Iñigo Olaran is a financial adviser
'Living in London and attending LSE`s European Political Economy and Finance Programme for almost three months was an amazing experience that I strongly recommend to anyone who is interested in high quality studies.
'The European Political Economy and Finance Programme is a real opportunity to gain a deep understanding and knowledge about the European Union and the forces that shape the evolution of the EU and its relations with the different member states and with the rest of the world. The programme, focusing on the current and really interesting European debates, makes you more conscious about how the story of Europe is nowadays influencing the decisions taken at supranational levels. In my opinion, the EU is getting more social, economic and financial relevance than ever before; therefore, having a precise insight of its mechanisms is vital in order to understand the present and the future of our continent. In fact, one of the great advantages of this programme is its capacity to adopt these issues to a broad range of fields (economic, financial, social, human rights...), which allows you to get the most out of it, regardless of your field of specialisation. Nevertheless, you should be interested in European issues, historical and politically speaking, if you want to get the “big picture” and enjoy the course.
'Furthermore, LSE is an international top university (that really stands out in any CV) and the workload you have to expect in accordance with this. We were asked to prepare our own presentations about the European Union, the Single Market or the ECB and IMF, for instance. Therefore, we had to read hundreds of documents, analyse them and have debates about several issues. It was quite astonishing and motivating how LSE professors encouraged us to learn even more about the discussed topics.
'However, one of the most impressive parts of the programme was the public lectures we could attend. LSE is a worldwide renowned forum where international leaders express their opinions about hot topics. It was amazing to listen to Christopher A. Pissarides, Nobel Prize in Economics in 2010, speaking about the European crisis and European youth unemployment; António Horta-Osório, CEO of Lloyds Banking Group, giving a speech about European Banking regulation and the specific situation of Lloyds Bank or listening to Fabrizio Saccomanni, at that time Italian Minister of Economy and Finances, speaking about the European debt crisis.
'On top of that, we were also fortunate to be able to visit institutions like the British Parliament, the Supreme Court, Bloomberg or the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development. All these visits were kindly organised by LSE and we really seized them.
'Although the course required us to work quite hard, we also had time to enjoy London and its bustling city life. There are so many things to do that we always tried to organise our agendas in order to squeeze our time and visit places like the British Museum, the National Gallery and as many pubs as we could! London is a fantastic city and enjoying it while studying at LSE is a remarkable experience.'
Edurne Iñigo is a doctoral researcher in Competitiveness and Economic Development at Deusto Business School
'I had heard great stories about the programme on European Political Economy and Finance supported by DFB, since some friends had received the grant in previous years. Hence, when I applied for the scholarship I had great expectations in mind, but they were largely surpassed by the academic, professional and personal experience at LSE. Not only did we have the chance to broaden our horizons, we also enjoyed the warm welcome from the team at LSE; and came back with notable eagerness for putting what we had learned into practice, and a good number of nice stories to tell.
'The programme is very well designed in order to cover the several aspects that impact on European policy-making. Its added value lies in the mind-framing exercise of understanding the interrelations among economics, politics, law, society and finance which shape the institutional framework of the European Union. The masterclasses and particularly the group seminars, where these issues are discussed, help to widen the comprehension of the complexities of policy. This year, on the 2013 edition, the problem of the European economic and political crisis has been central, since most of the conversations pivot around current affairs, without forgetting the historical path that brought us to this point. On top of the excellent course design, the teaching professionals at LSE are fundamental at channeling theory to practice, and make a real difference.
'I would strongly recommend applying to those who have a profound interest not only in Europe, its history and institutions, but also in the development of international affairs and the role that several global actors (the IMF, MNEs, the EU, nation-states and others) play in it.
'Studying in the UK is quite different to what we are used to; our own input after having read the literature on the issue is of greater value. Consequently, reflecting on what is taught is indispensable, particularly in a programme for professionals like this one.
'Apart from the in-class involvement, we had the opportunity to visit institutions like the Supreme Court, the House of Lords or the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and some financial companies, such as Bloomberg or Ebury Partners. And, of course, one of the greatest perks of attending LSE is the chance to attend public lectures from personalities of great stature, ranging from Nobel Prize winners to former directors of international organisations. I very much enjoyed those lectures which did not have much to do with my areas of expertise, and that is one of the best features of staying in London, and LSE: learning and exploring something new every single day.
'Besides, the personal experience could not have been better. We were accommodated centrally in London, and had the opportunity to visit all the London landmarks, as well as discovering part of the ´secret city´. I was lucky enough to share the experience with other seven incredible people, who have become friends and part of my life.
'So, what to expect? Expect excellence, participation, EU, horizon widening, smiles, pints at the pub, discussion, London, policy, a little more of London, classes, interesting individuals, reading, international affairs, thinking, politics, getting to know yourself better. Expect one of your best life experiences. Expect opportunity.'