Student review [#103730] for International Master in Finance
at EADA Business School

Studying abroad had been a goal of mine since my undergraduate years, but COVID ultimately took that opportunity away. Having graduated with a minor degree in Spanish, I found myself revisiting that dream while researching master’s program(me)s. I still remember opening EADA’s acceptance email and jumping out of my chair. I had considered various programs throughout the USA, UK, Germany, France, and Spain before choosing EADA, and in retrospect, I chose the right school. Rankings matter, but so does value. I discovered a program with experienced educators, an international cohort, professionally relevant coursework, and tuition that allowed me to invest in the experience itself rather than simply paying for a bigger name. A degree from a target school does not promise a career; what I learned at EADA prepared me for mine.
Stepping off the plane in Barcelona was one of the most exciting and intimidating moments of my life. The excitement of finally arriving quickly gave way to the realization that I was completely on my own. I sat outside my apartment building with every bag I owned beside me, eating a sandwich while waiting for my landlord and wondering what the next year would bring. Yes, EADA represented excellent value financially. But emotionally, moving halfway around the world alone was the greatest investment I made. I didn’t arrive with classmates from my undergraduate university or a built-in support system, and I had to figure out life in a different country from the ground up.
Academically, the International Master’s in Finance challenged students without trying to defeat them. You truly got out what you put into it. I failed two exams on my first attempt before passing them on the retake. It challenged me, in a positive way. The curriculum was broad, and its greatest strengths were financial modeling, fundamental analysis, and corporate finance. Those courses continue to influence how I think and work today. Some classes aligned with my interests more than others, but overall, I felt the program prepared me for professional life rather than simply teaching to pass exams. Several professors were active industry professionals who expected us to think and perform accordingly, while others brought years of teaching experience that made even complex topics approachable.
What truly distinguished EADA was those people, the professors, the program directors, but also my classmates. English gave us a common language in the classroom, but outside the classroom is where we really got to know one another. I was the only student from the USA in my cohort, and many of my classmates had never met an estadounidense before. Naturally, there were many questions, and while we all arrived with assumptions, we left with a better understanding of one another’s cultures. Speaking Spanish also opened many doors for me, but living in Barcelona taught me that language is only part of understanding a city’s culture. Catalunya has its own, and making an effort to see and appreciate them was its own reward.
At the beginning of the program, EADA assigned each of us to small project groups within our cohorts. My group included me from the United States, Joy (初云) from China, Santiago from Mexico, and Michael (Mike) from Italy. We spent hundreds of hours together studying, presenting, solving problems, and wondering how we’d ever finish another project on time. Joy’s attention to detail consistently elevated our work. Santiago had a way with words that made him equally effective presenting in front of a classroom or making friends after class. Mike had an incredible ability to deliver under pressure and was the kind of teammate you always wanted in your corner. I think I was the glue that held the crew together, but our diversity was our greatest strength. Credit to Jaume for recognizing that before any of us did.
Outside the classroom, Barcelona became an extension of the university. I loved walking everywhere, spending afternoons at cafés, trying neighborhood tapas bars, exploring museums, wandering through the gardens of Montjuïc, and escaping to the beach whenever I had the chance. The days at the Collbató campus near Montserrat were another highlight. While they focused less on technical finance and more on leadership, teamwork, and personal reflection, those weekends strengthened our cohort in ways a classroom never could. Another fond memory from my time in Barcelona was winning a football (soccer) tournament between other universities in the city. Our team consisted of classmates from my cohort, and we left everything on the pitch for the tiki taco (EADA International Master in Finance) badge. Unforgettable.
Financial modeling is important, but professionally I don’t think it was the most valuable skill I developed at EADA. It was listening. Living and working in a multilingual environment taught me to pay closer attention and communicate more thoughtfully. Those lessons have proven just as valuable in my career as anything I learned from a textbook. My experiences at EADA have also made me more confident, more adaptable, and more comfortable stepping into unfamiliar situations. I returned home not only with stronger technical but a lifelong network of friends.
No university is perfect. If I could improve one aspect, I would provide international students with more support before arrival. Moving overseas involves visas, housing, banking, and countless logistical questions, and I often found myself figuring things out through classmates rather than university resources. Once the program began, however, the professors and staff were consistently invested in our success.
If your goal is simply to collect another diploma, there are many excellent universities. But EADA offered me more than a degree. Whenever I think about my time there, I don’t picture an exam or a classroom. I picture me Santiago, Joy and Mike laughing as we looked out over Barcelona after another long day together. I would recommend EADA without hesitation to ambitious students who are willing to step outside their comfort zone. It wasn’t just a degree. It wasn’t just a Master’s in Finance. It was an International Master’s in Finance. I find myself appreciating the experience a little more every year since I left the city, and that international perspective has proven to be the most valuable thing I brought home.