Erasmus+ Master’s Loan: Nikos Koikas

“Two years ago, after finishing my studies and military service I was on the lookout for the next step in my career. I searched a lot and finally found my way with a MBA,” says Nikos Koikas, who was born and raised in Ilioupoli, southeast of Athens. He graduated in Marketing from the Technical Educational Institute of Athens and at 26, he decided to apply for an EU-guaranteed loan via the Erasmus+ Master Loan programme from the University of Cyprus to continue with a Masters degree in Business Administration.

What motivated Nikos in his choice for an MBA was the long-term view: “I was thinking about specialising further in marketing but had a keen interest in the business sector and wanted to learn more about how finance works. I have been keeping an eye on the market and after careful thought I decided that an MBA would provide me with a broader overview of the different business areas and allow me to decide in which sector I would continue my career.”

“Cyprus proved to be an excellent experience,” he adds. “The MBA programme is very well organised and I’m very satisfied with the University system as well as the students I met and networked with. The classes have good diversity in terms of professional experience, background and nationalities. The added value for me lies in the dynamics of interacting with multidisciplinary teams and people from various backgrounds.”

The Erasmus+ loan helped Nikos cover tuition fees and provided financial security. Having looked into other programmes, he says, “The Erasmus+ Master Loan offers favourable pay-back terms and helps you with realistic financial planning. Also, the fact that I could get this sort of financing for an MBA was a crucial factor for my choice.”

Nikos enjoys playing football in his free time. He has been an active member of his local football club and is a big fan of Olympiakos. “I always find time for football, at least one afternoon per week; it’s my oxygen!” But football is not the only place he’s been scoring goals. Nikos believes that the skills he picked up in this journey have helped him find a job and start gaining industry experience and exposure: “I have to admit, I was really lucky to land a job under the current circumstances in one of the Big Four in November this year. I might even be able to start reimbursement of my loan in advance.”

University: University of Cyprus

Studies: MBA

EIF financing: Erasmus+ Master’s LGF

Financial intermediary: University of Cyprus

For further information about EIF intermediaries in Cyprus, please refer to: https://www.eif.org/what_we_do/where/cy/index.htm