Claudia Fransen

How did you hear about Leeds University Business School and why did you choose to study here?

Already during my Bachelor’s in Germany I did a number of national and international internships in the field of Communications and Marketing and have spent one semester in Wales. When I was looking for suitable Masters programmes, it was only natural to go to the UK. However, there were not that many courses focusing on Marketing Communications offered by UK Business Schools. Finally, Leeds University Business School won the race because of its excellent ranking and the course’s unique structure combining classical marketing with communications topics. 

Furthermore, in addition to the excellent theoretical bases provided during lectures, I really enjoyed the great amount of practical insights being integrated into our timetables throughout the year: Speeches from industry experts and marketing representatives from renowned companies, numerous study projects under work life conditions and the opportunity to take part in a consultancy project for a UK company during summer. I really enjoyed the professional and friendly atmosphere between students and staff a lot and I feel that the course prepared me well for my future career!

What was the best part of your studies?  

The entire year I spent in Leeds was fantastic. I have learned a lot; the facilities and city provided the perfect study environment. I met a number of great people and in the end it always gets back to the people you meet in life and the things you go through with them. They made my time special and unforgettable!

What were your career aspirations? Do you think the experience and skills you’ve gained here have helped you in your career plans? 

Already during my studies I wanted to work for an international company in brand management and when I left the Business School, I experienced that it was really hard to find such a job at that time. When Unilever then hired me I was even happier!

Working in Unilever’s European Brand Management now, I feel that the professional skills and international experience I gained during my time at the Business School helped me a lot to get into my Marketing role and particularly to work with people who have different cultural backgrounds. Especially, during group work I learned how to organise, negotiate and coordinate different interests, which is crucial in my current job.

Do you have any noteworthy achievements from your study at the Business School that you can tell us about?

I completed the course with distinction and was very happy when I was awarded the Brian Howard Memorial Prize for best personal and academic achievement together with my friend Anna. We were both in the same study group in semester 2 and had much fun working together. This made it an even better ending of my time at Leeds University Business School! 

What was your experience of the facilities, the staff, your peers, the city of Leeds and the Yorkshire region?  

Even though my course was one of the largest postgraduate courses, I never had a feeling of anonymity with regard to our lecturers. Everyone was extremely helpful, nurturing a feeling of familiarity between students and staff from day one. I guess that is also an important aspect, which turned teaching very interesting and lively and eased active participation in seminars and lectures for us students. It was great to meet such a large number of new friends from all over the world and with most of them I am still in touch thanks to Facebook, WhatsApp and LinkedIn. The great location of Leeds itself, made it easy for us to travel and explore Yorkshire as well as the UK itself. 

Would you recommend the Business School to others who are considering studying here? 

The year I spent at the Business School was definitely the highlight of my uni life and I would highly recommend Leeds University Business School to everyone without doubt. What makes the Business School special is the perfect mixture of a great number of brilliant and renowned academics and professionals together with its very personal touch, offering first class teaching and research in an international, open study environment.