Mixing business with leisure

Frankie Zelas shares how a semester at the University Mannheim opened her world, sparked new friendships and gave her the confidence to explore life far beyond home.

Frankie Zelas

Why I chose my host uni:

I wanted to experience living in Germany and University Mannheim Business School has a great reputation. Mannheim as a city is also a great transport hub for weekend trips to other cities.

How I found applying to my host uni:

Applying at University Mannheim was a fairly straightforward process. They use an online portal where you make an account and follow the steps. You’ll require compulsory statutory German health insurance before the university can complete the final stages of your enrolment.

The University Mannheim exchange department emails a lot of helpful information with steps on what to do at each stage. You’ll probably be required to apply for a student visa, the earlier the better.

There is slightly more admin after you arrive as you must register your address at a city office (if you can, print your rental agreement before you leave so you don’t need to go to a print shop) and arrange to pay a broadcasting fee. You must also deregister when you leave the city.

How I found learning in a different academic system:

Learning and university work in Germany is challenging as their university system is considerably different to New Zealand. The University Mannheim Business School in particular has a reputation for having challenging exams. Failing is talked about like it is quite likely.

The attitude towards class, professors and academic results is a lot more formal than in New Zealand. Professors may not come across as very approachable for questions, and you’ll need to spend a lot of time studying for exams (these are usually 100% exams at the end of the semester).

There is also the option to do intensive seminars which offer the same number of credits as full-semester courses but are full-time for a short period (usually a week or two). These are a great option to possibly avoid more exams.

Enrolment in courses only occurs after you arrive in Germany in week 1 or 2 of the semester, so it can be challenging to have courses approved if you’re not using electives or if you’re far along in your degree and can’t cover similar content.

What I gained from this experience:

The exchange allowed me to build connections with fellow students, both local and international. I was constantly learning from people with unique backgrounds and perspectives. Some of my closest peers were from Finland, Belarus, the USA, Canada, the Czech Republic and of course Germany.

Academically, I gained new perspectives on business management that complemented and enhanced my studies at AUT. Personally, I developed stronger adaptability, resilience and confidence in navigating unfamiliar environments.