A Blog about Education Abroad

Tag: Germany

Talitha Steenkamp at EBS Law School in Germany

Pre-departure:

I chose to go to EBS Universität situated in Wiesbaden in Germany. The city is located close to Frankfurt, which is a major European hub, making Wiesbaden very well located. I also had family who live about two hours from Wiesbaden which was also a reason why I chose to go there.

The biggest administrative part of the exchange is before you leave. The process to get everything ready is quite tedious. There are several things that must be organised, and this can seem daunting at times. However, it will eventually prove useful that everything is completed before you leave for Europe so that you do not have to worry about these things once you arrive. I got my visa (in effect a residence permit) before I left, so all that was required of me was a quick registration at the Wiesbaden city council. The lines there can be long but the process itself is quick and free.

Acquiring the visa itself was a complicated process but fortunately the staff at EBS university were very helpful and efficient. From the first email to our orientation day as well as during my stay there the staff were very helpful. This made it considerably easier to get all the necessary documentation that I needed for my visa application. Once I had applied the process was quick and I received it within 3 weeks.

The cost for my visa was waived due to receiving a stipend, but I still had to have a considerable amount deposited in a blocked account. The required amount has recently been changed by the German government and this should just be kept in mind when doing planning for the trip as it can become quite a hefty deposit. Fortunately, if you receive a stipend then that amount can be deducted from the required blocked amount.

In order not to feel overwhelmed by all that had to be done I found it easier to keep a list at hand with an annotated calendar with important dates on it. It is easy to forget that there are still subjects and exams at Stellenbosch that require your attention in between all the planning for Europe. So, it is important to keep track of this so that you do not have too many tasks that must be completed while having to study for exams. You also want to have some time available to spend with friends and family before you leave. It is also important to have enough time available to move out of your flat and finalising any other arrangements before you leave.

Experience at Host University:

One tip that I would give to anyone is to find and finalise your apartment in Germany as soon as possible. EBS puts all the Law Term students on a housing group on their online platform where German students could post available apartments for sub-leasing. This meant that I could trust the people offering the accommodation and could communicate with them through recognised channels. This proved invaluable for me since I was able to find a wonderful 1-bedroom apartment which was a 5-minute bus drive from class. I preferred to live alone so this was perfect for me, but there were also other options available to live with other exchange students or otherwise local German students. Just ensure that your accommodation is in Wiesbaden and not at the other campus in Oëstrich Winkel if you are going to study at the law school and not the business school.

Semester exchange students at Stellenbosch form part of what is known as the EBS Law Term. Thus, we were a group of about 38 students from all over the world that spend the 3 months studying together. This proved really nice, since no one was from Germany or used to their culture or the language. We formed a close-knit community that supported one another and made travel plans together. I really enjoyed meeting people from all over and getting to learn so much about many other cultures and some which are significantly different to ours.

The academic programme of the Law Term at EBS focusses on Transnational Commercial Law. As such, the programme is very much commercially focussed but still soundly based on legal foundations. This appealed to me since I am personally very interested in commercial law. The subjects were also wide in scope in what it covered under Transnational Commercial Law.

I thoroughly enjoyed all the subjects I took as well as the way in which they were presented. The classes are very small and interactive, which makes it completely different to what I was used to at SU. The smaller setting and constant interaction helped me a lot in better understanding the subject matter as well as remembering what I was taught. This made studying for the exams so much easier since many subjects are written in a very short period of time. This is also different to what we are used to at SU.

The lecturers who presented the subjects are all experts within their respective fields, but not as lecturers but as persons working within these fields. Hence, most of them had studied law but are now working for the European Central Bank or for multinational corporations. Their experience is therefore unparalleled, and they are able to give practical examples to the work we dealt with. This really helped me to enjoy the subjects even more by knowing that there was a practical side to the work and that it was not just hypotheticals.

The university also makes an effort to organise a number of field trips to certain towns and institutions. We were able to visit one of the top law firms in Frankfurt and spend a whole day there learning more about transnational transactions. We also visited the European Central Bank in Frankfurt as well as the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg which was incredibly interesting.

I am really happy with the choice I made in the end to study at EBS Law School. The Law Term group was a special group of people who really added value to both my studies and my time in Germany. Some of the friends I made will remain with me for the rest of my life and I believe I will see some of them again! We were able to share amazing memories with one another as well as travel to interesting places with each other. The study programme is nice in that sense that it gave us the opportunity to travel in between classes as many of the classes take place in blocks. It could thus be that you have class from early morning until the late evening on the Monday to the Wednesday, but the be completely off the Thursday and Friday. This really helped to give some extra time to either travel or otherwise catch up on my South African classes.

Thalitha and the rest of the class at EBS

Return to Stellenbosch:

In the end it was tough having to still do the two South African classes as well as the classes in Germany, but it was manageable. The key is just not to get behind on the classes and to make sure you schedule enough study time before the exams. Then once the German exams come then you will have Mercantile Law and Evidence behind you and you only have to focus on the German exams.

