What is it like studying a Masters degree across three countries? In this episode of Future You, Simone shares his experience completing a triple Masters in France, Italy and London. He shares tips for prospective students on making the most of international study opportunities, building connections across campuses, and using internships to test and refine your career direction
Participants
- Emily Slade - podcast producer and host, Prospect
- Simone Saccaggi - Masters student (Management, Finance and Tech MSc)
Transcript
Simone Saccaggi: What inspired me was the fact that during my bachelor's degree, I was writing a thesis on blockchain. So I suddenly realised how nowadays, finance, the financial sector in general, is being shaped by data, technology, and digital infrastructure. So I needed a programme that combined both the two aspects of finance on one side, so strong training in terms of quantitative skills, analytical skills, as well as I mentioned to innovation, the technological perspective. So that was the main reason why I chose this programme. And also I was looking for a demanding Masters. So always do a suggestion, always do hard things. It's very important, an international one. So it's very important to meet new people, understand new cultures, open your mind to new things, and as I said before, the exposure to technological innovation.
Welcome to Future You, the Student and careers advice podcast brought to you by Prospects.
This week, we explore one of the most unique graduate experiences in Europe - the triple-degree Management, Finance and Tech MSc. This two-year programme takes you across three leading institutions: you’ll study management at EmLyon Business School, dive into technology and innovation at POLIMI Graduate School of Management, and master finance at Bayes Business School - formerly Cass Business School, known for business excellence for nearly 60 years. Along the way, you’ll also complete a six-month international internship. Three schools, three cities, three Masters degrees - all in just two years.
Simone Saccaggi: I'm Simone from Italy and I am currently attending a triple Masters degree in Management, Finance and Tech at Emlyon Business School in France. Politecnico di Milano Graduate School of Business in Milan, Italy and here at Bayes Business School in London.
Emily Slade: So let's talk about the internship. How does that work?
Simone Saccaggi: The internship, first of all, is mandatory. So basically, you need to do it in order to complete the whole Masters. And also happened in the third term, as I mentioned before, so from July to December, between the end of the Politecnico di Milano Graduate School of Business in Italy and the beginning of Bayes Business School term. Let's say that has to be related to finance or management or technology. So a topic that involved what you have learned before in this Masters, of course. And yeah, in my case, I think that this has been the most interesting fact about it because I had the opportunity to actually apply what I learned in the terms before, in the internship. So it would be a really great opportunity.
Emily Slade: Where did you do your internship?
Simone Saccaggi: I did my internship in a large multinational company headquartered in Milan that operates in the energy sector and so in the finance department. So actually it has been interesting to apply notions on the course in for the corporate finance course that I have attended in business school, but also other aspects like especially I would like to mention this. So the all the Masters is largely based on team working. You have both the individual assessment part, but for every exam you almost have for every exam team working part. And this is very important because it helps you to combine technical knowledge, but also relational intelligence that is very important in a work environment, professional work environment. Yeah.
Emily Slade: Perfect. And after you completed your internship, was there an opportunity? Did you think, oh, I'll apply for these guys? in another six months or so.
Simone Saccaggi: I know that some classmates will do something like this, so they got a return offer. Not in my case, but yeah, for sure. Of course, after this internship, you receive an evaluation that counts for sure in the final grade. So why not if the evaluation is positive? Mine personally was very positive, but not for that reason I won't come back because I... And this is also an important for prospective students, very important aspect. Use the internship eventually to test your direction early and to eventually refine your direction. So this is also a great opportunity.
Emily Slade: Yeah. Did you join this course with a direction in mind, knowing where you would go as soon as you graduate? Or has that changed throughout?
Simone Saccaggi: Exactly. That's why I mentioned this because given the fact that you study so many subjects. So from the management fields, finance fields and technological aspects, you really understand so many things. Like you realise that there are a lot of maybe more aspects that you didn't even know before starting the Masters. So this is very important.
Emily Slade: And so what is your plan? I assume you're in the midst of interview land right now as you come up to graduation. Where are you hoping to go?
