A Blog about Education Abroad

Author: Angelo McKerry

  • Devin Jefferies at Technical University of Munich, Germany

    Devin Jefferies at Technical University of Munich, Germany

    Devin Jefferies

    M. Electronic Engineering

    Semester Exchange in the First Semester, 2024 at Technical University of Munich (TUM)

    Pre-departure:

    Preparing for the exchange was an exciting yet challenging process. It involved a lot of paperwork, planning, and anticipation. I had to ensure all my documents were in order, secure accommodation in Munich, and familiarize myself with the academic and social environment at TUM. 

    Square in Munich

    Experience at Host:

    Upon arrival at TUM, I was immediately struck by the advanced facilities and the welcoming atmosphere. My research at TUM was focused on F1TENTH, an open-source 1/10th scale autonomous race car platform, which is directly related to my master’s thesis. The state-of-the-art equipment and resources available at TUM significantly enhanced my research. I was able to achieve results that would have been impossible at Stellenbosch due to the limited resources. 

    Moreover, I was introduced to the vibrant German university culture. TUM fosters an environment of collaboration and innovation, which greatly contributed to my academic growth. The professors and fellow students were incredibly supportive, always willing to share knowledge and provide feedback. This collaborative spirit was truly inspiring and motivated me to push the boundaries of my research. 

    A Castle in Germany

    Living in Germany presented some financial challenges, especially given the higher cost of living compared to South Africa. However, with careful budgeting , I managed to navigate these challenges effectively. The key was to plan ahead and prioritize spending, focusing on essentials and making the most of student discounts and affordable options for accommodation and transportation. Despite the higher costs, the experience was well worth the investment, providing invaluable academic and personal growth opportunities. 

    Return to Stellenbosch:

    Returning to Stellenbosch University after the exchange, I brought back a wealth of knowledge and experiences that have profoundly impacted my academic journey. The skills and insights gained at TUM have enriched my research, enabling me to approach my thesis with a new perspective and advanced techniques. Additionally, the personal growth and cultural experiences have broadened my horizons, making me more adaptable and open-minded. 

    Overall, the exchange program at TUM was an unforgettable experience. It not only enhanced my master’s degree but also contributed significantly to my personal and professional development. I am grateful for the opportunity and highly recommend such exchanges to fellow students seeking to broaden their academic and cultural horizons. 

  • Marthé Rossouw at Montana State University, USA

    Marthé Rossouw at Montana State University, USA

    Marthé Rossouw

    BCom International Business

    Semester Exchange in the Second Semester, 2023 at Montana State University

     

    Pre-departure:

     

    The entire semester leading up to departure was extremely stressful. I had to manage incredible amounts of admin, paired with a pretty hectic school schedule. The admin included applying to Montana State University as well as getting my US Visa.  

    Some tips: When applying for a US university which requires language proficiency tests, try asking Professor Erasmus for a written letter stating that BCom International Business students study in English. My host university waivered the requirement since I provided such a letter, but this would of course depend on the university.  

    Make sure to start as soon as possible with any required health documents. I needed an MMR top-up vaccine, but South Africa experienced a national shortage, and I almost didn’t have it in time. The delay kept me from being able to sign up for classes at MSU, resulting in most classes being full. The lecturers love having international students, though, so try to email them directly and ask to be added in class – even if the system shows that the class is full. Also, don’t be afraid to change class upon arrival on campus! Many students change classes quickly and spots open up again. 

    During the Visa appointment I was surprised to see the power provided by the DS-2019 document (sent to me by the partner university upon acceptance). This official document made the entire visa experience surprisingly easy. 

     

    Experience at the Host University:

     

    Montana is known as Big Sky Country, the wild, wild west and the last best place on earth. After living in Bozeman, MT, for four months I can happily say: “Guilty as charged!”. 

     

    Marthé skiing outside of Bozeman, Montana, with friends. 

     

    Montana State University is an amazing school, and I am so honoured to have had the opportunity to study there. The campus is home to about 17 000 students, which is half the amount of Stellenbosch University. With fewer students, the pace on campus was much slower and more peaceful compared to Stellenbosch. As a state university, MSU mostly has Montanans and local students. I really enjoyed the change in pace and the small-town feeling. 

    I made a point of choosing business classes I enjoy and that I do not struggle too much with. My classes were thus not very stressful, and I thoroughly enjoyed learning about business from the American perspective. Be prepared, however, to receive much more homework and continuous assessment than at the Stellenbosch business departments! I found it to be a positive experience, since you must only do the homework provided and attend class regularly, but then you never have to stress about future tests or homework. The Jake Jabs School of Business is great and the lecturers generally have years of experience, with amazing resources and contacts. 

    MSU have lots to offer students. The International Office hosted many wonderful activities such as pumpkin carving, swimming at Bozeman beach, a trip to Yellowstone National Park and so much more! My friends and I made sure to grab these opportunities and had the best time. MSU also have huge football games every second Saturday (it’s called Caturdays!), swing-dancing events in the Ballrooms, food festivals in the dining halls and you definitely don’t want to miss any of it! The City of Bozeman also hosts events such as the Christmas Stroll downtown, the Homecoming parade and the Gallatin Valley Rodeo. Bozeman are obviously also known for the most majestic mountains and there are endless hiking trails to choose from. It’s important to understand that most MSU students love the outdoors and are thus known to host camping trips, skiing and big Friday-night bonfires. If you love nature and are looking for an invitation to experience small-town America: this is absolutely it! 

     

    Watching the Bobcats play football on Caturdays.

