Expensive but an overwhelmingly worthwhile academic and personal experience Past Review
By Johnny Nguyen (University of Western Sydney) - abroad from 01/07/2019 to 01/25/2019 with
FUBiS - International Summer and Winter University
1. International perspective - the course I enrolled in was inherently one that had an international perspective - it's in the name (Law... in Comparative Perspective). Furthermore, the students that participated in this program were diverse. We had participants from the US, Australia, Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica, Brazil, Korea and China. Both of these aspects combined to make the experience one that deeply enriched my understanding of the rest of the world. 2. Critical perspective - As a law student studying this interdisciplinary course, I was confronted with the reality that my thinking was deeply legalistic. Legalism, in this context, refers to the belief that law should be the primary governing system in society. It was highly valuable for me to see the law beyond what Australian legal education has taught me - that law is purely the body of information that derives from statute, cases and the Constitution. Furthermore, it had various functions that intertwined with political, cultural and social factors. For example, I was exposed to the work of Turk, a theorist who examined law as a tool in managing social conflict. I also saw the work of Bourheim, who looked at field theory. All of these ideas were foreign to me, as someone whose legal education was deeply pragmatic and purely focused on the practice of law in Australia.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
As part of the program, I undertook the course "Law, Society and Politics in Comparative Context" taught by Professor Helen E. Hartnell. The course required intensive engagement to achieve a good mark. The resources provided were challenging and substantive. Overall, students were required to look through approximately 300 pages of academic texts in a period of 3 weeks. Beyond simply reading it, students were required to engage critically with that material in class. Participation marks were awarded for application of theoretical frameworks to real-life situations that stretched across the entire spectrum of international relations. Furthermore, the content was challenging from a legal perspective and dealt with multiple theories across various jurisdictions. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administrators were professional and organised. It was clear that they had perfected the process over the 10-year period that the program had been running. Communication was timely and relevant. The organisation of classes and activities was logical. Overall, the program has been administered by a highly organised team. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The living arrangement was decent. The facilities were generally good. There was some missing equipment in certain areas. For example, the Berlinovo apartments provided pots, pans, cutlery and a kitchenette, but did not provide bowls or plates. |
| * Food: |
There were two meals provided as part of the program - the opening and closing ceremonies. While the food was of a good quality and quantity, I would have liked it to reflect the German culture more - especially because a big part of the program was about experiencing local culture. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
There were plenty of activities and arrangements that allowed students to participate in local culture. The program includes a host of excursions that range from purely social to highly educational (e.g. cultural and historical sites). The staff members were knowledgeable and more than happy to engage in conversation and answer questions about local culture. I felt highly integrated despite the short time-frame we operated on. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I did not experience a health issue on the program, however, the insurance coverage appeared to cover most issues that would arise. |
| * Safety: |
Berlin is a highly developed city with great infrastructure and security. I experienced no security issues. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
|
Finances
|
* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
The city of Berlin is not a cheap city. Compared to Sydney, the prices were roughly equal. With this said, Sydney is considered a very expensive city. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 60-80 euros |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Cook at home in groups if possible. Use MENSA, the dining hall (on days you are on campus). The food on campus is not great, but it is substantially cheaper than other options. Alternately, pack your own food. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Direct Enrollment |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Google maps is not very well integrated with most European countries' public transport system. Download the "DB Navigator" and "FahrInfo" apps on your phone! |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The NetworkerAn active student leader, it was important for you to network abroad as well. Once overseas, you sought out student clubs, volunteered with local organizations, or attended community events. You encouraged your friends join you, and often considered how you could reflect your international experiences in a resume. |