The programme in Germany formally concluded on the 18^th of December. This was exactly 3 months on the day from when the programme also officially started. It is therefore not such a long programme to do and would enable a person to return to South Africa in time for Christmas. I however decided to stay on until the first week of January to allow myself to travel around Europe a bit. This was wonderful since I could travel stress-free without having any study commitments.

Returning to South Africa and settling in again proved very easy to me. I did not have troubles adjusting as it was always just going to be a sojourn to Europe. I never had the intention to stay on longer or return for future studies. Thus, for me it was special to come back to see people that I had missed so much while I was away. I quickly slotted back into life as it was before I left, and I am grateful for this. There are times that I miss the European lifestyle, but I do appreciate the sunshine and vibrance of South Africa again. I would have to admit that the winter weather was something that I struggled considerably to get used to. I didn’t mind the cold that much, but it is sunshine that you start to miss a lot!

Not a white background but, actual snow

February 18, 2020
Stephen Temitope David at Humboldt University of Berlin in Germany

Pre-departure:

I was in Germany for a three month research stay at Humboldt University, Berlin. Berlin is a city of memories, from the intimate blend of the old and new – evident in the way cobblestone roads kiss their much younger, tarred counterparts to constantly remind one of the debris of memory interred in the womb of the city – to the imposing dome of the Bode museum which is sternly guarded by the TV tower at Alexanderplatz, the city presents itself as one huge archive. It is to this magnificent city of cultures and memories that my stay abroad took me. Although I couldn’t visit every part of Deutschland, the whole of Germany – and the world – came to me in bits and exciting pieces in Berlin. More importantly, I couldn’t have picked a better period for my stay; it was right in the heart of summer!

Before leaving Stellenbosch, I and a crop of bright-eyed would-be explorers were taken through a robust course on the demands and pleasures of being ‘glocal’ citizens. We were prepped on how to handle culture-shock and a myriad of other issues (the session was so well resourced that I started thinking Sarah should be moonlighting as a psychologist).

Experience at Host University:

I was hosted by the Institute for Asian and African Studies (IAAW) at Humboldt University Berlin. Beside the high global reputation which the institute enjoys as a Mecca of sorts for African scholars seeking the commune of other scholars of Africa (I met with a truly pan-African cohort of visitors when I arrived), the institute hosts a remarkable crop of students and researchers who are truly passionate about Africa and her epistemologies. My stay in the institute was intellectually nourishing: I presented a chapter of my thesis and got insightful comments and feedback. I also enjoyed the collection of rare books owned by the institute’s library – I wish I had more time to explore the secrets of those shelves.

The University library (Grim library) held even more literary gems, so I made it my home (yes, it’s named after the Grim brothers); I hunted for old books on Unter den linden street, attended seminars at FU Berlin and Haus der Kulturen der Welt – where I met Paul Gilroy (author of The Black Atlantic). But I also found time to drink a new brand of beer with friends after each long hibernation in the capacious womb of the Grim library (Germany has over 5,000 beer brands!); I sat beside the Spree to watch dancers learn new steps under a brightly lit wooden shed which projects images of the dancers onto the river in a cornucopia of colours. Oh, and there was the diver who hopped into the depths of the river from a bridge amidst muffled screams of worry from onlookers, only to clamber up the slippery bank of the river with his hanging belly dripping water as he left the scene laughing. I also visited Dresden where the magnificence, opulence, and consumerism of medieval Europe remains evident despite the destruction wrought on the city by Allied bombing during the second world war. Of course, the scars are still evident, but they feel like battle scars which evidence survival.

Visit in Dresden

Return to Stellenbosch:

Travelling abroad was a truly rewarding experience; I have forged transnational academic networks and friendships that have awoken me to my importance as an interlocutor in global debates and cultures. Also, the different energies birthed in the truly cosmopolitan mix of bodies and cultures of Berlin propelled me through the final but arduous stages of my thesis. In my wanderings around the multiple sites of Berlin’s offerings of knowledge and fun, I might not have found the cure to violence in Africa – as I had set out to do at the ingénue state of my research; but what I did find is that the we are making some progress in telling African stories beyond the worn narrative thread of hunger and privation. I am grateful to Stellenbosch University International Office (SUI especially Sarah) for the support they offered, IAAW at Humboldt University for making my stay truly memorable, and to DAAD for making me feel that my research might be truly important after all.

September 12, 2019
Dorica Singini at the University of Hohenheim, Germany

Pre-departure:

Shortly after my application, I received the news that I had been nominated to the University of Hohenheim after which I had to apply directly to the school. The direct application to the University was very fast. In three hours after submission of the application, I received the acceptance letter from the University. I was so excited about the news of spending a summer semester abroad and traveling to Germany for the first time! In my getting ready for the program, I took part in the Exchange Pre-Departure sessions as organized by the International office. I started to plan, make research about Germany as a country, their culture, language, weather as well as a list of places to visit during my semester exchange.

