What it feels like to be a Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung scholar?

If you want to study in Germany, but don’t know how to finance it, you apply for a German scholarship. There are a lot of different possibilities for students from abroad such as DAAD, (one of the most famous organizations for scholarships in Germany). But there are also a lot of different political foundations. For instance: Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Hanns Seidel Stiftung, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Heinrich Böll Stiftung, etc.

So if you want to apply for a scholarship, I would advise you to search for different scholarship programs and choosing the one that is the best fit for your target education.

I’m currently a scholar of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and really happy about it. I’ve received much more than just a financial support for my education.

Application:

Here you can find all you need to know about how and when you can apply for a scholarship:

http://www.kas.de/wf/de/42.37/

You should begin very early with your application to get all paperwork in order. The first step is a written application. It is important to present not only your great academic achievements, but also outstanding political or social involvements. Also, make sure to explain why you want to study in Germany, why it is important for you and how it will contribute to the development of your country and how it will benefit the relationship between your country and Germany.

The second step of the selection process is an interview. I was a bit nervous because I was alone in Moscow and realized that everything depends on what I say during this discussion with interviewers. If you are invited to the interview, you are already one of the best, and you should focus on proving to the selection committee that you are the right person. Tell them what you want to achieve and why. The people on the committee were very nice and you can laugh with them. They understand that it is not so easy for you so you don’t be intimidated.

If you are a scholar

First of all you will get financial support for your education. And this is why most students from abroad apply for scholarships and the reason I did it.

Later, I found out that it’s only one little part of the numerous activities offered to Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung scholars!

In the city you are studying you belong to a group of scholars. All scholars are organized in local groups throughout Germany and abroad (we have also a great number of alumni (more than 10 000) worldwide!). In your local group you will meet many interesting people with whom you will have frequent lectures, trips, meetings and a lot of fun. Also, each group has a contact professor, who will help you out if you need it.

As a scholar you must attend a minimum of 4 seminars from an extensive seminar program. Sounds boring? Believe me, it isn’t! There are a lot of different subjects that are discussed in the seminars (a lot of political, of course, but not only!) and you can choose something interesting for you. The thing I like best about seminars is that I get the chance to meet really great people! Lastly, you can make friends not only all over Germany, but all over the world too! In the 3-4-7 day seminars you will sleep just maybe 4 hours a night since every evening after obligatory program, you will go with other scholars and lecturers to the wine cellar for a nice evening. Oh! And I forgot to tell you… Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung holds most of their seminars in castles! (like the one in the picture) There are also a lot of seminars abroad!

Moreover, you have the great possibility to organize your own seminar for scholars. That means you can think about interesting subjects and organize accommodation for scholars and lecturers (who you find and invite), food, program, evening program, party, etc. It’s a really great experience!

Furthermore, you get a lot of information about all possible practical works in Germany and abroad along with invitations to different conferences and projects. You can also take part on different KAS conferences, a talent academy, and KAS activities. It is just impossible to describe everything you can do being a KAS scholar!

So apply for a scholarship and enjoy your time in Germany!

Studying in Passau from A-Z: Terms and phrases you need to know!

 Audimax– name of the largest lecture hall in Passau
(for location of various campus buildings see map: http://www.uni-passau.de/fileadmin/dokumente/Lageplan/UNI-Lageplan_Info_mini.pdf)

Blockveranstaltung– lecture that isn’t evenly distributed throughout the term and a few classes longer

Credit Points– refers to the value attached to each subject that is part of your studies (depending on your studies, the completion of a master’s degree generally requires 120 credit points)

„Dult (Maidult+Herbstdult)“– two events that take place in Passau (May and September) that are considered to be the „Passauer Oktoberfest“…so put on your Dirndl/Lederhosen and have a „Maß“ (one liter of beer)!

