Hello Viktor! Hope you have been having a lovely semester in Berlin. We ‘d love to hear your very first study experience at Berlin School of Economics and Law (HWR Berlin). 

1. How is your study exchange school different from Metropolia, particularly about learning experience?

Our campus in Schöneberg consists of 5000 regular students and around 300 exchange students in our Winter Semester group. Bigger university with more available courses and opportunities to schedule your time. Learning has been quite similar to what we’ve had in Metropolia, at the very least in our accounting and finance classes. It is more self-study, exams at the end of semester and thus far only three presentations. Most of the grade is on the basis of one or two exams, and attendance plays small role for some of the classes depending on the lecturer. I have classes from Tuesday till Friday 8 – 16/18 in 4 hour blocks with one break in the middle. You are either provided with a reader or slides on moodle/email which you will use as the basic material for the course.

2. What are the plus and minus sides of your study exchange school? What would be the best experience, and also the critical challenges to overcome?

Best experience, moving to Berlin has been very exciting and the school has been terrific regardless of the problems.

Challenges, finding an apartment (three months), Bureaucracy school/other institutions,

Plus ·         Most specialisations can be achieved with the provided syllabus ·         More courses, greater possibility to create your own timetable ·         Long cancellation period (period when you can add or remove courses) ·         Great professors with different teaching styles ·         Generally good level of English ·         International school & City

Minus ·         Mainly exams (Finance and Accounting) ·         No course descriptions ·         Compulsory History class ·         Themenfeld can be 3 times a week ·         Many buildings A-F (most courses are in A-C) ·         Lack of slides, online material, databases. ·         Student-ID/Travel card is a piece of paper (They are changing it next year) ·         Inefficiency to some extent

3. Could you share some insights about study programmes, particular courses you selected, and the assessments or exams?

In the courses I have selected 5/6 courses are graded 60-100% on the basis of exams, which is very different from what I am used to, but this is far less stressful as doing several presentations of each class. Exams themselves are easier to manage than schedules for 5-6 people. I can’t say anything about the finance and accounting exams as they are held in February.

4. Now looking backing, what would you consider the most important information that you should have aware of, before your study exchange application, and before your arrival at the study place?

Finding an apartment takes a long time, and you never know what is going to happen. Germans love their documents and certificates, cash doesn’t guarantee that you’ll get an apartment (strange). Find a WG (shared flat) first then try to get a flat of your own, not having a place to sleep in is quite an experience.

Thanks Viktor for your time sitting here and sharing with your some handson insights about learning experience at HWR Berlin. I hope you will get the best out of your study there. See you again!

Interviewer: Harry Hung Nguyen