The issue of educational equity is very important to you, and you even volunteer with ApplicAid. How can someone spend a semester abroad even if they don’t have a good network or financial reserves?
Education is one of the most important things you can do for your personal development. Unfortunately though, people don’t all have equal access to educational opportunities because these are determined by origin or family background.
It’s been my experience that having a network is essential. You can be motivated by or get information through a network. No matter where you come from, it is totally important to have role models who inspire you and whose example you can follow. I think this is something that people from an educationally disadvantaged background often don’t have.
Social organisations like Arbeiterkind.de or ApplicAid provide information, and they also help people become motivated to apply for scholarship programmes and enthusiastic about different educational paths. People should try to take advantage of these opportunities.
I’m one of the founders of ApplicAid, and our goal is to support people from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds in applying for scholarships.
In addition, our own universities offer us students a lot of programmes and information events. But I have to say that as students, we sometimes ignore them. It’s important not to do this and to take advantage of these offers.
Taking the first steps towards a semester abroad - 7 questions
1. When did you decide to do a semester abroad?
I have to admit that at the beginning of my studies I didn’t think at all about doing a semester abroad. But then I was inspired by acquaintances who had just finished studying abroad. They talked about how cool it was and how it was the kind of experience you should have while you were studying.
So I simply attended a normal HAW Hamburg information event. That was the first step, and that was where I became motivated and enthusiastic about doing a semester abroad.
Then I just applied, because the application process was also relatively straightforward. All you needed was a language certificate, a transcript of records and a cover letter explaining why you wanted to take part.
2. What role did language play in your choice of host country?
I really like the English language. I was never really good at English in school, but I still always really liked it. I think English is a world language which you need pretty much everywhere.
3. What do you think is the biggest hurdle when applying for and preparing for a semester abroad?
A really big hurdle is always this question: How do I pay for my semester abroad? A lot of people don’t want the stress of taking a financial risk or of spending the time to do the calculations.
Another hurdle for me with my application was the letter of application. But I had support from a mentor at ApplicAid. They motivated and supported me during the application process.
Lots of people also think that you automatically study one semester longer when you do a semester abroad. They think, ‘I’d rather invest my time in my studies, then I’ll be done more quickly.’ This doesn’t always have to be the case though.
4. So, you think it’s a misconception that you need to study for longer if you do a semester abroad
There are different methods, which are unfortunately not so common, that enable students to stay within the standard period of study.
Often there are a lot of internships at university, sometimes even up to the fifth semester. It’s possible to organise it so that you do these internships during the semester abroad. As a first step I would recommend speaking to the degree course coordinators about whether you can get credit for this through a normal course.
It’s also possible to complete electives during the semester abroad. If the host university doesn’t offer suitable courses but there are other courses you think are interesting, you can get credit for these as electives. This makes the choice of courses for the semester abroad more flexible.
I’m also completing courses at home at the same time. In Ireland, the semester ends before Christmas. But the exam period at HAW Hamburg isn’t until February. This means I now have enough time to study and then write a few exams at HAW Hamburg.
5. How was it for you to start out again in a new city and a new university?
You get a lot of support. I wasn’t expecting that. The host university’s good coordination has meant that I’ve never felt like I was on my own. I always have a contact person I can turn to.
What I find so exceptional about the National University of Ireland is that they have a very good welcome programme. Students can use it to get to know one another.
In the orientation unit you got to talk with fellow students and make some initial contacts. There are also a lot of events for students during the semester.
Another really cool offer at the university is the so-called societies and sports clubs. The societies are groups for students with shared interests. They meet based on a specific topic that they are interested in – be it art, biochemistry, entrepreneurship or LGBTQ+ issues. This is a relatively easy way to make connections. There are also over 40 sports activities you can participate in. Socialising is a bit easier when you’re doing sports.
6. Hamburg has a lot to offer as a city. In your opinion, why should someone still go abroad?
That’s a good question! Before I started my semester abroad, I knew that I would be a different person afterwards – that I would have new skills that would be helpful for my professional future. Now I’m at the end of my semester and exactly that feeling has been confirmed.
You leave your comfort zone, you experience new things and you have lots of chances that you can use during your semester abroad to grow as a person. This experience teaches you to deal with certain challenges. I think that’s the central element that helps you enormously in this situation, and which you also need in your future career.
You also improve your language skills. You get a better feeling for the language because you don’t think so much, you just talk without being afraid of making mistakes.
7. What would you say you’ve gained personally from your semester abroad?
Spontaneously, I would say I’m really thankful that I’ve been able to have this experience. I got a lot of support from home – not financial support, but reassurance from my family that I could do it.
I experienced life from different perspective and in a different way. I purposely chose Ireland, and Galway, because I wanted to get away from the big-city stress and go to a smaller city. It is surrounded by nature and the ocean isn’t far away. It’s a different quality of life that I didn’t have in Hamburg.
And the people in Galway are so unbelievably friendly. I have felt at home and welcome from day one, which has meant I’ve had some of the best experiences of my life.
During a semester abroad you also have a bit of time to reflect on things: What do I want in life? What do I still want to do in the future? It’s a journey of self-reflection that is helpful no matter what your life situation is.
Interview: Laura Reimann
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Studium in Europa
