A Joint Degree Journey Across Europe

Madeleine von Braunmühl shares her experience in the Joint Master's program in European Health Economics & Management

Madeleine von Braunmühl is currently pursuing the Joint Master’s Degree in European Health Economics & Management (EU-HEM), and she has already had the opportunity to experience the cities of Bologna, Oslo, and Innsbruck. In a short interview, she gives us some insights.

Would you recommend the joint degree to your fellow students and why?

I would highly recommend this joint degree program to fellow students, as it pushes you out of your comfort zone and challenges you to adapt quickly to new situations, cultures, and people. Just as you start feeling at home in one city, it’s time to move again. While this can be challenging, going through it with friends makes the transition much easier and strengthens your bond each time. At some point, friends turn into family. Beyond the academic knowledge I gained, I also learned a lot about myself and how to build trust more quickly with others.

What skills or insights did you gain that might positively impact your academic or professional future?

I became more flexible in my approach to meeting deadlines. I used to get very stressed about them and wanted to complete everything as quickly as possible. However, over time, I learned to balance my life and realized that deadlines can be met regardless. In other words, I learned to trust myself more and not stress over presenting in front of a class or finishing tasks before everyone else. Instead, I found a way to manage my responsibilities while also enjoying life.

Which cultural differences or challenges surprised or impressed you the most during your stay?

What surprised me the most was that people from northern countries tend to connect more quickly at first, as their communication style is often more direct. However, over time, I realized that despite different perceptions of time, all cultures can come together well and have a lot to learn from one another. This experience showed me how valuable it is to embrace different communication styles and adapt to diverse ways of connecting with people.

Is there any specific advice or tips you would give to other students?

Be open to everything that comes your way—things will work out in the end. Take part in as many activities as possible, as these experiences are what strengthen the bond between friends. Also, be honest with yourself and acknowledge your feelings. Don’t hesitate to talk to friends about them; vulnerability makes you human, and that’s what friends are there for. Take time for yourself when you need it.
Most importantly, as this is an international master’s program, embrace the unique characteristics of different cultures and remain open to diverse perspectives. Doing so will broaden your view of the world and encourage you to critically reflect on your own opinions.

Please formulate the most outstanding highlight of your joint degree experience in one sentence

My highlight was renting a camper van with three colleagues and traveling to the Lofoten in Norway, where, despite not being very close at first, we bonded through the experience and became true friends.