53 reviews
4.29 / 5 based on 53 reviews
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1
Doug M
Housing
Type of housing:
Arranged by: Host university
If returning, I would choose: On campus
Why?
The campus housing was modern and beautiful, as well as central. It had fitness facilities, bike rooms, party rooms, etc. and the rooms themselves were spacious.
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1
Doug M
Student life
Describe host city:
Student life dominates the city
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Travel, Nightlife: Takes place mostly within the university/student environment
Activities: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment
Personal social experience
Personal comments
Polarbaer was the hip hangout. Also, in the summers, the beer gardens ("Bierkeller"in is what the Bambergers call them) were the places to find the young people.
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3
Doug M
Overall
I wish I had known...
I think being totally clueless when I arrived added to the experience.
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In my opinion:
Everybody loved it, you will too!
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
Most people when they decide to go to Germany want to go to Heidelberg or Tuebingen. Bamberg is a much better choice. There are fewer Americans - so you have to meet people from other places. Also, the office of foreign students is very active and takes the foreign students on great trips (skiing, Lake Constance, etc.). The German instruction is fantastic, and the city is truly one of the most beautiful in Germany. I recommend Bamberg with absolutely no reservations!
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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
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Doug M
Academic
Course recommendations
Well, at German universities, the quality is questionable as compared to the Anglo-American system. Professors are pretty aloof and unavailable and the courses are generally not examined, so there is no good incentive to put effort in. The ones that are graded are done so with a long paper and a presentation, which can be difficult if in a foreign language.
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My academic experiences
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
Personal comments
Other than completely reworking the German university system, probably not. Having also studied at a larger German university, Bamberg was far better. But it's still the bizarre German system.
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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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0
Doug M
Languages
Language of instruction: German
Was learning German a key decision factor?
No, it wasn't.
How much did you improve your German?
My level before: Everyday knowledge (shopping, directions, etc.)
My level after: No problems in any areas (including slang)
Language difficulties
Administrative / Institutional
Personal comments
My German was not great when I arrived in Bamberg. But the German as a foreign language department was very good and with all the socializing I did, my German was actually pretty fluent upon departure. But this only happens if you spend a whole year abroad. It takes about 5-6 months to get used to the concept. After that is when your language improves. Bamberg can be a bit tough because of the dialect, but the dialect actually is a conversation piece when you don't understand the locals. They often want to enlighten you on Franconian!
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0
Doug M
Expenses
Main source of funding:
Family
Other sources of funding:
Personal savings<br>
Other
Work opportunities:
It was not legal for me to work
Personal spending habits
Cost of living in a small Bavarian city is far less than that of Washington, DC. Students from less urban areas in the USA found Bamberg to be comparably priced.
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Telephone:
was more expensive than at home.
Housing, Food, Travel, Overall, Nightlife:
was less expensive than at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
Personal comments
The telephone is a shock in Germany. Very expensive.
And Germany has a great evening about once a month called Spermuehl, on which people put out their random "trash" that we would normally save for a yard sale, and it just sits on the street overnight and people go and rummage through it for treasures. I found lots of good pots and pans that way!
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