New European College (reviews)

I really appreciate at NEC is the personal attention from the lecturers — we can openly ask questions anytime, and they’re always happy to help. The supportive and close-knit community here truly feels like a family.

In all honesty, I got more than what I bargained for with New European College. The entire experience has been worth far more than what I had initially expected. From the very first day itself when we went around the city of Munich on a guided tour organized by our Chancellor, filled with interesting, funny, and witty remarks about Munich’s glorious past and German heritage, I knew this journey would be special.

NEC offers more than just academics. It’s a close, family-like community that feels like home. The Oktoberfest celebrations, AGBC networking sessions, and other cultural events truly contribute to the learning environment and make you feel like you’re part of something socially and professionally.

One of the highlights has been the highly knowledgable faculty who were not only well-educated and industry experienced but also highly motivated and who were always available for help and support. What I enjoyed most was that the discussions never stayed within the syllabus and we often debated real-life events, economic changes, business trends, and had philosophical debates. Learning here is holistic and reflective.

The Chancellor’s weekly newsletters are another special aspect which always made sure that we look beyond the books. They contained interesting facts about Germany, fun facts from his own life experiences and even light-hearted tips on day-to-day business and culture that served to connect what we were learning to our world.

Project weeks were an amazing way of becoming immersed with mentors and fellow students. The real-world experience, the teamwork, challenging deadlines and encouraging feedback assisted in shaping not just our skills but our attitude as well. The emphasis on teamwork and reflection allowed for real development as a person.

Direction for the thesis process started from the very beginning in semester one with preliminary guidance on choosing a research topic, followed by in-depth research methodology classes in semester two, and regular supervision throughout the third semester. This kind of systematic process made what would otherwise have been a daunting task seem manageable.

That being said, it wasn’t a cake walk. Like most international students, I had to deal with difficulties adapting to a new culture, the stress of securing a part-time job, financial stress, and instances of uncertainty, indecisions and hesitation. The chilly, lengthy winters did not help matters either but the warm summers and the help I received here made up for it more than anything.

Another incredible advantage is the fact that NEC is affiliated to Wittenborg University in Netherlands, offering a “best of both worlds” experience. Exposure to both Germany and the Netherlands, two of the strongest economies in Europe, offers a distinct and worthwhile perspective.

To anybody who wishes to study management, if you are willing to put in the effort and be open to the experience, I would say hands down do NEC. When you graduate and cross that stage, everything will feel like falling in place like the final piece of a puzzle.

I would recommend considering NEC for their flexibility, especially if you are on a visa. Connections there are great, and most importantly you are inspired to come up with new ideas instead of aspiring to become some sort of middle managers at the end of the day.

New European College is everything that’s starkly different from the German public universities.

They have 6 admission intakes per year instead of the only one that’s in Oct/Nov. So this means you don’t need to perfectly align all the stars to get into a college (visa, blocked account, documents, student loans, …).

Once you’re on campus, the Orientation Day sets you up for campus life, and even introduces you to the city (the Baroque Asam Church was my fav from that day).

Study-wise, I can only speak of MBA. My courses were practically and pragmatically designed. The lecturers were seasoned industry professionals and they encouraged open communication and innovative academic output. The fellow students were of diverse nationalities. I was fortunate to have shared classrooms with people from all habitable continents. The industry visits (Project Weeks), group assignments, and individual exams definitely challenged me. I gained more skills and domain knowledge in 1.5 years than in my 14 years of professional life. Mind you, I had previously worked for clients in Germany, South Africa, Uzbekistan, APAC, MENA, South Asia, and South East Asian markets.

If you’ve made it this far and is deciding on a business school, go for New European College. This comes from someone who is not associated with the institution nor has worked with them in any capacity so far. Good luck!