What’s it like to be an international student at UNH’s Peter T. Paul College of Business?

21 Jan 2020

For some, it’s the best decision they’ve made in their life. For others, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore global business hubs or where they made lifelong friends and important connections.

That’s how impactful a study abroad experience at the University of New Hampshire’s (UNH) Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics is.

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a Bachelor’s graduate looking to take your career to the next level, a postgraduate degree here will equip you with the right knowledge and skills to enhance your employability in today’s rapidly evolving business world.

At Paul College, international students can pursue graduate degrees in business administration, business analytics, accounting, finance and analytical economics. More importantly, they will be able to achieve personal and professional growth in none other than one of the nation’s top business schools.

Explore your potential with a postgraduate degree in business

International student Tamilazhagan Ezhil — who is currently pursuing his MBA — described his decision to attend Paul College as “the best decision” he has ever made.

He truly feels at home on campus, adding: “To be honest, I have never felt like an international student here unless someone asks me or talks to me about it. The people have been nice and helpful while my cohort is fantastic.”

UNH College of Business

At UNH, the 26-year-old discovered the joys of American football too, even becoming a fan of the university’s team, the Wildcats.

Speaking about his one-year MBA programme, Tamilazhagan shared that while his first month proved challenging, his professors made the transition easier with their guidance. The engineering major had zero knowledge of economics, but his professors brought him up to speed.

UNH is also where students get “the best industry experience,” according to Tamilazhagan, who got to take part in an experiential learning opportunity in New York, visiting the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ, among other giants in financial services.

“It was the best thing that can happen to MBA graduates to see what was happening in the present market in the world hub of financial services,” he said.

Meanwhile, MBA student Fangyun Zhang and her colleagues are looking forward to the College’s 10-day trip to China, a fitting addition to her one-year programme’s structure.

Such experiences, coupled with inspiring faculty members as lecturers, are what makes the 46-year-old say that one year is simply “too short” to learn all that she can from them.

Echoing Fangyun’s sentiments on the College’s expert and supportive faculty is Nishanth Rao, who hails from India. The 28-year-old MBA student said that the community of students and staff have been nothing but welcoming since his first day on campus.

He added that the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) was also a useful platform for international students to ease into the university.

“They were very welcoming to students and held ice-breaking programmes at the beach with great food, games, among other fun activities,” he explained, adding that there is always something happening at all times and “you will never feel alone”.

The same can be said about the institution’s culture and community. Nishanth appreciates the fact that students not only have the freedom to but are encouraged to approach professors for help.

“Mr Andrew from the Paul College’s Graduate Programs Office is one of the best — I really enjoy talking to him and he has helped me with the smallest things,” he said.

Propelling students towards success

These enlightening experiences at Paul College aren’t just limited to current students and recent graduates. It goes as far back as a decade ago, a testament to the institution’s enduring track record in providing the best business education to international students.

Alumnus Shouro Dasgupta, who graduated with an MA in Economics in 2010, described his time at UNH as “one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had in my life”.

UNH College of Business

Since graduating, he has had an illustrious career trajectory. Shouro worked for the World Bank Group upon graduation before enrolling and obtaining a PhD in Climate Change Economics from the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. He now works at the Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Climate Change, focusing on the economic impacts of climate change, in addition to being a lecturer in economics and statistics at the same university.

He credits the weekly seminars at the Economics department for providing the “academic connections that have been immensely beneficial” to his PhD.

“UNH provided me with the tools and skills for my success in my academic career. One of the great characteristics of the Paul College was the multicultural environment that I was part of and the constant support you receive along the way. My experience has helped shape my view as both an educator and researcher,” said Shouro, who is originally from Bangladesh.

Without a doubt, Paul College’s highly-popular curriculum, welcoming community and industry-driven experiential learning opportunities make a winning trifecta for international student success.

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