68 reviews
4.20 / 5 based on 68 reviews
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Cyril J
Student life
Describe host city:
Student life dominates the city
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Activities, Travel, Nightlife: Takes place both within and outside of the university/student environment
Personal social experience
Personal comments
Frankfurt Oder is a small city (about 60000 inhabitants), with much unemployment. Many local people are still moving. It was almost entirely destroyed during the world war. It was rebuilt, but the town misses a real "town center". There are very few cafés or night spots. Student club: La Grotte, Bananas. Cafés: Hemingway, Oderspeicher (nice old brewery along the Oder). The best is to go to Berlin (1h, 1h30 by train)
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Cyril J
Housing
Type of housing: Apartment/House
Arranged by: Independently - My choice
If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House
Why?
I would choose to live in an apartment because it gives the opportunity to meet other people, especially german students: it is the chance to improve the language and make cultural exchange.
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Personal comments
When I arrived, I didn't know anybody, so I lived during one semester in a one person flat, which was very confortable, well located. After this semester I decided to move in a new flat with 3 other students: 2 german and 1 french friend. It was very cheap and big. There were well separated bedrooms and a living room, so we could either live together or stay alone. Great experience.
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Cyril J
Expenses
Main source of funding:
Family
Other sources of funding:
An ERASMUS grant
Work opportunities:
I didn't explore any work options
Personal spending habits
The cost of life is lower in former east germany, and Frankfurt Oder is at the border with Poland. So many people go shopping in Poland. Berlin is also a cheap city, with cheap nightlife.
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Telephone, Travel, Food, Overall, Housing, Nightlife:
was less expensive than at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
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Cyril J
Academic
Course recommendations
It is very subjective. I had to choose 7 courses in one year, and then write my master thesis. It was really interesting, because I chose very different subject, from philosophy to management of information systems.
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My academic experiences
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
Personal comments
No: what is exciting is that the erasmus students have almost the same academic life as the german ones.
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My opinion of the university assessment
Exams throughout the course
Essays and/or projects at the end of course
Essays and/or projects throughout the course
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3
Cyril J
Overall
I wish I had known...
To speak better german.
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In my opinion:
I loved it but I'm not sure everybody would.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
I really enjoyed my experience at this university:small scale, interesting courses, students from all over the world (with a majority of polish and eastern europe). I often traveled with polish friends (e.g hiking in the mountains, visit to Poznan, Wroclaw, Prag...). Some students may not like Frankfurt Oder because there is "nothing" to do. But Berlin is really not far.
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
Met people from other countries
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies & career
Final comments
Overall exciting experience. I especially appreciate the fact to live in former east germany: I could meet german from all germany and share their different ideas and values.
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Cyril J
Languages
Language of instruction: German
Was learning German a key decision factor?
Yes, I wanted to improve my German
How much did you improve your German?
My level before: Everyday knowledge (shopping, directions, etc.)
My level after: At ease in most situations
Language difficulties
Administrative / Institutional
Personal comments
I think that it is necessary to live with local people (in the same flat). It is far better to improve. At the beginning of the stay, the problem is to stay with other erasmus students who dont speak german.These stay only one semester and have english courses. Overall, german is really hard, but I really enjoyed my experience in the former east germany: it was culturally exciting. It's been 4 months that I came back to france, and I still have contact with my german (and other) friends.
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