Calm and disciplined: how business schools in Germany learn leaders

“Life in Germany is calm, with bureaucracy, shops opened until 20:00, festivals and holidays, discipline, cleanliness, travelling”. Maria Somova shares her impressions as a student at a German university in the famous city of Nuremberg.
Maria Somova, a 2nd year Bachelor's student of Digital Innovations in Business Management at the HSE Graduate School of Business, spent a semester at the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, FAU) in Germany. The university was founded in 1743 and has hosted Nobel laureates and renowned scientists and researchers from all over the world.

Getting a visa 

As soon as I found out that I was nominated for the mobility programme, I took care of the visa issue. I decided to apply for a visa myself. All the information is available on the website of the German embassy, which operates in the Russian Federation. You apply online (it's a questionnaire with a number of questions about your visa history). Then they send you a confirmation that your application has been received. In about 1-2 weeks, you receive a notification about the appointment at the visa centre with the date and time when you need to come and submit your documents. The list of required documents can also be found on the embassy's website. Pay attention to the financial guarantee. In order to open a blocked account in Germany, you may need a card from a foreign bank. 

Choice of accommodation 

Housing is provided by the university, that is really great. If you are happy with dormitory life, you can apply in advance on the university website.  Student hostels in Germany are in fact small studios, with their own bathroom and kitchen. Housing prices in Nuremberg do not differ from those in Moscow. But it is also worth considering that in Germany there are taxes that are mandatory for all residents. For example, the radio tax — 91€ for three months (although it is cancelled in August). The cost of travelling for students throughout Germany, not including high-speed trains, is 29€ per month. Insurance and housing costs are about 500€ per month. The average price of a coffee is 3-4€. 

Studying at the university

The university has two campuses. One is in Nuremberg — the Business School is located here, the second one is in Erlangen, about 40 minutes from Nuremberg. Most of the classes take place in Nuremberg, but a couple of times I had to go to Erlangen’s campus. I highly recommend attending the Welcome Week, as it tells you all the specifics about living in Germany and studying. Studying at the FAU is very different from studying at the GSB, as you need to be more disciplined and self-organised (you have to study a lot of material on your own without the support of teachers). 

General impressions 

Life in Germany is quite different from one in Moscow. Life in Germany is calm, bureaucracy, with shops opened until 20:00, festivals and holidays, discipline, cleanliness, travelling. Studying as an exchange student is an unforgettable experience that brought a lot of emotions, many friends and new knowledge. All this will remain in my memory forever.