I would recommend that everybody study abroad because it was the most rewarding experience of my lif Past Review

By (Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics., University of North Dakota) for

University of Regensburg: Regensburg - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was absolutely worthwhile. I made friends that I will have for the rest of my life and I learned so much about Germany as well as myself that I honestly think that it should be required to study abroad.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The workload was much lighter than in the USA because the German system almost never assigns homework, but the entire grade depended on usually a presentation and a test at the end of the semester, or just a test, which made things more stressful than normal.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The program was well organized, but there definitely was a problem with informing us about what we could expect when we got there. For example, I had no idea that I would have to wait for 3 weeks before I would be able to get internet access in the room I was staying in. I think that there was in general a communication problem between the two universities.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

The food quality, even when very inexpensive was higher than the food quality in the USA.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I went to Oktoberfest in September and in Regensburg there is the Dult, which is like Oktoberfest but it was specific to the town. I also went on a few trips, to Neuschwanstein, Weimar/Erfurt, and Valhalla while I was there that were also a lot of fun.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

The healthcare was cheaper in Germany as a student and the coverage was absolutely spectacular. For example, I paid around 80 Euros ($112) a month for health insurance and I was completely covered with no co-pays.

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)

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
Language acquisition improvement?

I practiced with other international students as well as my professors/instructors and native speakers. I did need to use the language every day even though almost all of the international students spoke English better than they spoke German.

If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students