Einrichtungen– from „Graduiertenzentrum“, „Rechenzentrum“ to „Sportzentrum“ and more: who does what and where? (for further information: http://www.uni-passau.de/universitaet/einrichtungen/)

Firmenkontaktmesse– „Campus meets Company“ takes place in November (this year: 25th November, 11 am-4 pm in the „Sportzentrum“) the possibility for students to get in contact with international and national companies (for further information: http://www.uni-passau.de/cmc/)

Gründung– Passau university was founded in 1978 and counts 11.316 students with 798 international students (as of 30th September 2013)

Hochschulsport– Boxing, handball, yoga, and much more…you just need to pay a 10€ fee for one semester. Check out the programme for this term (http://online.sportz.uni-passau.de/angebote/aktueller_zeitraum/index.html)

Ilias– besides „Stud.iP“, one of the two systms that lecturers use to provide students the according documents and materials (for further information: Ilias

http://intelec-hilfe.uni-passau.de/ilias_hilfethemen.html; Studip:
http://intelec-hilfe.uni-passau.de/studip_hilfethemen.html)

June 2013– worst flooding in 500 years that badly hit Passau with a water level of 12,89 meters (Donau)

Kulturcafete– the famous café on campus that has a place to drink a coffee, study, or listen to live music (located at the „Nikolakloster“)

Lehrstühle, Professuren- to get an overview of the different faculties and their chairs, visit: http://www.uni-passau.de/universitaet/lehrstuehle-professuren/

Mensa– Passau did invest a lot of money to modernize the mensa and got several rewards for it. This resulted in higher prices compared to other university mensa’s in Germany (http://www.uni-passau.de/bereiche/presse/pressemeldungen/meldung/detail/mensa-des-
jahres-passauer-atmosphaere-bundesweit-spitze/)

Netzwerke– Passau university is involved in different communities, e.g. once you finished your Master’s: Alumni (http://www.alumniportal-deutschland.org/startseite.html); for all students and graduates of „Kulturwirtschaft“ and „European Studies“: kuwi netzwerk international e.V.
(http://www.kuwi.de)

O-Woche– abbreviation for „Orientierungswoche“: one week before the actual beginning of a (first) term, there are information events as well as fun evenings with the opportunityy to get to know other classmates

Prüfungen– at the end of each term there are 2-3 weeks of exams: good luck!

Quietschie– expression for all freshmen at university of Passau (referring to the fact that freshmen are sometimes late because they do not find a room; consequently the door “squeaks (dt.: quietschen)“)

Rückmeldung– signing up for the next term is essential: the date is published in advance…so don’t be late!

Studenfinanzierungsmöglichkeiten– there are different opportunities for financing your stay in Germany. Have a look at our blog entries and visit: http://www.uni-passau.de/studium/studienorganisation/studienfinanzierung/

(Auslands)Tutoren– interested in helping students to plan their semester abroad in your country? Visit the website and join the team: http://www.uni-passau.de/international/internationale-gruppen/auslandstutoren/(There will
be an article published on our blog soon)

Universitätsbibliothek– literature research, exhibitions, trainings: there is a lot you should know about the library in Passau (website now also available in English: http://www.ub.uni-passau.de/en/)

Vorlesungsfreie Zeit– that’s what students are waiting for the entire semester: from the end of February to mid April and from August until the beginning of October, there is no university in Passau! Enjoy your free time!

Wohnungsknappheit– Especially this semester, there is a lack of accomodation due to an increasing number of students. Check out our blog and the following link:
(http://www.stwno.de/joomla/de/wohnen/zimmerboerse)

X-Mas– What’s Christmas like in Germany? Have you ever been to a „Weihnachtsmarkt“? Visit the „Christkindlmarkt“ in Passau starting on 27th November at the „Domplatz“ (We will keep you updated in our blog as well)

(Wh)y Passau? Seven reasons why you should choose Passau to do your Master’s degree: http://www.uni-passau.de/international/welcome/. See you soon!

Zentrum für Schlüsselqualifikation– the institute that offers a broad range of „Blockseminare“ or training opportunities in the area of “Intercultural, social, and self-competence“ (for further information: http://www.zfs.uni-passau.de)

Accommodation in Passau

I think it will be better if I tell you about my experience in order to keep you from making my mistakes.

Since receiving my admission from University of Passau, I realized what it is I need in order to start searching for good accommodation in the city. I thought it wouldn’t be such a big issue but it turned out to be quite the task.

The first thing I did was applied for a room in the student dorms.

