Having been tasted the Scandinavian education at a Master’s level at Karolinska, a thought of wanting to experience the education in other parts of Europe grew in me. Karolinska as always being a student friendly University initiated an exchange study system where students can study at a partner university for 6 months. Taking an advantage of this system, I have decided to participate in the exchange program. The reason to choose Germany is that, I have always been interested in gaining experience in the field of Biochemistry of proteins and University of Heidelberg is one of largest hub for this field. I have applied for Erasmus Sokrates exchange program, which enabled me to study at Heidelberg for the duration of 6 months. Being a student research assistant at MBB department, Karolinska and a student ambassador for Karolinska helped me in obtaining the exchange position. Ok… I got the exchange position. What’s next!!..As I am a Non-European, I had to go through all procedures required to obtain the residence permit to study in Germany for than 3 months. For the residence permit, one has to consider the financial aspects; In Germany an amount of 650 euros per month will be blocked in a student account for the duration of the study. This money is released every month for living and study purposes. No vaccinations were required for the admission. 

I have arrived in mid-September, few days before the start of the semester. The nearest airport to Heidelberg is Frankfurt International or Hahn airport, which is convenient. The accommodation was arranged prior to my arrival and fortunate enough to get the accommodation near campus where my course work and project will be held during my exchange program. University of Heidelberg has two campuses, one located in the Old town of the city and other in the New town or Im Nuehenheimfeld. All the registration processes will take place in the Auslandsamt in the Old campus. Registration documents include application form, health insurance, financial certificates and letter from Karolinska. The health insurance was provided from Karolinska for the duration of the stay; however, one has to get a health insurance exempt form from a social insurance company (AOK and etc) in Heidelberg. Upon registration, we get an admission file and all we have to do is start activating the University card and email accounts etc provided in the file. Besides, one has to register in the city with the living address at the Bürgeramt office of Heidelberg. Orientation days were conducted for 3 days and exchange students are organized in to groups and all the University facilities are introduced to the students.

Unlike in Stockholm, the cost of living in Germany is relatively cheaper. As the University provided my accommodation, it was helpful for me to cut down my living costs. Regarding food, University has a canteen system called “Menza” where students and university staff can avail the food for lower costs. Supermarkets like Aldi, Lidl and Kaufland sell good quality groceries at lower prices. Transportation costs were also lowered being a University student by buying a Semester ticket. It allows one to use all the means of public transportation available in few regions around Heidelberg. In addition, biking is most cost effective and healthy means of transportation in Heidelberg. I was fortunate enough to get a Hiwi contract from the lab where I did my 15hp project work during the exchange study. University students in Germany can be paid an amount of 400-800 euros under Hiwi contracts, which we do not encounter in Sweden. 

1. Being an Erasmus exchange student, University puts it effort in arranging accommodation to all students. If not it might be difficulty in finding suitable accommodation as one face in Stockholm. Finding accommodation can be easy if one is updated with the vacancies in the following websites: www.zimmer69.de, www.wg-gesucht.de, and also University info center helps students in providing the information available on vacancies in the surrounding regions of Heidelberg. Being an International student one might face difficulties in finding private accommodation. I have observed that Germans can be a bit reluctant in renting the apartments to non-Germans or International students. Nevertheless, it’s always possible to hunt and talk to various fellow students, which helps to a greater extent in obtaining contacts. In some cases, the apartment owners conduct interviews for the incoming tenants in order to know them better before renting the apartments. I was living in a two-room flat with shared kitchen and toilet provided by the University for 245 Euros per month. This student residency was situated 3 km away from the campus where I take the courses and do my project work. This was very convenient for me as I can just walk to the campus or lab. All the supermarkets and the city center can be reached easily with a bus connection, which runs every 10 min on weekdays and every 20 min during weekends. Most interestingly, late night busses called “Moonliners” run every 1-hour after 12 am which again was very convenient late night social activities.

To my knowledge, I had a feeling that German’s research and education in science is competitive and challenging. In order to obtain 9 hp towards courses in the third semester, I had to take doctoral level courses and as a part 15hp project, I have been doing my project in DKFZ (German Cancer Research Center) for 3 months. Teaching methods are student friendly and includes seminars, practical labs and many interactive sessions rather than formal classes. Working in KI or in general Sweden might be a bit relaxing when compared to Germany. English is the medium of  instruction  inside the academia.  I had a feeling that at times it is appropriate to be formal while writing emails or talking to professors at the University where as in Sweden being informal to professors is accepted. 

Experience in the lab was good in terms of gaining scientific knowledge. I have faced few difficulties with German people in the lab due to language barriers and the general tendency of Germans being impatient incase of any inconvenience. However, the lab was international that helped me to cope up in the lab. This depends on case to case, my fellow exchange students did not have such problems. 

It is always an advantage to know the native language of the country where you study. Though Germans are able to speak English, they prefer speaking in German. I have observed that, in spite of non-German speaking people in a group, Germans tend to speak in German in informal conversations. As my lab had international students, I was able to cope up in the group. All the Erasmus students were offered a crash course of German for one month before the start date of semester with a fee of 100-150 euro. Laymen knowledge of German would be of great help while dealing with people outside the academic environment. Germans tend to have their own group of friends while hanging out for parties. However, I had few German friends who invited me for various traditional German celebrations during Christmas, which I felt very good. 

As a part of the orientation for Erasmus students, the University had arranged many leisure and social activities. An event “PubCrawl” was organized for Erasmus students, where a group of students spend time in various pubs with a student tutor of the university to help with various questions and experiences at the University and the city. After experiencing the cost of living in Stockholm, it was easy for us in Heidelberg to spend time towards the social activities. With few other Erasmus students, it was lot of fun to hang out at various pubs once or twice per week. Brass Monkey is the famous pub in Heidelberg that organizes many events and parties for international and exchange students.

In addition, Heidelberg is best known as a romantic city. One can see tourists in Heidelberg at all the times in a year. Heidelberg Castle, Heidelberg Old Bridge, Konigsthul and old town are considered, as must places to visit in the city. Castle has a “German pharmacy museum” which was very good to know about the traditional medicine used few thousand years ago. Heidelberg together with Manheim organizes International film festivals, which plays movies of various languages. One of remarkable events that one should not miss in Heidelberg is the Christmas market. Heidelberg Christmas market is best organized and famous in Germany. The uniqueness of Christmas markets in Germany is “Feuerzangenbowle” drink, which is freshly made of rum poring on to burning sugar and dripping in to wine. German tradition is that friends and family get together for Christmas and spend time watching “The Feuerzangenbowle” movie with the drink. Apart from these, water sports like Kayaking can be most refreshing in Rhein-neckar region of Heidelberg. The University also organizes the trips to various tourist spots in Germany and nearby countries for a lower cost.

To sum up with my experiences, I have gained significant technical and scientific knowledge in my subject being in Heidelberg. I have learnt dealing with handling research project independently and applying the knowledge from course work. It was a cultural shock for me in Germany with regards to interactions with Germans, studying and working in Germany after living in Sweden for one year. Nevertheless, my exchange study was a great learning experience to know various people and cultures. I see both sides of a coin before deciding some thing. A new experience is always good for the personality development, which is essential for the career development. So brood over all the previous exchange reports and start the journey….