How a mobility semester in Würzburg became a personal breakthrough for a Business Administration student

Natalie Sitnikova, a third-year Business Administration student, shares her experience participating in an academic mobility program at the University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt, Germany. This is more than a story about documents, lectures, or visas — it's a deep reflection on cultural contrasts, self-discovery, and finding meaning in the unfamiliar.

Hi everyone!
My name is Natalie, I’m a third-year student in Business Administration, and today I’d like to share my experience from the mobility program at the University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt in Bavaria, Germany. I’ll tell you everything — from applying for a visa to returning home. Let’s begin!

Choosing a university and preparing
As soon as the world of mobility opened up, the first question was choosing the right university. I had two main criteria: the quality of business education in the country, and a balance between cultural similarities and differences. The first was simple — I wanted to immerse myself in an environment where business is seen the same way as at GSB: an innovative, open field. The second was more nuanced — I hoped that some cultural similarities would make adapting easier, while differences would allow for new perspectives and mindsets. I’m happy to say my choice turned out to be a perfect fit. I found myself in a familiar, dynamic business environment — but with new approaches, thoughts, and opinions.

After receiving the long-awaited email from the international exchange office with “You have been nominated for the mobility program,” I was overjoyed. But right after that, I had to dive headfirst into the paperwork — from creating a study plan to getting a visa. The GSB exchange center and academic office helped me a lot — I’m very grateful! As for the visa, there were no major issues: you just need to prepare all documents carefully, check the processing times anxiously, and wait. I received mine in about 10 days. Looking back, here are a few takeaways from the whole preparation period:

• All the necessary information is available. And if anything is unclear — don’t hesitate to ask.

• The earlier you apply for a visa, the less stress you'll have. The rule is simple: if something can reduce stress — do it without hesitation.

• The most complicated step was opening a blocked bank account, but even that was manageable.

Adaptation and the city
Let’s skip to arrival and adaptation. I had traveled far before and usually adapt to new environments quickly. The most interesting — and exciting — part was adapting to people. It’s not as easy as getting used to the “picture” around you. You get used to German bureaucracy, the atmosphere of the city, your home, and so on. But adapting to human culture is a different story.

Actually, “adaptation” isn’t quite the right word. I think when you get the chance to experience a new culture, it’s not enough to simply get used to it — you need to dive into it. Feel its different sides, take something meaningful for yourself, leave behind what doesn’t resonate. In other words, you do deep work with cultural boundaries — especially your own. And if you’re ready for that — go for it! Talk, ask questions, agree, disagree, learn, relax — open up and take it all in.

The city of Würzburg really helps with this. Small and quiet compared to Moscow, it’s a student town located at the crossroads of many places. It doesn’t overwhelm you — it allows you to focus inward. The city is rich in history and culture, and from there you can easily travel anywhere in Germany. I was happy to live in such a place, even though I love Moscow. But you know — experiencing something unfamiliar opens your eyes to the familiar too.

Studying: approaches and challenges
Now, about the university itself. If you’re focused on hard skills and structured models, it might not be the right place. Of course, it depends on your course selection, but overall, the emphasis was on concepts, not tools. At first, I felt like I wasn’t learning anything new — just hearing the same ideas in a different format. But gradually I began to appreciate that format: how professors and students approach topics, which aspects of business they prioritize, how they view global trends. And if you can supplement your learning with practical knowledge — you’ll feel at home.

That said, there was one downside for me — finding like-minded teammates for group projects was difficult. The habit of going deeper, doing more not for rewards but for better results, is uncommon here. My group was very diverse culturally, but even with that, there were clear limits: we did only what was required — no more, no less. This applied to project content, deadlines, sources, meetings, everything. It felt like a trap: a lot of focus on ideas, not enough on execution. People often asked “what” and “why,” but rarely “how.” That felt incomplete to me, and the lack of desire to go further was the most frustrating part of my experience. I later spent a lot of time thinking about why that is — what priorities or values lead to this mindset. You can find answers, or at least imagine them, but this is a cultural trait I don’t want to adopt.

Communication with professors
What I would like to adopt, however, is the way professors and students interact. Groups were small, lectures and seminars were combined, and since there weren’t many people actively participating, those who did got a lot of attention. It created an amazing opportunity for dialogue and allowed me to go deeper into topics I was interested in. The atmosphere was welcoming, open, and encouraging — ideas were developed, not dismissed.

In conclusion
I’ve probably said quite a few bold things already, but here’s one more. If you know what kind of knowledge you’re looking for and are ready to build on your own experience — this kind of program will expand your horizons dramatically. It will enrich your understanding of business and culture, boost your communication skills, and help you figure out what really matters to you — in your studies, career, and life. And that’s exactly what this mobility program gave me. And I’m glad I had the courage to say yes.