Here you can find the four dormitories of our Uni: http://www.stwno.de/joomla/de/wohnen/wohnanlagen-pa

Later that year in august, I received an email saying my admission was refused. Why?? Because I was a Master Student! (being from Russia doesn’t matter) I have heard about Master students living in the dorms, but I would not advise anyone to try and get in there if you are working on your Master Degree. There are a lot of NICE places in Passau where you can live. If you are going to study for a Bachelor, you should definitely apply for a room as soon as possible.

So, first lesson learned: begin as early as possible to look for a room/ flat.

Back then I wasn’t aware of the different private dormitories Passau had to offer. With these you can apply for a room and have a high chance of getting in. One of the dorms I am living in now is Kapfinger Wohnheim.

You can find out everything you need to know about it here: http://kapfinger.de/

Usually in a German dormitory, you have your own private room. It is common to share a kitchen with about 5-12 other students and often you share a bath. Nevertheless, it’s also possible to get a room with your own personal bath and kitchen as well!

As I realized what I need to look for a room somewhere in a German city I’ve never been from Russia, I have found a really useful website:  http://www.wg-gesucht.de/ Here you can find different rooms/ flats/ houses you can rent in Germany.

Do you have any idea what a German WG is? Coming from Russia, I had no clue. A WG is a flat where 2-5 students or young people live who have his/her own room and share the kitchen, and bath and sometime a drawing room. Of course it is much than just a place you live. In a WG you commonly spend a lot of time quality time with your roommates. Cooking, eating and spending evenings together, partying are the most usual activities.

So I have started to write different people, that I would like to rent their rooms…but I couldn’t visit that flats and introduce myself (Saint Petersburg is pretty far away from Passau), so I understand why people have chosen someone else, who could go to Passau.

Second lesson learned: try to visit the city and look for a room/ flat/ house. If you can’t, at least use Skype!

Most of people will tell you they need time to decide whom they will rent their room too. It’s also common that students who live in that flat can choose their new roommate. It can take quite some time before you find right place and right people for you.

Third lesson learned: try to visit as many flats as possible. At best you will be the one who will choose!

I was short on time time and I couldn’t physically be in Passau so I was left without options. I was really happy as someone told me that I could rent a flat and…it was the greatest mistake I made! But I did it! I officially signed a one-year rental agreement while I was in Saint Petersburg!

Fourth lesson learned: NEVER sign any rental agreement before you have seen the flat!

As I arrived here, I discovered that my new flat was situated in a very, very old house on the hill (you can get there by bus…but only one time an hour and the last bus is leaves at 20:30), so if you don’t have a car, Schärdinger Straße is definitive not for you!

On the WG-Gesucht website you can also find not only rent, but also see how much. Also, you can see if you need to pay separately for water, Internet and electricity (especially heating is really expensive in Germany!).  You can also ask your renter to find out exact prices within your rental agreement (before you sign it!). Of course, I did NOT do that! During my first day in Passau my renter told me that I have to pay 600 Euros for oil. Oil? What oil? Oil for the oil stove (to heat the flat).

It was really difficult to get out of such nice flat (because of my rental agreement), but I did it! So please don’t repeat my mistakes.

There are a lot of really comfortable, nice and cozy flats in Passau, all what you need is to start looking early and try to visit a lot of different flats and never sign anything before you have seen it!

Good luck and see you in Passau!

Why Study Intercultural Communication?

I’ve always wanted to study law just like my father, but then I changed my mind and went for something completely different – intercultural communication. BEST DECISION EVER! For those, who have no idea what intercultural communication is, I have two words: google it!!

Just kidding. The purpose of this blog is to provide you with information so I will try to explain it to you. Intercultural communication is defined as communication between individuals or groups of different cultural origins. Sounds boring? Okay so let’s think about the last situation you’ve talked to a foreigner and thought to yourself: ,,gosh this person is crazy“ or ,,I have no idea what he or she is saying/thinking“ or ,,his/her opinion is completely wrong/weird“. Or maybe something like my favorite sentence, I’ve been using in the beginnings of my stay in Germany: „oh, those Germans…“ (I swear I don’t use it so often anymore.. at least I’m trying not to 😉 )

Sounds familiar?  Then let me tell you something. There is nothing weird or crazy about that person you were just about to judge. The person only grew up in a completely different cultural setting, with different cultural standards, norms and values. There is no such thing as a reality, only your perception of it or as one of the most famous interculturalist, Geert Hofstede once said:

„We all view the world through our own cultural glasses.“

The first step of gaining intercultural competence is becoming aware of this, of how we see the world and of course also learn how to look through somebody else’s glasses.

