Inside a Master in Global Management student’s double degree with Yale SOM
For Lukas Hafner (Class of 2026), the Master in Global Management (MGM) is synonymous with international opportunities. As one of the MGM students who was accepted into the double degree program shared by ESMT Berlin and Yale University’s School of Management, Lukas began his studies in Berlin – and spent the last year on the Yale campus in New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Being willing to step into opportunities: Lukas’ story
In this article, Lukas explains what double degree life is really like. He takes us inside the lighter moments like sporting rivalries and swapping kebabs for bagels. And he also shares a deeper truth: that embracing curiosity can lead to life-changing experiences.
Hi Lukas, please introduce yourself.
Hello, my name is Lukas. I am originally from the southwest of Germany, close to Baden-Württemberg’s state capital Stuttgart. I’m 23 and pursuing a double degree with ESMT Berlin and Yale University’s School of Management (Yale SOM). At ESMT my degree is the Master in Global Management, while at Yale SOM I am completing my Master of Management Studies in Global Business and Society.
Before moving to Berlin, I completed a Bachelor of Science in International Business near my hometown. Alongside my studies, I gained professional experience both in the automotive industry and as a consultant working with automotive clients, focusing on strategy, business development, and M&A-related projects.
What made you want to study for a Master in Global Management (MGM) at ESMT?
I always knew that I wanted to pursue a master’s degree after completing my bachelor’s. When it was time to explore programs, I had three clear criteria in mind: (1) I wanted to leave my home state, (2) move to a major city, and (3) study at a university with a strong international reputation. ESMT Berlin offered exactly that combination.
I was first introduced to the program at a master’s fair in Munich, where I discussed my interests and ambitions with a representative who then recommended the Master in Global Management to me. Afterward, I looked more closely into both the program and the university, and what stood out was the combination of Berlin as the location, the school’s history and mission, as well as the structure of the MGM program itself.
Elements such as the Social Impact Project, the integrated internship period, and the exchange opportunities made it particularly compelling. The double degree possibility with Yale School of Management also was intriguing and caught my attention early on – although at the time, I did not expect to actually pursue it.
Can you please tell us more about the double degree you are doing with Yale SOM? What degrees will you graduate with?
“In total, this means graduating with two distinct master’s degrees from two of the leading business schools in the world.”
Essentially, what this double degree does is allow me to spend my second year of studies at Yale School of Management instead of completing it at ESMT Berlin. The coursework I complete at Yale is fully integrated into my ESMT degree requirements, making it a seamless continuation of the MGM rather than a separate program.
The Master of Management Studies in Global Business and Society at Yale SOM is designed as a complementary one-year degree. All students in the program have already completed at least one year of graduate-level management education at another institution before coming to New Haven, which creates a highly international and academically experienced cohort.
Upon completing my studies at Yale SOM, I will graduate with a Master of Management Studies in Global Business and Society from Yale University’s School of Management. After finishing my master’s thesis at ESMT Berlin, I will then be awarded the Master of Science in Global Management. In total, this means graduating with two distinct master’s degrees from two of the leading business schools in the world.
What was the application process like for the double degree program? How did it feel when you found out you had been accepted?
“Before I could even read the decision, the screen filled with confetti – pretty good feeling, I would say.”
I applied to Yale School of Management during the winter break after Term 1 at ESMT – so no need to worry about this before you even started your studies in Berlin. There are three distinct application rounds at Yale SOM, with the first one being exclusively for students from universities that are part of the Global Network of Advanced Management (including ESMT). This allows MGM students to apply before applications open for the rest of the world.
The application process itself is well structured and fully online. It includes written components, a recorded video interview, and a live interview with a member of the admissions team. The requirements and timelines are clearly outlined both on Moodle and on Yale’s website, which makes the process straightforward to navigate.
Finding out I had been accepted is a moment I still remember very clearly. I logged into my application portal after receiving a notification about a status update, and before I could even read the decision, the screen filled with confetti – pretty good feeling, I would say! Just a day later, I got a phone call from the admissions manager I had my interview with congratulating me on my acceptance. It really felt like they were just as excited to have me be part of the program as I was to join Yale.
