Reviews of FH Pforzheim - Hochschule für Gestaltung, Technik und Wirtschaft | Germany

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Cynthia L

Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico
Marketing and Sales Management, Undergraduate, University Agreement

Languages

Language of instruction: English

Local language was: Different than language of instruction

Was learning English a key decision factor?

Yes, I wanted to improve my English

Was learning German a key decision factor?

Yes, I wanted to improve my German

How much did you improve your English?

My level before: No problems in any areas (including slang)
My level after: No problems in any areas (including slang)

How much did you improve your German?

My level before: Did not speak it
My level after: Basic phrases

Language difficulties

Social

Educational

Administrative / Institutional

Overall

Personal comments

The professor in charge of teaching the local language (german) was not clear all the time, so it was hard to understand her, it was also a bit frustrating because she didn't create the correct environment to learn (she laughed at the students when they made a mistake, causing some students to drop the course)

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Katie G

University of Brighton, Brighton, United Kingdom
Business Studies, Undergraduate, Erasmus

Housing

Type of housing: Apartment/House

Arranged by: Independently - My choice

If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House

Why?

Because it gave me the opportunity to live with German people of my own age. I also wished to have a choice in where i lived. Spending several weekends visiting and looking at rooms allowed me to do this.

Personal assessment

Cost

Facilities

Location

Cleanliness

Space

Personal comments

There is quite a lot of private accomodation to choose from in the area and it is very reasonably priced

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Cynthia L

Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico
Marketing and Sales Management, Undergraduate, University Agreement

Expenses

Main source of funding:

Family

Other sources of funding:

Personal savings

Work opportunities:

I worked during my study abroad experience

Personal spending habits

The cost of living is higher in Germany than in Mexico. For travel, I did it more often than at my home country.

Nightlife, Travel, Housing, Food, Overall:

was more expensive than at home.

Telephone:

was the same price as at home.

Accessibility of student needs

Second-hand text books

Second-hand household items

Computers / Internet

Administrative

Money from home

Personal comments

Not may bank machines around the city. The student dorms have the very basic items so I had to buy or borrow much more and in the end give them away or throw them to the garbage.

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Sashko

Hanzehogeschool, Hogeschool van Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
Marketing and Sales Management, Undergraduate, University Agreement

Expenses

Main source of funding:

Other

Other sources of funding:

Family<br> Other

Work opportunities:

I worked during my study abroad experience

Personal spending habits

From my application one may learn that I am Ukrainian and prices in Ukraine are much lower than in the Netherlands, hence higher expences.

Telephone, Overall, Food, Travel, Housing, Nightlife:

was more expensive than at home.

Accessibility of student needs

Second-hand text books

Second-hand household items

Computers / Internet

Administrative

Money from home

Personal comments

Plan your budget and do not spend your money if you do not have enough them unless they will come back with interest and without troubles.

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chau p

The Hague University, The Hague, Netherlands
Business Studies, Undergraduate, Erasmus

Expenses

Main source of funding:

Family

Other sources of funding:

An ERASMUS grant

Work opportunities:

I worked during my study abroad experience

Personal spending habits

The food in Germany is cheaper than in Holland. However, I had so many chances to have dinner together with my firends and we usually go out together, hence, I have spent more on food. I had a mobile contract in Holland and I still continue it until June because of my contract period. I could not stop it since February. Then, the Tmobile company charge international fee when I was in Germany in February. Meanshile, I must buy a prepaid sim to call within Germany. In one time, I must pay as twice as I must pay in Holland. Fortunately, I searched for a very good room through the internet. Actually, I contacted with FH Pforzheim international office and they gave me some address that I can contact and find a room. By that way, I found my cheap room now. Besides, I did quite lots of trips in Germany, and reduce the night party, I totally spend more because of travelling then.

Telephone, Travel, Overall, Food:

was more expensive than at home.

Nightlife, Housing:

was less expensive than at home.

Accessibility of student needs

Second-hand text books

Second-hand household items

Computers / Internet

Administrative

Money from home

Personal comments

One of my cost-saving tips when staying in a foreign country is buying cheap things and know where to buy them. When I move to a new room, I must buy everything again. However, I must go somewhere else later such as exchange to another country. Therefore, most of my furniture will not be used anymore. Hence, I decided to buy second-hand furniture with only 2 euro for a table. Or buying things in 1 Euro shop. There, you can also find some glass, mirror, brush, and so on. They are much cheaper than in a normal shop. Ofcourse, they do not have a good quality. However, you will throw them anyway. Besides, I always wait for some discount season. For example, when I went to Germany, I chose www.Citynightline.de and booked the ticket from this website. It was unbelievable that they only charge me 19 euro to go from Amsterdam to Pforzheim. At that time, they have special offer. When I travelled within Baden Wuerttemberg, I chose the region ticket which 5 people share the ticket with the total price is only 23 euro. Or you can choose some cheap flight like www.hlx.com, www.germanwings.com, or www.ryanair.com and so on.

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