University of the Free State (UFS) master’s students Michael Skosana, Su-Mari Dreyer, and Dawie Bekker have reached an extraordinary milestone: graduating with a Master of Arts in Business Management from the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences (FH Salzburg) in Austria while continuing to build their academic careers at the UFS.
The three are part of the Consecutive Master’s Degree in International Finance programme, a partnership between the UFS Department of Economics and Finance and the FH Salzburg Department of Accounting and Financial Management which allows students to earn two master’s degrees consecutively – an MCom at UFS and an MA in Austria.
For these students, the journey went beyond academics. Balancing demanding coursework across continents, navigating new cultures, and developing skills for global careers required resilience, adaptability, and determination. Support from families, friends, and the departments involved made these achievements possible and even more meaningful.
A journey shaped by learning and opportunity
Skosana says the experience was both a personal and community milestone. “Graduating from Salzburg whilst still completing my MCom at UFS has meant a great deal to me,” he says. “Balancing the two came with challenges, but the support of my family and friends allowed me to embrace them without fear of failure.” He adds that the journey has inspired him to create opportunities for others: “Going forward, this entire journey has encouraged me to go back home and create these opportunities for my community and those who don’t believe it can happen for them.”
Dreyer, who completed her MCom in 2022 and her MA in July 2025, reflects on the transition between South Africa and Austria. “Studying at UFS gave me a strong academic foundation, but coming to Salzburg required me to adapt to a more applied, international environment,” she says. “The teaching style was hands-on, with smaller classes and a strong focus on practical implementation. Moving between two systems taught me patience, resilience, and flexibility. On a personal level, do not underestimate how much this experience changes you. You learn not just about your academic field, but about yourself, how you adapt, what you value, and where you want to make an impact.”
She also notes how the experience changed her perspective as a finance professional: “I can now switch more easily between the big economic picture and what happens inside a single company, and I understand how financial decisions affect people differently across countries.”
Bekker describes his time abroad as transformative. “From the start, I was eager to experience education in a broader, international context,” he explains. “UFS prepared me well, with a strong theoretical foundation and independent thinking, and gave me the competency and confidence to take on a new system of study abroad. Salzburg challenged me to approach problems differently, collaborate across cultures, and build confidence in a new environment.” He highlights the support networks at both universities: “What stood out most to me was the genuine commitment from both universities to support students, not just academically but also personally… I always felt part of a network that wanted me to succeed.”
The programme itself is designed to nurture global citizens, says Prof Johan Coetzee, Head of the UFS Department of Economics and Finance. “It makes me immensely proud to see our students thrive internationally. They develop skills and networks that are aligned with international standards, and gain a balance between technical expertise and social responsibility,” he says. On the programme’s growth and impact, he adds, “Three more UFS students are set to join in 2026, and we hope to attract students from Salzburg to study in Bloemfontein. The partnership is one of the most rewarding aspects of my academic career, and it continues to create opportunities for our students.”
Skosana, Dreyer, and Bekker’s achievements highlight their determination, adaptability, and talent. For the UFS, their success demonstrates the value of international collaboration in shaping students into globally minded professionals while strengthening the institution’s role as a launchpad for talent that thrives anywhere in the world.