From Syria to Hungary: My Experience at the University of Pécs

The University of Pécs in Hungary ranks among the top 1,000 universities in the world, and in the top 300 in Europe. Located in one of Hungary’s best student cities, the institution is home to over 5,000 international students from around the world – and Yazan Othman is one of those students who travelled far to study at the University of Pécs.

Yazan moved from Syria to Hungary to pursue the MSc in Business Development, a two-year, English-taught programme from the Faculty of Business and Economics. With his university’s encouragement, Yazan successfully applied for the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship, an initiative that supports international students from over 100 countries in developing their education at Hungarian universities.

“The University of Pécs stood out for its strong emphasis on practical entrepreneurship and innovation,” Yazan says. “And the university location in a city with such a positive reputation among international students definitely played a huge role.”

We spoke to Yazan about his experience studying a graduate business degree at the University of Pécs and how it led him to a global management role after graduating.

Getting hands-on with innovation and entrepreneurship at the University of Pécs

Yazan studied Telecommunications Engineering at the University of Damascus in Syria, and spent the early stages of his career working in logistics for a variety of non-profits and foundations.

The comprehensive curriculum of the MSc in Business Development appealed to Yazan, as it would allow him to apply his engineering knowledge and further develop his skills in leadership and entrepreneurship.

“One highlight was that I found out that an engineer (like me) can fully benefit from such a programme in two ways: A, as a startup founder, but also B, as part of a team in a corporation,” he explains. “Which means I can ideate around my engineering skill and sell or be part of a company, innovate around its products, and then we sell as a team!”

The MSc is centred on innovation but explores a wide range of topics, including entrepreneurial finance, project management, e-commerce, and marketing. Students conclude their degree with a practicum in SME development, during which they gain hands-on experience in startup consulting and entrepreneurship.

The Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Pécs also offered Yazan the flexibility to tailor his programme to his interests, improving his career prospects.

“I was able to ask for my ‘homework’ to be about a certain topic or be delivered in a certain format; this was my method of looking at some courses as a safe sandbox while I was doing my part-time job as a junior business consultant,” he explains.

“Happy to say, the professors welcomed this, and that eased my transition from ‘school mode’ into ‘serious real-life mode’.”

Student Life in Pécs

Pécs is the fifth-largest city in Hungary, and with 25,000 students at the University of Pécs, it has a lively atmosphere. The city’s smaller size and unique location near the Croatian border (Pécs was part of the Ottoman Empire for 150 years) make for a rich cultural and historical experience.

In fact, EDUopinions student reviewers rate the University of Pécs 4.5 out of 5 for student life.

“Universities usually are a reflection of what life in the city is like. I wasn’t wrong – there are open-minded staff and a friendly atmosphere,” notes Yazan.

Yazan also mentions Pécs’ strategic location as a significant advantage. It’s less than three hours from Hungary’s capital, Budapest, but students can also travel to international destinations like Zagreb, Croatia, and Graz, Austria. “There’s excellent infrastructure and a friendly population,” Yazan remarks – a combination that makes for an excellent student life for curious international students.

From engineering to global management

“I absolutely loved my time at the university,” Yazan says. “The courses prepared me to take on various future paths in my career.”

During his MSc programme, Yazan interned at the Global Startup Awards, an entrepreneurship organisation that has an office in Pécs. This experience led to being hired as a Lead Business Consultant, and then to another promotion – to Director of Operations.

“The programme offered opportunities like hands-on courses in Economics, Finance, Project Management, and a practicum in SME development, fostering skills in venture valuation and startup execution. These directly supported my career when I first joined Global Startup Awards, up to now, leading the team on a global level,” Yazan asserts.