Student review [#105858] for Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management
at Kühne Logistics University - KLU

I am currently in my second year of the Master’s in Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management at KLU. Over time, I have really come to appreciate the university and see how much the people involved, whether students, faculty or staff, genuinely want to make it a great university.

Since my first day, I have felt that KLU really wants to empower its students and help them develop not just academically but also personally. If you have any doubts or questions regarding a subject, the university, the city or even government-related processes, just ask the staff. They will either help you themselves or guide you to the right person.

For example, when I was looking for accommodation in Hamburg, I wasn’t entirely sure whether the rental contracts I had received were genuine, as unfortunately, the housing market in Hamburg, like in many other cities, has its fair share of scams. I approached Student Services with a few contracts, and they helped guide me through them. It is these kinds of experiences that made me appreciate the university even more.

I will try to categorise my review to give a more holistic picture of my experience at KLU.

Faculty

1. Overall, the professors are really good. Many of them actively conduct research in their respective fields and bring up-to-date knowledge and insights into their lectures.

2. They also have good industry connections, which means we occasionally have guest lectures and visits from companies. It is nice to get that industry perspective alongside what we learn in class. For example, we have had visits from companies such as Hapag-Lloyd, Airbus and Heinz Logistics.

3. Professors sometimes involve students in their research projects as well. So, if you are interested in a particular topic and take the initiative to approach them, there may be opportunities to work with them. This actually happened to one of my friends.

4. To be critical, there were also some subjects I personally did not enjoy, either because of how the course was structured or because of the professor teaching it. So, not every course was equally good in my experience.

Student Clubs

1. We have many student clubs on campus, each serving a different purpose. For parties and social events, we have the Socials Club; for consulting, Advisupply; for representing the university, the Ambassador Club; for sustainability, Green Dream; for event management, TEDx; for networking, UniKonnect; and many more.

2. These clubs give you opportunities to experience things you probably wouldn’t otherwise get to do. For example, I became a blackjack dealer for a Poker Night organised by the Socials Club. Through the Ambassador Club, I also got to attend exhibitions and travel to different cities representing KLU. These were experiences I never really expected to have when I joined the university.

3. And if you have a specific interest but there isn’t already a club for it, you can create one yourself! That is actually how I started a German language club called **Auf Deutsch**, where people can come together and practise German.

Events

There is definitely no shortage of events at KLU. In fact, I believe this is one of the things that differentiates KLU from many other private and public universities. These events provide unique opportunities for networking, learning and getting exposure to different industries and professionals.

Here are just a few examples, although the actual list is much longer.

1. Career Connect: This is an event where different companies come to campus, giving students the opportunity to introduce and pitch themselves directly to company representatives. It is also a great way to understand what companies look for in candidates, what skills are currently in demand and what trends are shaping the industry. Some companies that have participated in previous editions include Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM, Eurogate, DP World, Inverto, Frosta and Sysmex.

2. Alumni Career Talks: Alumni from different graduating years come back to share their experiences, talk about current industry trends and offer advice on job applications, including the dos and don’ts. It is also a really good opportunity to network with people who were once in the same position as us.

3. **Finance Summit:** This event gives students exposure to the banking and finance world, including the opportunity to work on case studies provided by participating companies. It is a good way to explore whether finance is something you might be interested in, while also networking with professionals from the industry.

4. Dock & Talk: This is a podcast organised by KLU where C-suite executives are invited to campus to share their experiences. Students can attend the sessions and participate in the Q&A, where you actually get to ask questions directly to a CEO, CFO or whichever executive is visiting. There is also an opportunity to interact with them after the podcast, which gives students a level of access that would normally be quite difficult to get.

5. Oscar Night: This is probably one of the more memorable events at KLU. First-year Master’s students are given a task to produce a short film based on concepts taught in the Leadership and Organisational Behaviour elective. All the films are then showcased together in our auditorium during one evening. What makes it even more interesting is that the students are also responsible for organising the entire event, from ticket sales to food, drinks and overall management. And to top it off, one of our professors becomes the DJ for the night! It really makes for one of the most memorable evenings of the year.

And again, these are only a few examples. There are many more events happening throughout the year.

Campus

1. Our campus is located in HafenCity, with a great view of the Elbphilharmonie. It is a really nice location to study in.

2. We have breakout rooms of different sizes for group work, as well as quiet areas for individual study. One small criticism is that students are currently not very happy with the new chairs that were recently installed.

3. The university is also undergoing renovations to accommodate the growing number of students. While this is understandable, some facilities, such as the gym and shower areas, have been affected in the process.

Career

1. We have a really good Career Services team that supports students throughout their career journey, from preparing CVs to conducting mock interviews. They also put a lot of effort into organising company visits and creating opportunities for students to interact with employers. Most importantly, they are approachable whenever you need help or guidance.

2. Another advantage is KLU’s alumni network. When you look at companies you might want to apply to, there is a good chance that one or more KLU alumni are already working there. This creates an opportunity to connect with them, understand more about the company and potentially even get a referral.

3. There are also regular workshops, company visits and other career-related events that give students opportunities to network, learn about industries and pitch themselves to potential employers. I personally find these opportunities very helpful.

University Life

1. Student life at KLU is great, especially if you actively participate in what the university has to offer. There are so many clubs, events and activities that sometimes you genuinely feel there isn’t enough time to take part in everything.

2. Since KLU is a relatively small university, there is a sense of familiarity between students and professors. Many professors know us, and it is relatively easy to approach them, whether for academic questions or general discussions.

3. One of the things I appreciate the most is the diversity of our cohorts. I have made some really good friends from different countries and cultures, and getting to know people from such different backgrounds has been a great part of my experience.

4. KLU is also very international. Almost everyone at the university communicates in English, to the point where sometimes you don’t even feel like you are studying in Germany!

Final Thoughts

There are still so many things I could write about KLU, but this review is already getting quite long, so I will end with one final thought.

I realise that this review comes across as very positive, and I also understand that not every current student or alumnus may share the same experience or opinion. There are certainly things that could be improved, and not everything has been perfect.

However, for me, the experience has genuinely been positive, largely because I tried to make the most of the opportunities the university provided.

I genuinely feel that KLU puts a lot of effort into supporting its students, whether academically, professionally or personally. But I also believe that, at some point, it becomes the student’s responsibility to take the initiative and make use of these opportunities.

The university can create the opportunities, but it is ultimately up to us as students to take advantage of them.

And I genuinely believe that if you actively participate, approach people, ask questions and make the most of what KLU has to offer, you will not regret your time here.