, IELTS) when applying for the programme? If yes, which one did you choose, why and how was your experience with it?
No, I did not.
Need to take an English language test? Book an IELTS exam in your country!
What would be your advice for students from your country that consider to study abroad?
Studying abroad is a huge investment financially and one you won’t regret, if you choose the right course. There’re a lot of challenges involved, but with faith, hard work and determination, you will make it without any problems. Just know what you want and work for it.
How did you finance your stay abroad and what financial advice would you give to future students?
I am self-funding my studies and trust me, it’s a huge responsibility. I am coping very well financially, because I have planned my finances quite well. I am in a foreign country and can’t afford to spend money carelessly.
I always make wise decisions when it comes to spending and I think it is the best way to manage your finances abroad and not have problems. I work part-time too, so it makes things easier in a way.
Why would you (not) recommend this particular city / university? How would you rate your experience on a scale from zero to ten (0 – It was a total disaster, 10 – I had the time of my life)?
Courses at Rome Business School are very interactive and the class size is very small. This gives room for more interaction with the lecturers and other students alike.
I would recommend this school to anyone who wants to enhance his personal and professional goals. I would rate the school at 10; I am having the time of my life.
Is there anything that you would do differently if you could do it over again?
Yes. Letting people tell me it’s not a wise investment to study aboard while I could study home and spend less. I listened to those people for a long time.
I would never listen to such people again. You need to know yourself and what you want. Don’t limit yourself and dream big. Life is an adventure, explore it and have fun.
What was the biggest surprise in your study abroad adventure?
Meeting all these amazing people from different countries. I am learning new languages, new cultures and different dishes. It’s amazing!
Were you inspired by the story of Yong Sebastian Nyam?