Sergiu lives in the capital, 17 minutes away from NMBU, though he has nothing but praise for the student town Ås.
Name: Sergiu Borta
Study program: Applied Economics and Sustainability
Why did you choose to study in Norway?
I had the opportunity to visit Norway on vacation. And I really loved the time here. I had some good experiences. The people here are in general very polite. The country is so green, and I love the snow in the winter.
But the most important, Norway is well known for having a high-quality education system.
Studying abroad was driven by the motivation to refine my knowledge, and to get in touch with a different culture and to gain new perspectives. I am convinced it was the right decision!
Why did you choose NMBU?
The school's reputation was the primary factor that caught my attention. I should mention that NMBU has some very interesting programs in Finance and Economics taught in English with an international character. And the MSc in Applied Economics and Sustainability aligns with my academic interests.
I am committed to work hard here, to achieve a good diploma and to have some interesting job opportunities when I have finished my degree.
It is close to Oslo, but this should not even be an argument, as Ås is amazing!
How did you experience settling in on campus?
Everything was quite natural. The course presentation, meeting my colleagues, and the professors. Everything went fine, as I was expecting.
About your study program
My program helps students to better understand Economics and Finance. It is a modern program which equips students with a solid grasp of the current problems.
It emphasizes the importance of thinking sustainable, which also makes sure it’s present in economic decisions.
The course is also concerned with instructing its students with digital knowledge. The mandatory subject, Analysis in R (a programming course) is a good example.
In my studies, I find it satisfactory to extract data from different sources, processing it to highlight information and develop analysis. It is a highly enriching experience for students and is something we will likely do during a typical workday after landing a job.
One aspect that could be improved is the practical lectures, perhaps by hiring more teaching assistants.
Tell us about life at Campus Ås
The campus is green and beautiful. I particularly love the old buildings.
I am located in Oslo, so most of the time, I am in a hurry to get back home. Nevertheless, I find Ås to be a very clean, quiet, and beautiful town. A significant portion of its population consists of students. And there are many opportunities to relax and have some fun aside from studying.
What do you plan to do after your studies?
Perhaps I will have to get back to Portugal to work. However, I would not reject the possibility to continue living and working in Norway after my studies if a good opportunity arises. My dream job is to be an investigator and professor.
