University Life

Hello again ^^ after my friend reminded me that I haven't written anything in forever, I give you this post about university life in Germany and in England. Please note that these are all my experiences and things may vary in other universities, other parts of the countries and with other teachers. Oh and I study at a university of applied science, which in Germany is different from a normal university because of some entrance requirements. But more about that later on.

Lets begin with the german site of this story ^^

University life in Germany is different depending on the province (german: Bundesland) you are in. Some are taking fees and some are for free and of course there are the private universities which are very few but very expensive.
I am studying in Hesse which is pretty much in the middle of Germany XD But my friends study in other provinces so I might include some trivia from there ^^
Lets begin with the fees.
In generel education in Germany is supposed to be for free (according to some old law or so I heard). But a few years ago some provinces started with fees ranging from 400 to 500 euro per semester. Some charged these fees for longtime students (longer than a specific semester count) and others for all students. A few provinces never charged fees and still remain for free. Some get rid of the fees now and change backto the fee free system.
Adding to these fees, if the uni charges them, there is the semester fee which ranges from 50 to 290 euro and ususally includes student parliament fees, administration fees and a semester ticket for the area of your university. For my university this is basically the whole of the province Hesse in which I can therefore ride busses and trains and tubes for free. Sports clubs and societies (if they exist) cost extra.
Enough of fees now on to the student life ^^ German students mostly live in private appartements. Some alone and some in flats, I don't know the ratio but I think more students live in flats wich 2 to 5 people in there.
University halls are few and most of the time not really close to the uni. Because of their rarity they are nrealy always full and to get a room you have to apply really early.
Oh and to apply for a uni in Germany you have to have an Abitur (A-levels in England). To apply for an university of applied science you only need a specific Abitur which does not include all of the classes from a normal abitur but some more specific ones to the area of study you are interested in. The difference in the Abitur and specific Abitur is sometimes very important and sometimes nearly unimportant and due to its connection to the german high school system a whole other topic ^^
Okay ^^ now really on to the lecture part =D
First of lectures are not compulsory to attend and most of the time no attendance is taken (some seminars are different).
Students take 3-7 classes per semester. And thanks to the bachelor and master system you have a standard period of study of 6 semester (bacherlor) and 4 semester (master).
All lecturers are by default addressed by their surname and title (if they have one). It is also normal for students to be addressed by their surname.
Classes vary from course to course and the subjects vary too, of course ;-D

Now on to the english uni ^^

I study at a university in the north west of England and so my experience comes from there. I have not heard of any big differences in other party of the country (Scottland and Wales have other uni systems as far as I heard).
The fees vary from 3000 to 6000 english pounds per year and include administration fees, student union fees and other such things but they do not include a train/bus ticket or anything like that nor any fees for sports clubs or societies (those cost extra).
For housing most first year (first and second semester) students live in university owned housing (student halls) as you have a right for a room in student halls as a first year student. These student halls can be pretty expensive but mostly are right on campus and you just a to walk a short way to any campus building. Student halls are mostly flats shared by around 5 people.
To enter uni here in England you have to apply, have your A-levels done and, if you're accpeted, pay the fees fo the year.
For classes. All classes are compulsory and attendance is taken every day. In our uni you even get an online attendance list to see if you are signed in for every class you attended and how many you missed.
In computing (which I am doing) we have 6 classes and my friend how studies literature has 3 classes per year.
Lecturers are addressed by there given name and address the students by their given name too (took me some time to get used to...)

All in all I must say uni in England seems more cozy than in Germany as in Germany you are expected to plan and prepare more stuff by yourself whereas in England there is always someone there to help you.
I am still undecided which system I like better as you grow up faster with the German system but you are more supported in the english one.

Tadaa ^^ you reached the end of my post ^^
If you have any questions feel free to ask I will try to answer them to the best of my abilities ^^

Love
Thym

So many names... but which one to choose?

To be honest I expected uni in England to be somewhat like in Germany. And in some way it is but in some aspects it's totally different.

The aspects that are same... are mostly the way the students behave XD I think students around are all the same ^^ at least computing students. =D

The classes are... different. Less people in a module, more talking with the lecturer and all in all more active contribution of the students. In Germany many modules are with 100 or more students and during the lecture only the lecturer would talk and the students take notes. It's different in smaller modules but they are few.

Here you are always in a discussion with your lecturer and take an active part =D I really like that =D

Practicals and tutorials are pretty much the same as in Germany =D besides the fact that everyone has their very own computer login and with it his "home computer" on every computer in the uni. Which is quiet convenient.

The biggest difference I would say is that lecturers are called by their given name. This is a concept I still need to get used to. I am still so used to say Ms. and Mrs. XD But most of the staff doesn't even know the surnames of the people I'm looking for.

I had it once that I went to the information to find a person and said I'm looking for Mrs. (insert name). Nobody knew who it was and one asked me if I'm sure they worked at the uni. I said yes and that I already talked to them. After a moment of thinking I told them the persons given name. And.. surprise they knew the person quite well und could tell me their whole schedule by heart. -.- I felt kinda tricked there.

But well I hope I'll get used to it soon =D People look kinda freaked out if I call them Mr. or Mrs. while talking to them.

Oh and I asked my flatmate about it ^.^ She explained to me that students in High School always adress their teachers with Mr. and Mrs. but from College on the just say the given name of the person. So it is normal here and I'm the freaky german talking all weirdly XD

Oh and of course some terms =D

Course = Computing, Forensic Computing etc. So the Course your studying for your bachelor.

Module = The Modules you have every week (6 in my case)

Classes = I heard people refer to both of the above as classes... it is quiet confusing.

If you have any other questions just ask me =D

I hope I haven't confused anyone too badly XD

Love

Thym