Why go abroad?
Spending time abroad during your studies means more than just studying in a different place or gaining internship experience. You will immerse yourself in a foreign culture, meet new people, and come back with countless experiences. The following pages will tell you how to plan your study abroad, who can help you with the organization and financing.
Here are a few reasons why you should take advantage of this opportunity to discover the world and shape your future at the same time:
- Personal development: Living abroad allows you to learn about new cultures, ways of life, and ways of thinking. These experiences broaden your horizons and promote your understanding of the world. You become more open-minded and learn to see things from different perspectives. Living abroad means facing new challenges and overcoming them independently.
- Intercultural competence: Abroad, you live and work with people from different cultures. You learn to deal with cultural differences and avoid intercultural misunderstandings—a skill that is becoming increasingly important in our globalized world.
- Improve your language skills: Living in a foreign country allows you to deepen your language skills in a way that is not possible in a class room. These language skills significantly increase your chances on the job market, as many companies operate internationally and multilingualism is an important criterion.
- Friendships and networks: During your stay abroad, you will make friends and build networks. These international contacts can not only be personally enriching, but also be useful later in your professional life.
- Boost your career prospects: Study at a renowned university, access new teaching methods and content, and learn from internationally recognised professors. An internship will allow you to experience the working world of another country and apply your knowledge in practice. This can enrich your studies and give you a competitive edge in the job market. Furthermore, employers value employees with experience abroad. They view this experience as a sign of initiative, independence, flexibility and adaptability.
Whether it's a degree program, internship, research project, summer school, or language course, in Europe or worldwide—there are many opportunities for you to study abroad. You can study at a partner university for one or two semesters and even write a project or thesis as part of a semester abroad. Tuition fees are usually waived or financed by a scholarship. You can also gain valuable practical experience during an internship at a company or research institution abroad. Visit our Lernraum for more information and testimonials. You can find further inspiration on the website „Studieren weltweit – Erlebe es!“
Just do it! Studying abroad at the University of Auckland in New Zealand was the biggest leap out of my comfort zone, and that's exactly why I learned the most. I'm grateful and proud that I took this step. I was amazed by how open the people were, how quickly I made friends, and how much I experienced alongside my studies—from surfing trips to hiking on active volcanoes. This semester was an intense time, and it went by way too fast. I highly recommend studying abroad to everyone!
Charlotte
My time in Shanghai was more than just studying abroad; it was a formative experience that heightened my awareness of global connections and demonstrated the value of intercultural openness for personal and professional growth.
Mika
During my second semester abroad, I was reminded once again of the enriching power of a change of perspective. Venice is unique in every way, characterized by its intense relationship with water and its exceptionally diverse cultural offerings, such as the Biennale. The city's special qualities and challenges only become apparent when you are there.
Frederic
My stay in Madrid was an exciting time, even though it's colder in winter than I thought. When the Spanish eat dinner together at 10 p.m., I realize once again how different cultures are. It's challenging to make contact with locals, but every minute I invest shows me how valuable it is to really get to know the language and soul of this city.
I will definitely make the delicious tortilla de patatas and refreshing tinto de verano a few more times in Germany. The countless wonderful evenings I spent with friends, whether watching the sunset at Templo de Debod, playing cards in a cozy bar, or exploring the lively cities of Spain, every moment brought me joy and unforgettable memories. Madrid, thank you for this incredible time!
Helen
