Studying abroad: are you ready for a semester abroad?

Step 1: what are your goals when studying abroad?

First of all ask yourself what you want to experience and achieve in your semester abroad. Do you want to get to know a particular country or city? Or do you primarily want to meet as many people as possible, celebrate and have fun? Is it particularly important to you to improve your foreign language skills when studying abroad – perhaps also with a view to a later international job? Are you interested in the special range of courses that a specific university abroad has in the program? Depending on the desired destination, do you fancy pure nature, or are you looking forward to the hustle and bustle of a big city? Think calmly about all these criteria and then write down what is particularly important to you when studying abroad. Then you can continue with Step 2.

Step 2: Where do you want to spend your semester abroad?

Not only your own wishes are decisive when it comes to choosing your place of study abroad, but also the cooperation offer of your university. Almost all German universities and universities of applied sciences have partnerships with universities abroad – with a fixed structure that regulates the exchange and financial support. This also has the advantage that when studying abroad, the courses attended at the foreign university are usually credited to the German university without any problems.

Take a look at your list of criteria from Step 1 and compare it with the cooperation offer of your university. Can you find one or more partner universities that meet your requirements for studying abroad? Then go to Step 3 with your application. If there is nothing suitable for you, you can still plan your stay abroad as a "Freemover" on your own – which, however, entails more organizational effort and sometimes financial disadvantages. You can find a lot of information online about how this path can still succeed.

Step 3: what motivates you to study abroad?

Let's start with the application: You can find out from the responsible contact at your university – for example in the International Office – how the process works in concrete terms and by when you have to submit which documents. As a rule, an integral part of every application: a letter of motivation. You should really do your best and make good arguments as to why you would be the right choice for studying abroad. Be sure to include the following in your letter of motivation:

Why do you like studying abroad – and why exactly at this university?

Find the courses and seminars you would like to take part in on the university website and read their descriptions in detail. You can use it to argue which advantages you hope to gain from these courses for your further studies and your professional goals. You can also cite other advantages of the university, such as its equipment, its research focus in a field that is of interest to you, its sports and leisure activities or its awards as reasons why this university appears attractive to you.

Why do you want to spend time in this city or country?

On the one hand, you can go into technical reasons why the place of study abroad is exciting for you. For example, as a business student, if you are interested in studying in Shanghai, you should name your enthusiasm for economic growth in China and emphasize your language interest as a future French teacher at a Paris university. On the other hand, you are also welcome to add things that make the country or the city interesting to you, for example the way people feel, the special nature or cultural diversity.

What do you bring with you?

Communicate clearly and credibly why you "deserve" the study place: For example, explain how much you are committed to your studies and beyond, how good your language skills are already, with which (language) courses you are already studying abroad prepare or how you will get involved in the exchange university.

Step 4: Where do you want to live during the semester abroad?

You got a promise and clarified everything formal – great! Before you can start studying abroad, you should consider where you want to live during your semester abroad. There are various options, for example a flat share, student dormitory or your own apartment. Each option has certain advantages and disadvantages – so consider what is particularly important to you now.

Flat share:

If you move into a shared apartment, you will usually get to know your potential new roommates in advance. The advantage is that you can choose people with whom the chemistry is right and therefore there is a high probability that you will feel comfortable there. On the other hand, living in a shared apartment always means mutual consideration, adjustment and resolution of conflicts, for example when it comes to the household. Especially in large "party" shared apartments, there may also be little opportunity to retreat and have some peace and quiet.

Student residence:

The big advantage here is the low cost that this option usually brings. In addition, you quickly make contacts because the living area, kitchen and bathroom are often shared on one floor. (Exchange) students from many different countries often come together there, so that you can build up various language skills and learn a lot about other cultures. Here, too, you should be prepared for the fact that it can get loud due to dorm parties and that you sometimes have little privacy due to shared rooms.

Own flat:

Absolute freedom awaits you here: whether furnishing style, use of bathroom and kitchen or need for rest – you can decide completely independently of what you want. If your apartment is centrally located, you don't have to worry about loneliness. Nevertheless, you may only find connection over time, while many exchange students already know each other before the semester starts. Depending on what type you are, this may not be a problem for you.

You can usually find out which student dormitories are available on the university's website or simply via Google. Portals such as WG-Gesucht and Nestpick or Facebook groups such as "Flats and WGs in Vienna" are suitable for finding flat shares or your own flat. You can socialize with other people looking for a flat, and maybe even start a flat share with them, using relevant social media groups. If you are not lucky on these paths, you can find a temporary solution via Couchsurfing or Hostelworld.

Step 5: How good are your language skills for studying abroad?

Do you hardly speak the national language of your exchange location or not at all? Then you should definitely change something before the start of your semester abroad, for example with a course at your German university or an intensive course at the adult education center. It costs something, but it is worth it! Because even if your university teaches in English abroad, you also have to be able to talk to people in everyday life. Also a great option: Find a native speaker as a tandem partner via social media or portals like TandemPartners! You can meet regularly for coffee or walking and alternate between your two mother tongues. So you learn the other language almost casually and maybe even build up a friendship.

Of course, that's not all: work on-site on your language skills continuously during your semester abroad, for example with advanced courses at the university, a tandem partner who can also show you the location, and above all through a lot of exchange with locals. This is the best way to learn a foreign language and to pick up cultural linguistic peculiarities. Another advantage when studying abroad!

Are you still unsure what you want to study? Find out with Toni Knows' test!