"I’m seriously considering whether to do my Master’s degree in Mittweida"

Nick, an American exchange student in Saxony is not something you see every day. You are one. Why did you end up in Mittweida of all places at the age of just 20?

I’ve always been very interested in the German language and German culture, even though, as far as I know, I have no German ancestors and had never been to Germany before. Before my trip to Mittweida, I’d never even left the US and had never been on a plane... The reason I came to Mittweida is down to the new partnership between HSMW and Shepherd University, where I’m studying political science. This partnership made organising my study abroad programme much easier. Even though I could have chosen any other university in Europe, I’m very glad I came to Mittweida University of Applied Sciences. I’m not just saying that to be polite; I really mean it.

That sounds like you’re really convinced. Are there any particular reasons for your enthusiasm?

I’m seriously considering doing my Master’s here at Mittweida University of Applied Sciences. The friendliness and helpfulness at HSMW are outstanding. I was surprised as soon as I arrived at how lovely the town is. Admittedly, the first few days were a bit confusing, but I quickly got used to life here. There are many similarities between Shepherd University and Mittweida University of Applied Sciences. Both universities are roughly the same size, have a similar profile and are located in towns of a similar size. What’s more, the International Office – and Laura Seelig in particular – helped me settle in very quickly. Thanks to their support, I was able to sort everything out and enjoy my time in Mittweida with very few hurdles. The language barrier does make things a bit complicated at times. I do speak a bit of German, but it’s not quite enough to have conversations with Germans in their own language, as I’d like to. On campus, that’s not a problem because virtually everyone speaks English; it’s only in town that I sometimes come up against my limits.

Did you spend your time in Mittweida mainly studying, or did you focus on experiencing the local culture?

Both. (laughs) I live on my own in the hall of residence, but most of my neighbours are German. During my stay, I made sure to make the most of every second of my free time by taking part in every possible event or activity. I often went to events with the Cosmopolitan Club, travelled to different parts of Saxony, or simply chilled out with friends in the canteen or by the Schwanenteich. I really made an effort to get to know as many people as possible and, as a result, made lots of friends, both amongst German and international students. For me, the experiences I’ve gained here were the highlight, rather than any academic benefits, although a semester abroad certainly looks good on a CV.

And what about the content? Your actual degree subject, Political Science, isn’t offered as such at Mittweida.

Perhaps not exactly – at least, the name isn’t listed anywhere. But essentially, there are lots of courses on offer that fit in very well with my degree. I took courses from the Global Communication in Business and Culture and Industrial Management programmes: Organisational Psychology, Intercultural Competence, Institutional Case Studies and a German language course. I also attended every session of the lecture series on the topic of ‘Zeiten wenden’ and wrote an English-language report for each session as evidence. So my semester abroad definitely wasn’t just about having fun. (laughs)

It feels as though you hear more often about Germans going to the US to study than the other way round. Are there specific reasons why you’re now even considering doing your Master’s degree here?

Apart from the range of courses on offer? Definitely. I think Mittweida is simply very attractive to international students, particularly Americans. In my view, its location between Leipzig, Dresden, Berlin and Prague, as well as the low cost of living and the vibrant international student community, speak for themselves. Of course, the issue of tuition fees also plays a part. The biggest difference between Shepherd and the HSMW is that Mittweida is much more affordable for students. Tuition fees in America are often very expensive; here in Mittweida, there aren’t any. A quick plug for our German readers: thanks to the partnership between Shepherd University and the HSMW, students from Mittweida fortunately don’t have to pay a single cent in tuition fees at Shepherd University.

One final question, which we’ve probably already answered based on what you’ve said so far: would you make a recommendation for Mittweida University of Applied Sciences to people looking for a suitable university abroad?

Definitely! I don’t think my time in Germany gives me any particular advantage over students who haven’t spent a semester abroad. But I would definitely make a recommendation that all students at my university come here to Mittweida! At the moment, I’m the only one – and just one of three Americans – on campus. But I’ve heard that four or five students from Shepherd will be coming to Mittweida University of Applied Sciences in the coming summer term. I’ll certainly give them a few tips when I fly back to West Virginia at the end of July.