"Budapest is the perfect place for a first international experience, and the programme itself is outstanding" - interview with ME3+ students at BME

Two master's degree in one from different European universities? Yes, it does exist! In the ME3+ programme, you can obtain your next master's degree from IMT Atlantique in France, Boras College in Sweden, and Trento and Bolzano Universities - and also BME in Budapest. Assem Akzhamova, Macarena Puche and Carlos Villamar are international students in the multiple-degree Erasmus Mundus master programme ME3+. We interviewed them about why they chose the programme, how they like Budapest, and so on.

Assem Akzhamova

Where did you study before?

Assem Akhzamova: My home country is Kazakhstan, and I came from its biggest city, Almaty, where I received my Power Engineering degree at Satbayev University.
Carlos Villamar: I’m from Monterrey, Mexico. I did my bachelor’s degree at Monterrey Higher Institute of Technology (Tec de Monterrey), and I have a BSc degree in Chemical
Engineering.

Macarena Puche: I come from Argentina, from Buenos Aires, to be more precise. I obtained my bachelor’s degree at Universidad Tecnológica Nacional in Chemical Engineering.

Why did you choose to study at the ME3+ program?

Carlos: I decided to study Chemical Engineering because it provided versatility, and a broad range of opportunities for further studies. As I continued my studies, I realized I was interested in specializing in sustainability and energy transition. I was already working in my field when I found the ME3+ programme on the website of the European Commission. At that time I already knew what living abroad meant, because I had a DAAD Stipendium (German academic exchange scholarship) in 2020-2021. After this experience I realized I had a good profile for the programme and decided to apply.

Carlos Villamar

Macarena: After graduating as a Chemical Engineer, I started working in the oil and gas industry. However, as I became more conscious of climate change and the environmental impact of my field, I felt the need to shift my focus toward sustainability and renewable energy. When I found this program, it felt like the perfect step forward and a big chance to grow professionally while also learning from people with diverse cultural and academic backgrounds.

Assem: During my bachelor’s studies, I focused on three areas: electrical engineering, thermal power engineering, and renewable energy. Over time, I realized that I wanted to concentrate on sustainable development for my master’s degree. That’s why I chose the ME3+ program — it was the perfect fit for my goals. I wanted to learn from leading experts at top European universities. After completing the ME3+ program, I plan to return to  my home country and apply my knowledge to support the development of the sustainable objectives in Central Asia.
 

What do you think, is it easy to get used to the local culture in Hungary?

Assem: In Hungary, I feel fully integrated and at home. It was easy to adapt to the local culture because the city offers everything an international student could need.

Macarena Puche

Carlos: Being an international student is not the easiest way to get into the Hungarian social circle. There are language barriers and we only share classes with international students, so we end up spending time with internationals.

Macarena:  I agree, having classes in English and with other internationals makes the integration into Hungarian culture a bit difficult. I think, though, the most simple way to connect with locals is through sport or other hobbies. In my case I could meet some people while joining an international sport association.

Do you have any favourite locations or sights in the city?

Macarena: I really like Gellért Hill, for instance. It’s close to the university and offers a very nice view together with a portion of nature.  Sometimes I climb the hill, I just sit there in the park on the top, enjoying the view to the city, and if I’m lucky, I’ll have a glimpse of cute hedgehogs. Also, I’ve just discovered Szabó Ervin Municipal Library, and I think it’s a perfect place to study, because there are plenty of rooms and some of them are gorgeous. During the night I enjoy visiting the local pubs. 

Carlos: Budapest is a cosmopolitan city, allowing you to do basically whatever you like. Culture, museums, nature, activities, parties… My favourite place is Normafa, where you can walk along  a panoramic park walkway from a high-end residential area to a Belle-Époque lookout point. All surrounded by vast forests. It is wonderful, especially now, during fall. I also prefer the vibes of the Main Market, near the Danube. I often run at the National Center of Athletics (Nemzeti Atlétikai Központ), and sometimes we go out to explore some music pubs in the city.

Assem: I live near Oktogon, so my favourite place is Andrássy Road. Sometimes I just take a walk on this broad avenue, with embassy villas on both sides, and the Heroes’ Square in the end.

What are your experiences regarding the ME3+ programme?

Carlos: For me, it is a programme that forces you to adapt to different circumstances: adapting to cultures, meeting new people, learning languages. Last year we were learning French at IMT École Mines-Télécom, the other stage of our ME3+ study track. It pushes you towards time management, which is a crucial criterion in the labour market.

Macarena: It’s a great program that helps you grow in many different ways. Beyond the academic aspect, I believe I’ve grown a lot thanks to the different situations we’ve experienced. Moving to a new country every six months, adapting to different cultures, languages, and bureaucratic systems each time, really pushes us out of our comfort zone, or rather, kicks us out of it. It’s also really special to share so much with people who start out as strangers and, after a few months of living and studying together, end up feeling like family.

Assem: I truly love this programme — it’s great. Where I come from, the education system and student life are completely different, and I can confidently say it has met all my expectations. I’m one of the first Kazakh students to join, and several students from my country reach out to me with questions. If anyone has doubts about coming, I always encourage them to do it.

Budapest is the perfect place for a first international experience, and the programme itself is outstanding. I’ve met people from all over the world, built lifelong friendships, and gained a lot of confidence. It has also inspired me to set much higher goals for myself. It’s a pity there was no intake this year, but I truly hope the programme continues to grow.

(Laszlo Benesoczky. Photo credits: interviewees.)