Non-stop to Copenhagen: UW/H graduate Moritz Krauss sets course for the world of finance
Moritz Krauss laid the foundation for his path into the world of finance at UW/H and is now starting his Master's programme at Copenhagen Business School.
When UW/H graduate Moritz talks about his time studying in Witten, you quickly realise that this is someone who appreciates the special mix of optimal study conditions and warm openness. Having grown up in Freiburg in the Black Forest, but with family roots in Herne, he learnt to love the Ruhr region as a child. "The people up here are simply different - more open, more approachable. Even on my first visit to the campus, I had a good gut feeling," Moritz recalls and continues, "I visited Witten/Herdecke University with my brother in August 2020. We spontaneously approached a student who gave us a tour of the campus and told me about his experiences. That reinforced my decision."
Two bachelor's degrees and a direct line to business leaders
Moritz supplemented his first Bachelor's degree in Management with the interdisciplinary degree programme in Economics, Politics and Law - not out of obligation, but because he wanted to make the most of his time in Witten: "At few universities do you have the opportunity to learn and discuss in small, dynamic course groups. I really wanted to take advantage of this experience and the exciting range of courses on offer. Over the course of the semester, I realised more and more clearly how the individual gears of economics, politics and law interlock. Thanks to my previous knowledge of economics, I had a steep learning curve."
During his studies, he founded an investment club with two fellow students, invited well-known graduates from the fields of consulting and finance and helped to revive the "Entrepreneurs in Dialogue" initiative after the coronavirus break. "Right from the start, UW/H encouraged me to take things into my own hands if I wanted to change something. I wanted direct dialogue with entrepreneurs, an insight into their careers and entrepreneurial decisions - so Managing Directors and Senior Partners from Morgan Stanley and the Boston Consulting Group as well as Trivago founder Peter Vinnemeier came directly to the university," says the 24-year-old.
From New York to German air traffic control
Moritz also gained valuable experience off campus. An internship at the auditing firm EY fulfilled his childhood dream of "living and working in a city where anything is possible". At Horváth in Stuttgart, he immersed himself in the field of controlling and finance. He feels so comfortable there that he now also works for the company as a student trainee. He now hopes to continue this work in the Danish branch during his Master's degree programme. A particular highlight for Moritz was his internship at Deutsche Flugsicherung. Here he gained an insight into corporate strategy - an area of work that particularly appeals to him. At the same time, he was able to combine his professional interests with his personal passion for flying. Moritz is not only a student, but also an enthusiastic private pilot - and has been flying since he was 13.
Next stop: Master's programme at Copenhagen Business School
In August 2025, Moritz began a new stage of his journey: his Master's programme at Copenhagen Business School. The international experience is important to him in order to grow personally and professionally.
Moritz: "I was particularly excited about the lectures on corporate finance, market theories and strategic management. The first course units picked up on content that I already knew from my Bachelor's degree and that I can now build on. In many courses, we sit together with around 120 students, significantly more than I was used to in Witten. However, the changeover was easier than I thought, as we are often split into two course groups and the lectures can therefore be more interactive."
He made a conscious decision in favour of the university and exchanged ideas in advance with other UW/H graduates who had also moved to Copenhagen for their Master's degree. "That's one thing I really appreciate about Witten students: Even if you may have had fewer points of contact during your studies, we remain well connected beyond our time at university and support each other," says the 24-year-old. Moritz also received support from Witten during his welcome and induction week at Copenhagen Business School. He was accompanied by the same student who was his buddy five years ago, during his first week at UW/H. "That was a nice coincidence - I'm pleased to have come full circle."
Moritz has a lot planned for his time in Denmark: "I'd like to learn Danish and travel to the neighbouring Scandinavian countries of Norway and Finland." He has also already found out about nearby gliding clubs. He advises students who are also thinking about going abroad for their Master's degree: "Just do it! I don't think it will ever be easier than in your early or mid-20s. Now you're free and flexible. Before you regret not having tried it, you should just go for it."