Type of housing: Flat sharing

Arranged by: Host university

If returning, I would choose: The same place

Why? The apartment is shared between ten people, many of whom are not native Germans, which gives it an interesting flair. The people living there were extremely friendly and still three years on, even though there has been some change in the composition of inhabitants, one can still feel at home there.

Personal comments:
I had some luck in getting my particular apartment since a former inhabitant who was on an Erasmus scholarship in France was studying in the same faculty which I was entering, so I simply got to take over her room for the duration of our exchange. Others ended up on, more or less, completely international (i.e. non German) campuses. Consequently they had a hard time adjusting to the German culture and language. I would personally like to see the University do more to help the international student body integrate with the local students and culture.

Describe host city: Students equally interact with the local and student community

Activities, Nightlife, Travel: Takes place mostly within the university/student environment

Personal comments:
I like more low-key places, so I spent little time in the dance clubs behind the main train station and Che Heinz, although these locations are great for dancing, music, and socializing. My favorite places are Cafe Safron, "und der Boese Wulf" bar, and Debakel. There's a great little Chinese restaurant called Bok Asian Imbiss near the Jugend Kirche and, right around the corner on Hornemannweg, is an inexpensive Italian restaurant called Natale. Hannover is incredible and there is always something going on!

Course recommendations:
There is a different philosophy in Germany regarding academics than in America. Lectures are sometimes very large, and students are required to be more independent than in the United States.

Personal comments:
As an American undergrad, I am used to a centralized campus with student life facilitated and promoted by university offices. The visible signs of university life are absent in Germany; there are no university gift shops with t shirts of the school, for instance. There are also few official university sports teams. Historically, German universities are decentralized and students do not celebrate their mutual university affiliation as in the United States. If I could make any one suggestion, it would be to promote a sense of community on campus.

Language of instruction: German

Main source of funding:
Family

Other sources of funding:
An ERASMUS grant

Work opportunities:
I worked during my study abroad experience

Personal spending habits:
Good food like fish is mor expensive in Germany than in Spain and so are most of the items and services. Night life(discos...) is not specially expensive compared to Spain.

Nightlife: was more expensive than at home.

Food, Travel, Overall, Telephone, Housing: was less expensive than at home.

I wish I had known...
How fun it would be...i wouldnt have been so nervous then.

In my opinion:
Most people loved it.