He chose the Editorial Design and Interaction Design courses on the "Communication Design" programme at the Department of Design. In addition to what he learnt in terms of content and subject matter, he liked the interaction with his fellow students. They were all very friendly and he felt very comfortable. However, many of them didn't realise that there were also students on their courses who were not yet permanently enrolled, but were still waiting for their university entrance qualification to be recognised or to obtain the necessary language certificate. Maksym remembers: "They thought it was really cool, so they would have liked to have done it before their studies." And adds a wish to his fellow students: "If someone from the preparatory studies programme joins the group, they should also get in touch with that person."
He also liked the contact with the lecturers and professors: "I would never have imagined, for example, that I would be able to call a professor by their first name. And no matter what question you have, even private questions, you can ask the professor at any time and get an answer immediately." That is quite a difference to the system in Ukraine. Without the willingness of the professors at the various faculties, the preparatory studies programme and participation in regular lectures and seminars in the chosen degree programmes would not be possible, but the experiences of participants like Maksym clearly show that the cooperation between the Centre for Migration Research and Integration Practices and the faculties works well. The number of applicants each semester also proves that the demand for such programmes is high. The places are always filled quickly.
His girlfriend found this services offered by the Centre for Migration Research and Integration Practices on the internet when the two of them wanted to move to Hamburg. But the move turned out to be difficult. "It takes a long time to get permission from the job centre to move," reports Maksym. The advice offered by the Centre for Migration Research and Integration Practices supported the two in this process, whether in contact with the job centre or in filling out documents. It wasn't easy: "But we managed it all. Mrs. Kasper helped us a lot with it. Even with the application documents."
Parallel to the preparatory studies programme, Maksym applied for a regular university place. With success! He will start his Bachelor's degree programme in this summer semester. The accompanying specialised tutorials during the preparatory studies porgramme were also key to his successful application. He prepared intensively for the exams with a tutor: "I could write a message to the tutor at any time and received an answer immediately."