You are originally from Germany. Can you tell us about some of the new things you are enjoying during your time in the USA? Any big surprises?
I was fortunate enough to have been to the U.S. several times before joining Yale, so the overall environment was not entirely new to me. That said, there have still been experiences that stood out.
One of the things I enjoy during my time here is the university sports culture. Yale SOM is not a school that puts its main focus on varsity sports like some other American universities, but watching Yale beat Harvard (this is a decades-long rivalry, one of the oldest in college sports) felt pretty amazing, and so was the atmosphere at the game. Students generally get reduced or free tickets to most sports events where the Yale Bulldogs play and I highly recommend going, even if you are not familiar with the sport!
Another highlight has been the proximity to New York City. Being able to spontaneously take a train on a free weekend and spend time in “the” city is something I have really come to appreciate. As much as I enjoyed living in Berlin, New York just offers something that I personally have not found anywhere else in the world.
What are some of the biggest differences between studying at ESMT Berlin and studying at Yale SOM?
The first thing I would point out here is the nature of the workload. At ESMT, most courses are centered around a few larger assignments, while at Yale, many classes require weekly submissions, and some even have assignments for every class session. The overall workload is comparable, but the structure at Yale makes it more continuous and less flexible to shift work between weeks.
Another key difference is the classroom dynamic. At ESMT, especially in the first year, I had most of my classes with the same group of people, which creates a very tight-knit cohort experience. At Yale, courses are more mixed across programs from the beginning. As a result, you might have several classes in a single day without seeing the same classmates twice, which makes the experience more dynamic and diverse, but also less cohort centered.
I don’t want to say one approach is better than the other, I personally enjoy both, but it simply creates a different environment.
How about life in Berlin vs life in New Haven – what are some of the biggest differences an international student might need to get used to?
When you move to New Haven you exchange Berlin Döner Kebab for New Haven Bagels and “Apizza”. Without claiming that one is better than the other, I definitely miss kebab while I am here – and I already know I will miss bagels and New Haven-style pizza once I return to Germany.
Beyond that, Berlin is an international capital with an almost endless variety of neighborhoods, restaurants, and cafés. New Haven, in contrast, is much smaller and centered around Yale University. Life here feels more campus-driven and structured, whereas Berlin offers more independence, variety, and “big-city-anonymity”.
At the same time, Yale brings a range of experiences that you would not typically find in the same way in Berlin. Because the university here spans so many disciplines, there is always something happening – from student-run theater/musical productions and concerts all the way to formal events like proms, speeches, or the previously mentioned wide range of sports events. While you get less of a large-city lifestyle compared to Berlin, the university environment itself offers a surprisingly diverse and vibrant set of activities that shapes everyday life. And don’t forget: Boston and NYC are both just a short (1.5-3h) train-ride away.
Overall, I’d say the transition is less about one place being better than the other and more about adapting to a different way of living: trading the scale and independence of a major city like Berlin for a more concentrated, campus-driven experience in New Haven that offers its own variety in a different way.
What are the biggest lessons from your double degree that you will apply to your career?
“Committing to a program like this requires stepping outside of your comfort zone, whether that is academically, professionally, or personally. Over time, you will realize that you are capable of so much more than you initially assumed.”
One of the biggest lessons I take away from the double degree is the importance of being open, staying curious, and being willing to step into opportunities even when you do not feel fully prepared. Moving from ESMT Berlin to Yale School of Management meant constantly being exposed to new environments, new expectations, and new ways of thinking. In many situations, there is no perfect moment where you feel “ready” – you often just have to say yes and figure things out along the way (and have the right amount of luck to make those moments work).
At the same time, the experience reinforced how much growth happens outside of the classroom. While the academic content is valuable, just as much learning comes from navigating unfamiliar situations, working with people from very different backgrounds, and continuously adapting to new challenges. The double degree puts you into environments where the standard is high and where you are constantly surrounded by ambitious, capable peers. That, in turn, raises your own expectations of what you can achieve.