Simone Saccaggi: Yeah, my plan is to go in M&A and strategy advisory. And I think that these Masters specifically prepare you really well for this. Also, because you get in touch with different frameworks, corporate frameworks, living across three different countries. So you really understand how professional work in different environments. And this is very useful in strategy as well as M&A. Yeah, so this, I'm applying for this in different countries across Europe.
Emily Slade: What's the most challenging thing about learning and working in three different countries?
Simone Saccaggi: Well, it required constant adaptation, I would say, because, for example, the academics grading system are different. in France, Italy, UK. For example, at the Lyon Business School, there is a strong focus on teamwork. At the Bayes Business School, the main, I would say the main point is about technical knowledge and technical knowledge of capital markets. And at the Polimi Graduate School of Management, the quantitative intensity especially in artificial intelligence and machine learning, pushes you to think analytically. So it forced me to continually adapt my approach to problems. And this is very important because it helps you to navigate, let's say, complexity. And nowadays, we live in a very complex world, especially in financial markets. So this is very useful.
Emily Slade: Yeah, brilliant. Why did you choose this course over others?
Simone Saccaggi: Well, what inspired me was the fact that during my Bachelors degree, I was writing a thesis on blockchain. So I suddenly realised how nowadays, finance, financial sector in general, is being shaped by data, technology, and digital infrastructure. So I needed a programme that combined both the two aspects of finance on one side, so strong training in terms of quantitative skills, analytical skills, as well as I mentioned to innovation, the technological perspective. So that was the main reason why I chose this programme. And also I was looking for a demanding Masters. So always do a suggestion, always do hard things. It's very important, an international one. So It's very important to meet new people, understand new cultures, open your mind to new things, and as I said before, the exposure to technological innovation.
Emily Slade: And where did you do your undergrad?
Simone Saccaggi: I studied in Milan, a classic business administration bachelor's degree. So very traditional individual assessment based. So team working was not really a thing. Yeah, it's really important. Initially, it could be difficult. It's not really easy, but it's one of the most important things that students and young professionals need to know nowadays, in my opinion.
Emily Slade: Yeah, absolutely, I agree. And have you found that your classmates did similar undergrads to you, or is there a range of undergrads before coming into this particular Masters?
Simone Saccaggi: I think that we almost come from the same background, so economic background. I'd like to mention that we are the first class of this triple degree. So I know that in the new class of 2025, there is more diversification in terms of background and also in terms of nationality. There is a lot of people that come from outside Europe.
Emily Slade: So, what advice would you have for anyone looking to join this course?
Simone Saccaggi: If I had to give one piece of advice to prospective students, would be this. So be intentional. The programme offers you a lot of opportunities, but the value you actually extract from them is how proactively you engage with them. So choose your course strategically, build relationships across campuses. use a mandatory internship to test and eventually refine your direction. So this, because the triple degree is not only about earning free diplomas, but it's about developing the ability to think across discipline and across border, as we said before. And it's actually allows you to create that sort of mindset that that prepares you for long-term impact, I would say.
Emily Slade: And what's been your favourite part of the course?
Simone Saccaggi: I think I'm really enjoying being in London.
Emily Slade: Yeah? What's your favourite thing about London?
Simone Saccaggi: It's really incredible to live here. You knew that every day is like You meet new people from all over the world. You do tons of activities. We have been with the MSC Finance to Frankfurt a week ago, visiting European Central Bank, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, Allianz Global Investors. So the amount of opportunities you have here is is impressive, so I'm very happy.
Emily Slade: And the sun's out now as well, so it makes a difference.
Simone Saccaggi: Yeah, An important aspect is a complementarity between the three different universities. So pursuing this Masters actually gives the opportunity to access three different career services. three different alumni networks that actually give a really strong platform to students both in UK and continental Europe. I mean, I think it's important to highlight this detail because, yeah.
Emily Slade: Fantastic. That's brilliant. Well, thank you so much for your time today.
Simone Saccaggi: Thank you very much. It's been a pleasure.
Notes on transcript
This transcript was produced using a combination of automated software and human transcribers and may contain errors. The audio version is definitive and should be checked before quoting.
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- Read about the Management, Finance and Tech MSc.
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