Erasmus Student Report By
Jan Hornik, BA in International relations and international organization at the University of Groningen.
I am glad to write this short report about my 5th semester i.e. winter semester 2018/2019 which I spent at the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen in Germany as an exchange student. My exchange in Germany will definitely stay in my memory as a good experience. I will summarize my experience in a few phases to provide you with more detailed experience.
1. Preparation:
This phase starts with a host university selection procedure. The University of Groningen has a relatively large number of partner universities and thus choosing the right one can be quite a challenge. I have chosen Tübingen because I wanted to study in Germany to improve my knowledge of the German language. Specifically, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen I have selected because of its reputation, and because of the courses which it provides.
Once the selection procedure is over, an application procedure starts. To complete all necessary steps is certainly a long process, however, the mobility office of the University of Groningen, as well as study advisors at receiving institution, were very helpful.
2. Accommodation:
This part was very well managed by the host university. We were able to choose between dormitories and private housing. There was an option to choose between different locations within the city as well as different room types. I stayed in a dormitory, in a single room with shared kitchen and bathroom. The kitchen and bathroom were only shared with 2 other students. My room was fully furnished and affordable. The dormitory where I stayed was a new facility and thus everything was very new and clean. In addition, there were monthly gatherings for students, so it was easy to get to know other students and to make friends.
3. Academics:
In regard to education, the overall quality was fairly high. The catalogue of courses was very extensive and there were no limitations for Erasmus students to select courses. I have attended a mixture of Bachelor and Master courses. Some were taught in English while others in German. Of course, certain courses were better than others. Especially, Master courses were very helpful, and I am certainly glad that I was able to participate in them. The teaching staff was highly qualified and always willing to help. The assessment method was mainly in the form of presentations and academic papers.
4. Everyday life
Tübingen is a small university city which is very similar to Groningen. It has a smaller population than Groningen, but it is more spread out. Unless you live in the city center, it is necessary to cycle or use public transportation. Since the infrastructure for bicycles is not very developed in Tübingen and there are very limited options to rent or buy a bicycle, I preferred using public transportation. The busses in Tübingen are affordable and go regularly. However, to my part of the city, they did not go very frequently and thus it was necessary always do some planning. I advise therefore to bring a bicycle from the Netherlands or to find accommodation close to or in the city center. In regard to leisure time, there are some shopping and night-life options but since Tübingen is not very big, the choices are rather limited. Hence, I recommend going to nearby Stuttgart. The general prices are lower than in the Netherlands, making it possible to save up money to travel to nearby places, such as Bavaria, Lake Constance or even to Switzerland.
5. Conclusion
I want to conclude by saying that my stay in Tübingen, in Germany was definitely a good experience. Since I do my whole bachelor program abroad, there were not so many new things which I would have to face or experience. By improving my knowledge of the German language, I have fulfilled my main objective and thus I am very thankful for being able to take part in this exchange program.
