Reviews of Universität des Saarlandes (UDS) | Germany

Useful | 0

saudade

Instituto Politécnico de Leiria, Leiria, Portugal
Translation/Interpretation, Graduate, Erasmus

Student life

Describe host city:

Students equally interact with the local and student community

Activities: Takes place mostly within the university/student environment

Nightlife, Travel: Takes place both within and outside of the university/student environment

Personal social experience

Activities

Nightlife

Travel

Overall

Personal comments

Cinemas: Uni Kino; Cine Star; Scala Kinos, Passage Kino; Theater: Stadt Theater; Museums: Geologisches Museum; Discos: Canossa (Uni); N8 Werk; Lk Disco (Farafina); Garage; Cafes: Alex Brasserie; Coyote Café; St. Johanner Marktplazt; Tante Maya; Saar Gallerie; For walk: Deutsch-Französicher Garten; Bostal See; Berliner Promenade; Garten an der Saar; Fussgängerzone; Shops: Karstadt; Kaufhof; Saar Gallerie; Real; Globus; Dm; Plus; Aldi; Lidl;

Useful | 2

saudade

Instituto Politécnico de Leiria, Leiria, Portugal
Translation/Interpretation, Graduate, Erasmus

Housing

Type of housing: On campus

Arranged by: Host university

If returning, I would choose: On campus

Why?

Because it allows us to have contact with other students and cultures. So we can learn a lot about this country and also about other countries and customs.

Personal assessment

Cost

Facilities

Location

Cleanliness

Space

Personal comments

Well, after the first semester I had to move on, because the Erasmus Students can only one semester remain. The room was quite good with kitchen and bad and quite large.However, when I arrived, at the first day, it was not very cleaned!!! We had Internet connection free and that is very helfull for our projects and it also allows us to remain in contact with our friends in our home country.

Useful | 1

saudade

Instituto Politécnico de Leiria, Leiria, Portugal
Translation/Interpretation, Graduate, Erasmus

Expenses

Main source of funding:

An ERASMUS grant

Other sources of funding:

Personal savings

Work opportunities:

I worked during my study abroad experience

Personal spending habits

Because lifestandards in Germany are higher than in Portugal.Otherwise, this is an unique experience and therefore we want to enjoy it as far as possible.

Overall, Travel, Food, Housing, Nightlife:

was more expensive than at home.

Telephone:

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

No banktransfers!!! Get your money direct from the machines!!!You will save a lot!

Useful | 0

saudade

Instituto Politécnico de Leiria, Leiria, Portugal
Translation/Interpretation, Graduate, Erasmus

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: Everyday knowledge (shopping, directions, etc.)
My level after: At ease in most situations

How much did you improve your German?

My level before: Basic phrases
My level after: At ease in most situations

Language difficulties

Social

Educational

Administrative / Institutional

Overall

Personal comments

Well I have chosen Germany, because I would like to improve my German. Here it is possible to learn all languages, due to a multi-varity people. However, I have always in german spoken because I wanted. So, at the end I can say that I have learnt a lot.

Useful | 2

saudade

Instituto Politécnico de Leiria, Leiria, Portugal
Translation/Interpretation, Graduate, Erasmus

Overall

I wish I had known...

Its diffucult to make friendship with German people.

In my opinion:

Most people loved it.

Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important

Academic reasons

4

Culture

3

Costs

3

Activities

4

Campus life

4

Party / people

4

Weather / location

2

Personal recommendation

There should be night courses. In the second semester I have made a traineeship a I would like to have attended some subjects in the University. German subjects should occur 2 or 3 times in thw eek and not omly one.

During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot

Became familiar with another culture

4

Traveled

4

Improved language skills

4

Met people from other countries

4

Became more independent

4

Partied a lot

4

Experienced a change in life

4

Advanced my studies & career

4

Final comments

There is a lot pf places that you can visit in Saarland (Bostal See, Saarschleif, Deutsch-Französicher Garten, ...). We are near from France and Luxembourg. Through the University, you call also travel to other german cities or countries (very cheap!!).

Useful | 0

saudade

Instituto Politécnico de Leiria, Leiria, Portugal
Translation/Interpretation, Graduate, Erasmus

Academic

Course recommendations

My academic experiences

Quality of courses

Variety of courses

Access to resources

Interaction with teachers

Interaction with international students

Interaction with local students

Personal comments

It's quite hard to make friendschip with the Germans. However, once made it they are nice people. Unfortunately there is no academic week as in Portugal. There isn't either a party at the end of the course.

My opinion of the university assessment

Exams at end of course