Pre-departure:
I have been interested in going on exchange since my first year at university, but did not have the opportunity to go until I started my postgraduate studies, so I had plenty of time to familiarize myself with the various options. The international office at my home university and their website were very helpful in this regard.
I eventually decided to choose a university which offered courses in machine learning, which I was very interested in, but which was not part of my curriculum in the past.
I had visited the Technical University of Munich (TUM) once before with my school and was intrigued by the campus and by Munich as a city. The TUM also ranks as the top university in Germany, and especially well for informatics. Fortunately, I also have a European passport, so the fact that I would not need a visa also made the continent more attractive.
The application procedure at Stellenbosch University entailed getting two letters of recommendation, writing a motivational letter as well as filming a 5-minute video application. For the host university, a motivational letter and several documents were required to supplement the application form. I was able to get much valuable assistance from the international office on both sides and felt well supported during the process.
Another important document that was required by both sides was a Learning Agreement, stipulating the courses I would take. This was the most difficult process, since there were many courses to choose from and I was not sure how the system worked. I found out later that most of the courses I selected were not offered after all in the semester I was going, and so I had to revise my choices months later. In Germany, they are very relaxed about choosing your courses and about the registration times – the courses rarely fill up quickly and it is best not to stress about it too much.
There was a special procedure required for applying for practical courses and seminars, where applications are rather competitive and everyone is assigned a choice by a matching portal. We received very good support through this procedure in the form of an interactive webinar by the TU Munich.
All in all, the application procedure appeared daunting at first, but with the good support structure and guidance, it was easy to follow.
The more complicated part of the preparation was finding accommodation – a notorious problem in Germany. I was fortunate enough to be offered a room in student housing by my host university. This was thanks to a special arrangement for Erasmus students, as these rooms are usually hard to get into. I can only recommend that if you accept it if you get an offer like this. It seems daunting to do so, because they cannot give you details about the accommodation beforehand, but it is much more affordable than living in private housing and it makes the process of finding a place to stay so much less stressful.
Experience at the host university:
I took three different types of courses: a ‘normal’ lecture course, a seminar and a practical course. I found the structure of the ‘normal’ course to be very similar to back home. Theoretical concepts were explained in the lectures using slides, and assignments were used to give practical experience. Tutors were available during set ‘office hours’ and this was usually very helpful. What was different to back home was the fact that exams counted 100% of your grade, apart from a bonus points system.
The seminar was an interesting diversion from the norm. We were split up in groups of eight and worked independently on a task that we completed as part of an international Data Mining Competition. This was a great way to meet new people, learn and apply new concepts and experience working on a real-world problem.
The last course I took was a practical course, and this was the only negative experience I had on the academic front. The course was rather chaotic, and the task we were given had neither a brief or objective nor a deadline attached to it, among other issues. After speaking to regular students at the university, however, I found that this particular course had a reputation for poor organisation, and that I most likely was dealt an unlucky card.
Munich is a dream in the summer time with many activities on the agenda – form outdoor sports and picnics through open air music events. There were so many events on offer from the university that I could hardly attend half of them.
I took part in interesting day events such as the international food evening, an outing to the fairy tale castle of Neuschwanstein, a night at the state opera, several hikes and bouldering events. There were also weekend trips offered by Erasmus. I took the opportunity to go on the trip to Dresden and Leipzig on a long weekend, and had an incredible time learning about the history of the city, making new friends and enjoying the feeling of being in beautiful and cultural Europe. I also had the opportunity to use cheap travel options independently to visit family in Hamburg and Zürich, as well as friends in Vienna.
One of the best parts about Munich in summer was the amount of activities one can pursue in the English Garden, such as bike rides and picnics, volleyball or slack lining. A big tourist attraction there is also the river surfing on the Eisbach – trying this was a highlight of my trip.
In April, the Frühlingsfest (‘little brother’ of the Oktoberfest) took place. We got dressed up in traditional Bavarian Dirndl and Lederhosen, enjoyed the rides, games and, of course, the beer. Beer only comes in a 1L mug, so one needs to be prepared for a good party.
As I arrived in Germany early I was even able to still get the last of the winter weather, experience my first real snow and try my luck at snowboarding. It’s a lively city with something for everyone.
Return to Stellenbosch:
This experience has been invaluable for both my personal and academic growth. I found that moving to a new city alone and having to figure out how the system works has made me more independent than I was. I was certainly out of my comfort zone and, while it was difficult in the beginning, it was an important experience to have made. Among other things, I think I have become much better at making new friends, more self-assured and more confident in my decisions.
Since I have a German heritage and was raised speaking German, I didn’t think the concept of culture shock would apply to me. It turns out, however, that African Germans are rather different to their ancestors.
I learnt very quickly that the normal South African practice of acknowledging someone’s presence with a quick smile is considered inappropriate in public places.
Also, it is more than frowned upon to disobey red robots, walk the bicycle lane or cycle on the wrong side of the road.
Furthermore, there is a certain pace to keep up in Germany – causing the waiter or the cashier any idle time is considered very rude. While all this can be endured by keeping one’s sense of humour, I was rather glad to return to warm and smiling faces, and to have the liberty to stand in the middle of an escalator without being run over.
One notable experience I made being amongst international students from all over the world was the effect that a language barrier can have. Although everyone spoke English, many could not fully express themselves in their second language. This made me more sensitive to the issue we have in South Africa, given our mix of 11 official languages.
From an academic point of view, this exchange was one of the best things I could have done. Coming from a completely different faculty at my home university, I was thrown in the deep end at Informatics. I had to learn a lot in a very short time – and I did. The new theories I was taught in the lectures and practical exercises helped me to develop my understanding of machine learning and shed a whole new light on the topic for my master’s thesis. I was therefore very excited to come back to my work in Stellenbosch. I also met many great minds in the field through the university and at conventions which I visited, which all served as an exceptional networking opportunity.
I cannot begin to explain how grateful I am for having been granted this opportunity. It has been an invaluable experience in so many ways. I have grown significantly from both a personal and professional perspective and been exposed to many different cultures and perspectives. The exchange was well organised with ample support from both my host and home universities. The cultural programme offered by various organisations was rich and fun. The city of Munich was a hub of excitement and adventure, and the opportunity for travel made it an even more colourful experience.