I started my visa application process a month before my scheduled departure. The visa was processed at the German Consulate office in Cape Town, South Africa. The application process was so easy and fast and in four days my visa was ready and I was set to begin my Germany adventures! My excitement and anticipation levels were getting higher and higher, I was looking forward to travel. Before long, my day of departure had come. I was ready to go!

Experience at the Host University:

I was thrilled when I arrived in Stuttgart because of its beauty, and its amazing infrastructure. It was beyond anything I had imagined or thought of! I was so impressed by the beauty of the University campus and its magnificent infrastructures. One of the infrastructures that caught my attention was the famous Hohenheim Palace commonly known as ‘Schloss Hohenheim’.

The first week of my arrival was the busiest. My classes started immediately and they run simultaneously with the orientation activities. I also had to go around and get myself registered as a resident in Germany. This meant juggling orientation activities, matriculation as well as classes all at the same time! However, I made a few friends in that week that helped me settle and made this process less overwhelming for me. I would advise going a few days earlier than the day the semester begins to do away with most of the admin work. That also includes being mindful of this even before submitting the dormitory contract dates.

Orientation was wrapped up with an international student’s dinner where we were officially welcomed by the top university officials. Dinner was served over some wine and German pies. I met amazing friends from the orientation dinner and we visited most parts of the city together.

Dorica (second from right) with her friends in Stuttgart City Centre

I enjoyed the academic experience in Hohenheim. I had the privilege of meeting and interacting with experts in my research field. I took three courses that are not offered at Stellenbosch to enhance my research skills. To further broaden my knowledge, I also took econometrics courses at the economics department. I gained a different perspective about research through participation in debates on different agricultural development topics. I also joined and participated in the innovation in agriculture and rural development seminars.

I had a chance to learn from people from different countries about discourses in agriculture, development and food technology. I particularly enjoyed being with classmates from different countries such as Nepal, Germany, Japan, Nigeria, France, Kenya, Mongolia, Uganda and India. Classes were always exciting especially the aspect where we had group discussions and shared different ideas about agricultural research with application from scenarios from our countries of origin. The education system in Stellenbosch and Hohenheim are quiet similar in terms of the methods of assessment such as seminar paper writing and presentations. On the other hand, they have different grading systems. Germany uses a GPA range of 1-5 while Stellenbosch uses letters A-F for grading.

My story would be incomplete if I do not talk about the beautiful historic castles in Germany! Germany has a rich and complex history, an invigorating culture and fun-loving people, this is something every student looks forward to. My favourite time of the week was when I got to visit some of the beautiful towns in Stuttgart. I tried German’s foods from the Hohenheim cafeteria which is called ‘Mensa’ meaning a dining hall in German. I liked the art, and I attended popular summer festivals such as ‘Sommerfestival der kulturen’, and music festivals. I also visited places outside Stuttgart such as Karlsruhe which is a town that is near the French-German border.

Dorica with her friends at Karlsruhe

You cannot visit Stuttgart without going to the Porsche and Mercedes Museum. I like cars so much that I had to visit the Museum twice! I got to learn about the history of German cars. The museum also offers you a great gaming session where you get to drive a Porsche!

Dorica at the Porsche Museum

Living in Germany helped me appreciate and learn a few things about their culture. One thing that rubbed off on me is the love of sparkling water because in Germany, water has to explode! I was also impressed by their recycling rules; you get a few bucks for returning empty bottles at the store for recycling. That’s pretty cool! Another thing that I observed is that after a lecture or a seminar, Germans knock on their tables instead of clapping. Knocking on tables after a presentation is form of saying goodbye or thank you. I didn’t realise this had rubbed off on me until I caught myself knocking on tables in Stellenbosch.

Dorica in front of the Karlsruhe Palace

Besides the culture and educational experience, I also liked German’s transport system, it was fast, efficient and effective. I enjoyed the fact that students enjoy free transportation within the city on the trains and buses during the weekends and every day from 6am to 6pm.

Return to Stellenbosch:

It’s amazing how time flies when you are enjoying yourself. I felt like the four months had gone by so quickly. I grew to love the city, and made wonderful friends but it was now time to leave and return to Stellenbosch. Even though Stellenbosch is my home University I am also an international student there from Malawi. This study abroad experience helped me to appreciate the differences in culture in different countries. More importantly, I got to appreciate that there are different things that make countries great, because there is beauty in being different and unique.

Going on exchange has been one of the best moments of my life. I learnt a lot about people and also about myself. I have become more confident; I have learnt so much by observation; and I made friends that will last a life time. After this experience, I feel like I can do anything and I can go anywhere in the world and be really great. I want to travel more and explore more cultures and the diversity that exists in the world. I have found what I love through this opportunity and I will go for it! This opportunity also built my character, I have learnt to immerse myself in different cultures, communicate with different people, and be myself. Most importantly, I have also learnt to be independent, because self-sufficiency is a cool virtue in Germany. I have also learnt to think fast, plan and budget.

I would like to encourage everyone to take the challenge and go abroad to experience, learn and discover another world, maybe just like me you would also discover more interesting sides about yourself! So, why not go for it!?

September 11, 2019