Ned Sadler

Why did you choose your host university?

Because I have previously travelled to Germany on another trip and I like how central it is to the whole of Europe. The university is also situated in the heart of Germany with very high prospects as it is rated number 2 in the whole of Germany for business degrees. If I had known previously of the location (a rather rural location) I may have considered looking at another option prior to applying. It was located along the Rhine River which was a very picturesque wine region with lots of vineyards and tourists coming through.

What was the university like?

The university was very professional and had lots of professional from the business world come in to do presentations. A lot of the grading was based on group presentations and how well you could work and adapt under circumstances. The university itself was very small, only around 1500 students so the business campus was rather small but had the majority of things that you needed. The classes were very formal and long, most students would wear suits and the occasional tie. My classes (third year) went from durations between 6-8 hours in a day with one of my classes also being on a Saturday. These courses were a combination of lectures and tutorials where you would learn the course information and ask questions to further your learning.

What did you gain from your exchange experience and has it changed the way you think or altered your approach to life?

I gained a vast amount of friends from all areas of the globe. The exchange program allowed for me to grow as a person as you have to be able to adapt to new surroundings and learn how to live in a foreign land. It has made me a much more sociable person as I have learnt that you have to go out of your way to learn new cultures and this is important as you will strive to learn new things in the future.

What accommodation options were available to you?  How affordable was accommodation and would you recommend the same option to others?

The university offered at the start a flat hunt for incoming exchange students. My friend and I went through this option as we didn’t know where else to look for accommodation. The accommodation was very expensive and I suggest looking for accommodation through facebook pages. I was paying 500 euro a month as well as my friend for a 2 person apartment. The apartment was nice but a bit small as we were in the loft of the house. Our landlord was very nice and owned one of the wineries in the town.

Describe your travel experiences; did you travel locally or to neighbouring countries? 

During my time over there I was able to travel for an extended period of time due to my timetable. I travelled to over 12 countries over the duration that I was there for. I also did a fair bit of travelling with in the country as it was so easy to do so. Meeting a lot of friends from the university and going on travels with them is highly recommended and don’t plan anything as it is very easy to make plans. When travelling I recommend using websites such as skyskanner.com and goeuro.com and Ryanair for cheaper fares for travel all throughout Europe.

Describe how you adjusted to life in a different country and how you met new people.

During my time over there I was able to travel for an extended period of time due to my timetable. I travelled to over 12 countries over the duration that I was there for. I also did a fair bit of travelling with in the country as it was so easy to do so. Meeting a lot of friends from the university and going on travels with them is highly recommended and don’t plan anything as it is very easy to make plans. When travelling I recommend using websites such as skyskanner.com and goeuro.com and Ryanair for cheaper fares for travel all throughout Europe.

Can you see any benefits from this exchange to your future career?

I can see this benefitting me in the future as it was a very prestigious university and I was able to meet some very successful and interesting people.

What advice would you give to a student who was hesitant or considering joining the exchange program?

I would tell them that you have to experience knew things as life here in Adelaide/Australia is so different to the European living. It is something that you have to experience for yourself rather than just hearing from all of your friends. I always wanted to go on exchange and was disappointed in myself for not going when I had the chance in high school.