Try to immerse yourself into the local culture

The University of Bonn has a renowned mathematics institute, and many of its science departments (physics, computer science, economics) are all quite theoretical and closely related to mathematics. It offers a wide range of lectures from pure mathematics to applied mathematics, so if you are interested in mathematics or related theoretical subjects, do not hesitate to come here!

The International Office at Nanjing University (my home university) posts regularly about the Global Exchange Program on their website. As the University of Bonn has many partner universities worldwide I had to pass the selection process of my home university to enter the program. The deadline of application would be before April for the winter semester and before November for the summer semester, but since the selection period of your home university may vary, you should start preparing as soon as possible.

After being admitted, one thing you should keep in mind is the visa application. The process of visa processing at the German Embassy is to send your application documents to the local (Bonn) Foreigners Office for examination, before they send it back to the German Embassy, hence it usually takes at least 5 weeks (or even longer) to get your visa, so it’s important to start applying as soon as you receive your university admission! Moreover, you should make your appointment as early as possible, as it could take a very long time to queue to get your application processed. This applies in particular to Asian countries, especially for those who need APS to apply for a visa. Do not wait for your APS certificate to make your visa appointment!

Before leaving for Germany, you can apply for the Study Buddy Program. The university will assign you a buddy, who can help you with various issues, such as opening a bank account and obtaining a residence permit, etc. This is especially helpful for late arrivals, so just apply! My buddy Larissa, was incredibly helpful and introduced me to a lot of local traditional events, such as Christmas market and the carnival.

I lived in a single room, with a shared kitchen and bathroom in one of the dorms. It was quite nice, affordable and had tranquil surroundings (especially at night). It took about 3-minute walk to the bus station. Transport is very convenient from there, with buses to almost every part of the city.

Regarding the courses, I took a lecture course and one seminar. The tutors were excellent, rigorous, corrected our mistakes carefully in each exercise assignment and gave personalized tutorials. I witnessed my firm improvement of understanding of the subject. On the other hand, I highly recommend taking a seminar course, as I learned a lot while preparing for my presentation and listening to others. I learned how to ask questions, organizing the materials, write lecture notes and make friends in the progress.

The people in Germany, or in Bonn, are very well-mannered and friendly, although they tend keep their private time separate and you may thus feel a kind of distance with the local people after daily study work. You may try to immerse yourself into the local culture by attending the local entertainment activities, like hiking and partying. My approach was playing football. There is a very strong football atmosphere and you may find like-minded ballplayers in football grounds like EMA and Sportpark Endenich. For special activities in the winter, I would strongly recommend the Christmas market and carnival in Bonn and Köln. They are just absolutely amazing!

In conclusion, I loved my time in Bonn and I sincerely recommend the Global Exchange Program. I learned a lot, made new friends, and experienced a different culture. If I could do it again, I would have started the preparation process earlier to avoid some of the visa-related delays. My advice to future participants is to feel free to communicate with the local people and students, make friends with them, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. I plan to do my Master Degree in Germany as well, and again, if you are interested, do not forget to kick off early!