     

    The travel bursaries and waivers received from Stellenbosch University helped me to live in Bozeman, which is known to be relatively expensive. Since Montana is huge and exchange students usually do not own cars, we often only went on trips in Montana itself which cost a lot less than traveling through different states.  I would definitely recommend working on campus during the semester. The university encourages it (Hire a Bobcat!) and our visa allow for work on campus, but not off campus. My class schedule also easily allowed it and it was good being paid in dollars. Many of the other exchange students worked with me and we had a lot of fun. 

     

    Return to Stellenbosch:

     

    Returning to Stellenbosch University was a massive adjustment and I absolutely experienced some reverse culture shock. The town and university are incredibly busy – especially after being used to the peace in Big Sky Country! It is also difficult if some of your friends have graduated, moved into different dorms or simply don’t understand how much you’ve learned and seen.  

    However, I am thankful that I decided to go on exchange in my third year, because the previous semesters were so focused on the adventure that I need some time to decide what to do in future and to get some new dreams. I have also seen that students in the US have years of work-experience and LinkedIn profiles, which is something most students at Stellenbosch do not focus on much during undergraduate studies.  

    I am so thankful for the opportunity and amazing experience. Much appreciation to Professor Erasmus, the SU International Office, Stacey Neve at MSU, my lecturers at MSU and the wonderful, life-long friends I made in Montana, the last best place. 

  • Eryn Treherne at Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, Germany

    Eryn Treherne at Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, Germany

    Eryn Treherne

    BCom International Business

    Semester Exchange in the Second Semester, 2023 at Frankfurt School of Finance and Management

     

    Pre-departure:

     

    The initial planning for going to Germany involves plenty of organisation, especially for your visa application. The German Consulate provides a checklist of what is required on their website, most is fairly easy to gather, but the most challenging is to open a blocked account. This account is a requirement where you need to set aside around 900 euros per month and deposit into this account that will be paid out to you once you are there. I would recommend using Fintiba to do this, and they also have many other services to help you in your preparation. The easiest current account to set up would be with Revolut as you don’t need to have your registered address for this, as with any German bank account. I would also recommend booking your flights as soon as possible, as this will also work out cheaper for
    you.

    Further, your accommodation also needs to be sorted out early, especially if you plan to stay in the student dorms. As soon as your acceptance comes through from FS, apply for this to ensure you can get a spot. There are other options as well, I would recommend places like Yugo. Finally, when you get the dates to register for your modules, you need to log on as the time opens so that you can get a spot in the classes you want to attend (some of them filled up for me within the first 5 minutes!).

     

    Experience at the Host University:

     

    My exchange semester at the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management offered a unique experience quite different to the other options available, that are more traditional and quite larger. This smaller, private university had a mix of pros and cons. Frankfurt, which is a vibrant and growing city and home to one of Europe’s major airports, was an ideal place to stay if like me, you want to see as much of the area as possible. What also makes the travel convenient is that the university provides a Hessen state travel card, which can be upgraded for a small fee to the Deutschland ticket, allowing free travel on regional transport throughout Germany.
    Beyond having the ability to travel easily, Frankfurt itself is a lovely city to live, rich in cultural activities with an impressive array of museums, offering many diverse and enriching experiences.

     

    Christmas market in Frankfurt.

     

    Arriving in Frankfurt is quite an experience when you don’t know the public transport system very well, and I did get lost on my way to my accommodation, but I did find my way eventually. The week before classes start there are two days of orientation which I would recommend attending to meet other exchange students (as it is easier to form relationships with the internationals more than the locals as they are also looking to meet new people). The university also arranges socials and parties during this week and throughout the semester which can be a lot of fun and a great way to meet new people and spend time with the friends that you have already made. Some of the activities included a boat party, pub crawls, or even a picnic in the park.

     

    Eryn at the Boat Party.

     

    As I mentioned, FS is a smaller university, with about 4000 students in total. I quite liked this because your classes are smaller and that makes it easier to meet and talk to people, but you will have to engage in the lectures more. The lectures are also scheduled differently to SU. For each module, there are 2 sessions a week either on the same day or on 2 consecutive days of 3 hours each (you will have to take 5 in total, split between 2 terms to make up the credits at SU). The change in length can be daunting, but it doesn’t take long to make that adjustment, and you are able to choose interesting modules not available at SU (for example, I did Healthcare Business).

    Germany is an expensive country to live in. Rent can be quite pricey if you want to stay close to the university. There is also the health insurance cost to think about (compulsory), as well as liability insurance (optional but recommended). Groceries are slightly more expensive than South Africa, but mostly when it comes to meat (including chicken), so it’s always good to set up a meal plan for the week so that you know what you need to buy when you do go shopping. There are scholarships available as well. I received the Erasmus+ Scholarship, which is about 850 euros/month. This however is not enough to cover all your costs, for me it only covered my rent and my health insurance with a couple of euros to spare. With this scholarship they also cover your transport ticket that you receive from FS.

    Also, depending on where you stay, you need to be aware of the extra things that you may need to buy, such as household cleaning equipment, crockery and cutlery (as a lot of places require you to provide your own), bedding, etc. My advice with this would be to head to an Ikea and get everything you need there, as there are plenty of cheap options. Overall, I would recommend sitting down with whoever will be funding your exchange and create a clear budget that accounts for the increased costs of being in a new country.

     

    Return to Stellenbosch:

     

    I returned to South Africa just before Christmas, which was really nice to be home and spend some holiday time with my family. As I start classes next week, I am sure there will be an adjustment coming back to SU. For one, my classes will be a lot shorter again, but I will be going back to class 5 days a week. The workload is also much more at SU so I know that I will need to be aware of getting back into my old study patterns. Coming back to Stellies is a really good thing, as you can catch up with friends that you haven’t seen for a while. While it will be easy to fall back into the old patterns of your life before exchange. I think it would be important to remember to keep what you have learned while being overseas and try to incorporate those changes into your life back at home.