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Fenna Brakenhoff

first-year Business Analytics student

Mathematics was always one of her favourite subjects, but studying only mathematics found Fenna a bit dry. Fenna also found Computer Science and Business Administration interesting studies. That's how she ended up at Business Analytics. "Here, all these studies are nicely combined".

“Before I decided on Business Analytics, I first doubted whether Econometrics would not be a better choice. This study is very similar to Business Analytics, but is a bit more theoretical and focuses more on proving mathematics rather than applying it. Business Analytics focuses more on practice and applications in organisations and companies which appealed to me a lot, which is why I eventually chose Business Analytics.”

What makes Business Analytics at VU Amsterdam unique?
“I really liked at VU Amsterdam that every six months there are projects where you get a business case from a real company that you then have to solve together. Many other university studies lack the practical part and that is also what I think makes Business Analytics really unique.”

Can you give an example of a project you worked on?
“In the first two periods, we were given a business case by the bicycle accessory company BBB cycling. For them, we had to do various data analyses that we had to use, for example, to predict the next year's sales. In the end, we used different data analyses to create a warehouse layout that was optimal for their goals. At the end of the study, we presented the results of the analyses to the board using a poster.”

How did you use mathematics to solve this problem?
“In the project, we used Excel a lot in which we worked out different formulas to do the analyses. We often got these formulas from the lecturers and used them to determine the parameters that were best for our products. The mathematics you get during the course calculus, for example, helps a lot to understand these formulas better.”

What do you think of the level of mathematics?
“The level of mathematics is high, but it is manageable if you keep up with everything. At the beginning, the maths connects well with the maths you learnt in high school. They just start back at the beginning, so you don't have to worry if your maths slips a bit in the summer holidays.”

What is the atmosphere like at the Business Analytics course?
“The atmosphere is very good on the course. This is also because the study is not very big, so you do know everyone a bit. The lecturers are very helpful; you can always ask them questions after a lecture or send them an e-mail if you still have questions. I really like that the study groups are taught by TAs (senior students who supervise study groups and grade exams), because the threshold for asking a question is a lot lower than with the lecturers. And they often explain things in a different way, which can sometimes make the difference between getting it and not getting it.”

Business Analytics is an English-language study, how is this for you?
“In the beginning it took some getting used to, especially in calculus (maths), because they use all maths terms there that you've never heard in English before. In the first lectures, the professors explain the 'foreign' English terms a bit extra, so that you immediately understand what they are talking about. After a few lectures, it's all very normal that it's all in English and switching is very easy.”

“Actually, I see more advantages than disadvantages of studying in English. In the future, you will probably also work a lot in English, so it is useful to get used to it now. Also, because it is an English study, there are many international students which is also very nice. The only disadvantage, of course, is that you are not taught in your mother tongue, but you get used to this very quickly so that shouldn't stop you from doing this study.”

How do you feel about working together in the different project groups?
“Working together is going well in itself. At the beginning you have to feel around a bit because you don't know each other very well yet, but later on you get to know each other better and better. It is very nice to be able to do the assignment together with other students, because you can help each other and learn a lot from each other.”

Do you need programming knowledge to take the Business Analytics course?
“No, I had no experience with programming before I started this study either and I learnt it all on the study. In programming, they start right from the beginning and the lecturers are very good at explaining it. You really start with what elements are all in a computer program and at the end you can program your own Snake game which is very cool.”

What is it like studying with international students?
“It's really fun to study with international students because you get to deal with all different cultures. What is very normal here is very different for them and vice versa which means you can get really fun conversations.”

Do you already know whether you want to continue studying after the bachelor's or where you would like to work?
“For now I do plan to continue studying after getting my bachelor's, but what I want to study and whether I want to do it at VU Amsterdam, I don't know yet. I don't have a picture in front of me yet where I want to work in the future or in what position. I hope that during my studies a company will come my way that suits me well.”