And this is exactly what I’m studying and not only studying – I’m living it every single day, every time a talk to a person from a different country. It teaches me how to be tolerant, patient and empathetic toward different cultures and most of all how to be a better person.

Sounds interesting? Then visit the following website and find out more about our Master’s program offered by The University of Passau http://www.uni-passau.de/en/ma-icbs/ . Oh and we’re also studying a liiiittle bit of business and foreign languages – just for the case you’re family and friends ask you what your major is. You don’t always have one hour time to explain it to them…

But still.. We find stereotyping funny as well..

„Heaven is where the police are British, the lovers French, the mechanics German, the chefs Italian, and it is all organized by the Swiss.

Hell is where the police are German, the lovers Swiss, the mechanics French, the chefs British, and it is all organized by the Italians. “

In case you have any questions or comments, our team is more than happy to help you. Let us know your opinion!

Tschüss und bis bald in Passau!

Have You Ever Thought About Studying…In Passau (Germany)?

When I’m telling other Italian people who I’m currently doing my master degree in Passau in Germany, their reaction is always the same: “Passau?Is there a city in Germany which is called Passau?” but above all “How did you come up with this crazy idea?”

I have to laugh every time, because some years ago I would have posed the same question, if somebody had told me a story like this…Actually, I have never thought about doing a full master degree in Germany, least of all in Passau!

We have to go back to the beginnings of my bachelor degree, five years ago. I’ve always wanted to learn different languages in order to travel abroad, experience new cultures and ways of life and that’s why I decided to study foreign languages. Since I started learning German at the university, it was already clear to me that I had applied for a Erasmus place in Germany to improve this language.

When I got my Erasmus scholarship for a semester in Mannheim I was very excited about spending six months at a foreign university, speaking every day German (I remember at that time my German knowledge was pretty bad!) and finally having the opportunity to get in touch with students from all around the world!

On a hot August day, I left Italy towards Mannheim, the “city of the squares”, situated on the border between Hessen and Baden-Württemberg, with a luggage full of clothes but above all fears, and doubts about my new adventure. When I came back, six months later, I had something new in my luggage, which is many new impressions about Germany, more self-confidence and above all a new goal in my life: doing my master degree in Germany. My feelings after my semester abroad could be summed up by a sentence by Renzo Piano, a famous Italian architect:

“…in my opinion young people have to go away. Then they have to come back (…) They have to go away to understand the rest of the world, but also to understand themselves.” 

I totally agree with what he said, as after my semester abroad everything made sense to me and I decided to focus all my strengths in order to get a university place in Germany.

At first, I decided to apply for a master degree in Berlin or Munich, as I wanted to study at a big university (I did my bachelor degree in quite small university in Italy!), but I couldn’t find anything, which could meet my interests. Then, during an internship, I met two colleagues of mine who were studying “International Cultural and Business Studies” at the University of Passau. When I firstly heard the word “Passau”, I guess my reaction was the same of my Italian friends: “Sorry, where is Passau?”. The master degree’s name sounded good, but I was still wondering about this small city between Germany and Austria.

When I looked at the courses on the university’s website, I suddenly understood that it was exactly what I wanted -(and what I couldn’t have found in my home country) a master degree which combined foreign languages with business and even intercultural communication. I decided to apply for it and when I got my letter of acceptance, I left Italy towards my new adventure in Germany, this time in Passau. Once again, troubles and worries made me company!

I have to say that despite its small dimensions, the atmosphere at the University of Passau is very international: about 300 international students each year are spending a semester or a full academic year in Passau, lots of international students are even doing their full degree program and there are many international student organizations, where you can get involved in. The quilt of the city, the beautiful campus and the nice neighbourhood make Passau a nice place to study!

I’ve been living and studying in Passau since a year now and I have to say that I am satisfied with my decision to leave my home country to study here: it is certainly demanding, but at the same time challenging and exciting…and I’m sure I can manage this challenge till the end of my studies!

I would sum up my thoughts in this way:

“Starting a new journey scares. But after each step we walk, we realize as it was dangerous to remain immobile” (Roberto Benigni, Italian actor a screen writer)