Nova School of Business and Economics
speciality: Development Studies

When I started the MSc in International Development & Public Policy (IDPP) at Nova SBE, I immediately felt the program’s dual focus: it’s academically rigorous, demanding strong analytical skills, but also intensely practical. I appreciated how the curriculum—from core economics to policy evaluation—is always framed around real-world application and impact, often through hands-on projects with partner institutions. It wasn’t just theory; it was training to be a doer.

Studying at Nova SBE’s campus is a fantastic experience. It’s a modern, state-of-the-art facility, and the fact that it’s located right next to Carcavelos beach gives the whole university a laid-back yet focused vibe. As an international student, I found the community incredibly welcoming. Everything is taught in English, and with students from all over the world, I quickly built a diverse network. The university’s high global ranking and dedicated Career Services team are a huge plus, giving me confidence that my degree will be recognized and valued as I look to start my career internationally. It’s a truly high-quality education combined with an unbeatable lifestyle in the Lisbon area.

The Master’s I chose at Nova was only in its second year when I joined, and part of what attracted me was precisely how fresh and ambitious the programme felt. The opportunity to complete a Master’s degree in just one year at such a prestigious university, within an international programme bringing together students from different countries and cultures, and with access to excellent facilities, felt like a dream on paper.

Overall, it was an amazing experience and adventure, but the programme itself also had some flaws that were difficult to overlook. I believe many of these were related to how young the Master’s still was at the time.

One of the main issues was the gap between what I expected from the programme and what it ultimately delivered. As a Master’s in International Development and Public Policy, I expected a stronger focus on politics, public policy and international affairs. In practice, however, the programme was considerably more economics- and quantitatively-oriented than I had anticipated.

The one-year structure, while initially one of its biggest attractions, also became one of its main challenges. The amount and density of the content compressed into such a short period made the programme extremely demanding and, at times, left little room to explore some subjects in the depth they deserved.

Nevertheless, I look back at my time at Nova very positively. It was a great academic and personal experience, particularly because of its international environment and the people I met along the way. There is certainly room for improvement, but I hope Nova continues to develop the Master’s in International Development and Public Policy so that it can eventually achieve the same gold standard and reputation that the university has already established with programmes such as Finance and Management.