Danish Government Scholarship Recipient, Mohammad Tanvir Rahman from Bangladesh, Shares His Journey of Pursuing a Master’s in Economics and Business Administration at Aarhus University, Denmark

My name is Mohammad Tanvir Rahman, a former graduate from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Born and raised in Chattogram, Bangladesh, but ended up doing my graduation and starting my first job in the capital of Bangladesh. I have done my master’s from Aarhus University in Denmark, where my major was Economics and Business Administration, and I mostly concentrated on Information management which was also my path of study during my graduation time.

I wasn’t sure whether to pursue a master’s degree or not soon after graduation. Back then, I was preparing myself for the job market. In the next three years of the timespan since then, I had done jobs in two different companies in Bangladesh, which pushed me to think twice whether to continue at the same pace or go out, seek more into IT knowledge, and therefore get some international recognition. I think my unmatched job roles, job market competition, and of course, wanting to achieve international recognition were some of the major reasons that motivated me to go for doing masters in a relatively similar field.

Danish Government Scholarship Details

The scholarship that I received is known as the Danish Government Scholarship. Such a type of scholarship is provided by the educational institution in Denmark. There are six public universities here in Denmark, and each of these universities has its own criteria for selecting candidates for the scholarship. The amount and the type of this scholarship also vary from university to university. I received the Danish Government Scholarship from Aarhus University in the year 2022. I was offered a full tuition-fee waiver and received a monthly stipend of 9,670 Danish krone (1,291 euros approx.) during my whole study period. There was an additional one-month stipend paid before the commencement of my studies, which was helpful for relocating into a new country, paying deposits for accommodation, and paying for other necessary costs, etc.

Was I Offered Any Other Scholarship

No, I haven’t received any other scholarship apart from the Danish Government Scholarship.

Educational Background

I did my bachelor’s in Management Information Systems from University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. After 4 years of education, I received my degree in the year 2019 with a CGPA of 3.81 on a scale of 4.00. My bachelor's degree equipped me with the technical knowledge, strategic thinking, and adaptability required to excel in dynamic and data-oriented professional environments. I learned skills like business analytics, organizational behaviour, problem-solving, etc., which proved essential for my roles in the two different banking organizations that I worked during my short career timeline.

How Did I Prepare Myself to Apply to Aarhus University?

Before applying for the Danish Government scholarship, I was looking extensively at the details of different scholarship opportunities that are offered in different countries, either by the government or the educational institutions. There are numerous prestigious scholarships like Erasmus Mundus offered across European countries, SISGP scholarships in Sweden, or even the DAAD scholarship in Germany. However, being a business graduate, I couldn’t find a suitable one that offers a program in my field of study. I can remember, after searching for 3 or 4 months for different opportunities that match my expectations as well as requirements for applying for the scholarship, I came across the Danish Government scholarship. I found that the educational institution offers such opportunities and understood the requirements, which were a perfect match for me. I was really happy to find a specific program called “Information Management” and the courses offered, which I was aiming to learn for, and thus, I applied without any hesitation.

Apart from academic requirements for applying to Danish universities, there is a requirement for an English Language test, which can be supported by IELTS or TOEFL. I decided to go for IELTS and prepared myself for the test before applying. As I was doing a job at that time, getting time for preparation was more of a luxury for me, but I was determined. After one month of preparation, I sat for the exam and achieved my desired score. I had short preparation time, but I managed to get the required score, as my medium of instruction during my graduation was in English. Besides, my job environment, continued habit of watching English movies, series, and constant communication in English, helped me a lot during my preparation for the IELTS.

How Did I Prepare Myself to Apply to the Danish Government Scholarship

I believe there are so many things to do long before a person decides to apply for the scholarship. Because it starts with building an excellent academic profile. Though I was not sure whether I would go abroad for doing master’s degree when I was doing my graduation, I tried to maintain good academic results during my whole 4 years of education. I tried to learn new things and tried to explore more outside of the classroom. While I was doing my bachelor's, I was also engaged in extracurricular activities, such as participating in the “Future Smart City” Business Case Competition in Hong Kong, where my team earned 2nd Runner-Up position.

Professionally, I gained practical experience in a reputed financial institution and a bank in Bangladesh, which helped me develop strong analytical, leadership, and teamwork skills. These experiences, combined with my academic achievements, provided a solid foundation for my scholarship application.

While applying, I supported my application with my CV, my academic certificates, a professional experience letter, an IELTS copy, documentation of my extracurricular activities, and of course, a strong motivation letter where I explained why I want to pursue a master's degree.

How Was My Experience at Aarhus University

My time at Aarhus University has been enriching, both academically and personally. Pursuing a Master’s in Economics and Business Administration with a specialization in Information Management has allowed me to gain deep insights into digital transformation, data-driven decision-making, and strategic project management. Working on my thesis, “The Impact of Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) and Human Intelligence on a Company’s Value Creation Process and Challenges of Adopting Gen AI,” was particularly rewarding. It allowed me to explore how emerging technologies can enhance organizational performance and innovation. The support from my thesis supervisor made the experience even more valuable.

Are My Classes Conducted in English or Danish?

As Denmark has its own language, every educational institutions offer variety of degree programs either in English or Danish. I applied to an English-taught program; therefore, my classes were held in English, and all the professors delivered the lectures in English.

Would Potential Students Have Any Problems Academically Not Knowing Danish?

Danes (local people) speak really good English. Almost everyone here in Denmark is really good at communicating in English. In classes, one can find students from different parts of the world, and the feeling is really international. Even I had group mates from Poland, Denmark, and Somalia, which didn’t even give me a single thought that I needed to know the local language to do the academic activities. But there is a strong barrier to language when someone wants to pursue a career in the Danish job market. Danish companies often seek candidates who know both English and Danish. If anyone plans to look into the Danish job market, preparation in the Danish language is essential.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I made sure my motivation letter clearly expressed how my academic interests aligned with the scholarship’s objectives and how I intended to use my studies at Aarhus University to contribute to both my professional field and society. My assumption behind getting this scholarship is that my strong academic, professional, and personal profile aligned with the values and expectations of scholarship committees, and therefore, they have given me a chance to prove myself.

What Would I Have Done Differently if I Were Going Through the Process Again?

If I were able put myself in the time machine and get back to the time when I was thinking about applying abroad, I would rather try to apply for multiple scholarship opportunities in different countries. When a person gets multiple options from multiple places, it gives that person a chance to evaluate which option will better align with his or her career, ambition, and life goals. I think the same goes for those who are looking for jobs as well.

What Advice Would I Give to Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

My advice would be plan ahead! It is important to do extensive research before planning to study abroad. There are plenty of opportunities out there, and one has to look for the best one that matches the expectations of the candidate, as well as the requirements can be fulfilled. Another thing is the personal statement or motivation letter. Almost every scholarship application requires candidates to provide a letter of motivation, and scholarship committees give more weight to it while assessing applications.  Writing a motivation letter isn’t about telling what you are now and what you did. It’s more like a book that will reflect your entire life journey covered by stories when the reader reads it. Try to be authentic and confident while writing the letter. Write interesting stories to cover your academic and professional journeys, highlight your uniqueness, explain why you think that you deserve this scholarship, and your plans in the near future.

Of course, seek feedback! Try to get help from professors, mentors, or make peer reviews before final submission to ensure you submit a well-structured application, and you are good to go!