Another important takeaway is confidence – not in the sense of always believing you have the right answer, but in trusting yourself while being open to being wrong. Committing to a program like this requires stepping outside of your comfort zone, whether that is academically, professionally, or personally. Over time, you will realize that you are capable of so much more than you initially assumed.
Ultimately, these are lessons I will carry into my career:
- Be proactive in pursuing opportunities
- Stay adaptable in uncertain situations
- Continue to challenge myself rather than defaulting to what feels comfortable
Beyond the classroom, what has been your favorite memory from your time at Yale so far?
A clear highlight was attending “The Game,” the annual American Football matchup between Yale and Harvard. The atmosphere, the history, and the intensity of the rivalry made it an amazing experience. The whole day was packed with events, from tailgating to an after-party. It was one of those moments where I really felt what it means to be part of an American university community.
As well as watching sports, I also joined Yale SOM United, the soccer team at Yale SOM. Competing in intramural leagues – and ultimately winning – was incredibly rewarding, not just because of the result, but because of the team dynamic and the friendships that came with it. By now, almost no day goes by that I walk through SOM without bumping into one of the guys on the team.
What made this even more memorable were the tournaments we traveled to. We had the opportunity to compete at the University of Texas in Austin and at Harvard Business School in Boston against teams from some of the top (business) schools in the US, including MIT, Chicago Booth, Wharton School, and Columbia Business School. What made this particularly stand out was winning the tournament in Austin because it felt like the culmination of everything we had built and worked for as a team.
Beyond sports, some of the best memories come from the smaller, everyday moments – late nights working on assignments in Yale’s historic (and beautiful) libraries, coffee runs with friends, or walking past events I didn’t even know were happening and joining in. These are the moments that define the experience just as much as the larger highlights.
Do you have any tips for someone thinking about applying to study at ESMT? How about any tips for someone interested in the double degree program?
“I would also recommend taking full advantage of everything ESMT offers, also beyond the classroom. Get engaged in clubs, visit the events, and connect with your peers.”
For anyone considering applying to ESMT, my main advice would be to be intentional about why you want to join. ESMT offers a very specific and unique environment for a German university: relatively small, highly international cohort, close interaction with peers and faculty, or aspects of the MGM like the Social Impact Project.
You should choose the program because the environment fits you and how you like to learn. This becomes even more important when thinking about the double degree with Yale SOM. I would not suggest joining ESMT simply as a pathway to Yale. If all you want is to study at Yale, apply there directly. After all, you will spend at least one year in Berlin/Germany even if you go for the double degree and that experience will shape a significant part of your academic and personal development. It also becomes much better if you see ESMT as an intentional part of your journey, not just a means to an end.
You should apply to be at ESMT first and foremost because you want to study at ESMT – and if you then decide to (want to) pursue the double degree, go for it! From a practical standpoint, I would also recommend taking full advantage of everything ESMT offers, also beyond the classroom. Get engaged in clubs, visit the events, and connect with your peers.
For the double degree, I would say preparation matters. Be clear about what the program consists of, how (roughly) your time at Yale might look like, and whether or not this adds value to your life or not – after all, it is unfortunately not cheap to study at Yale. If you end up deciding to apply, you do not need to think about it before even starting at ESMT. It helps to be clear about your motivations and how the double degree fits into your broader goals. The process itself is well structured, and ESMT provides guidance and support, but ultimately it comes down to you and how convincingly you can articulate why the experience makes sense for you specifically.
Overall, I would suggest focusing on making the most of each step, one after the other, rather than improving only for the final outcome. If you fully engage with your time at ESMT, the opportunities that follow, including the double degree, will come much more naturally.
Thank you, Lukas!
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Want to learn more? You can follow more of Lukas’ adventures at ESMT, Yale, and beyond on his LinkedIn.
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