This is what our students say

My name is Rim, I'm 22 years old and I'm from Italy (but I was born in Morocco). I am studying Business Administration and Management and have been in Germany since the winter semester 2023/24. In Italy, I attended a foreign language high school and during a study orientation event, my German teacher recommended Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences to me, which I immediately liked.

Financing your studies?

I have a part-time job as a working student and therefore finance my studies independently. So far I am very happy and only have to work a few hours. This job has also helped me improve my German and meet new people outside the university. It was very easy to find a job: I found what I was looking for via the “Indeed” app and sent the company my CV.

Meeting new people and making contacts?
I took part in my faculty's orientation week before the start of lectures, which I found really interesting. I got to know other students and we played games together and went on a campus tour of the university. During these orientation weeks, students from higher semesters shared their experiences and explained what to expect and what difficulties we might face and how to solve them. That was really helpful.

I also took part in the “Explore Germany” program, which was very cool and full of surprises. I discovered the city of Osnabrück and went with other students to places like Osnabrück Zoo, Christmas markets in Bückeburg, Münster and others.

Learning German?
I had already studied German at school in Italy. At the beginning of the semester I nevertheless had difficulties understanding people and that's why I decided to take a German course during the semester, which helped me a lot and which I can definitely recommend. I think the best way to improve and practice your German is to interact with other students a lot and simply speak.

Studying at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences?
What I really like about Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences is the places to study, like the library, which is huge and modern, the cafeteria, and the open-air spaces. I also like going to the canteen a lot because it is both a meeting place and a very nice building.

Everyone is usually a little bit scared when they start something new. But that's totally normal, and I think you'll find you can always find solutions to various problems at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences. There are group projects, a Learning Center, consultation hours with professors, mentoring for international students, and much more.

I find the Center for International Students particularly helpful because you can get support with all kinds of "international" problems, like registration, health insurance, finding accommodation, and also tips on financing your studies. When I had problems finding accommodation, I got tips and help.

Conclusion?
In general, I am very happy with Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, I was able to solve the problems I faced (as a lot of help is offered here) and I already have good memories.

Hi, I'm Ismail EL MIR, a 24 years old student from Morocco, and I have been living in the city of Osnabrück for two years.

I came here as a degree-seeking student in the bachelor program B.A. International Management which is taught in English. My study program has been a good choice for me because there are a lot of interesting subjects and very good professors. In the past two years, I have met a lot of exchange students from all continents that introduced me to their cultures. This has really made my experience special.

To become an international student, I encountered some difficulties: Just to obtain my visa was very complicated but with the help of the Hochschule’s Center for International Students, I managed to get through and came to Germany sooner than I expected.

Life in Osnabrück?
From my point of view, the city of Osnabrück is a good one for studies because it’s not that busy. So, it’s easy to walk around and even make it to the university on time by bike or bus.

Living in a foreign country has been challenging for me because habits are different, and there are people who made me feel like I am not welcome. Sometimes, I even had to face racism. Also, my financial means are limited and there is the language barrier which makes it harder to study here than in my home country. I feel this is something that people need to know when they plan to study in a foreign country.

But I am still motivated to give my best in my studies because this is my dream, and so, I will continue to push myself forward against all odds.

Conclusion?
In general, my experience in Germany has shown me that I can overcome hardship and this is a valuable learning which empowers me: I firmly believe that as long as I do my best, the result will be positive in the end. And I am thankful to everyone who was by my side during this period, especially the university staff members!

Thank you! , Merci! , Tanmirt (ⵜⴰⵏⵎⵉⵔⵜ)! , Chokran (شكرا)! , Danke

I am Fuiorea Paul, an international student from Romania. I have been studying Public Management at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences since the winter semester 2023/24.

Maybe you are wondering why I decided to study at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences? Here is my answer:

I wanted to get to know new people and even a new culture. Sometimes I miss my home country, but I feel welcome here. Although at the beginning I was afraid to talk to my colleagues because of my German language skills, I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and had the courage to meet new people. I have been in Germany since the end of September 2023 and I am very happy that I made this decision.

Financing your studies?

I finance my studies through a scholarship, which helps me a lot to organize my time better because I can prioritize my studies. A person who is always hardworking and active in volunteer projects is well regarded, and I can seriously say that it is also a lot of fun.

To get a lot of information and help with different problems you can always go to CIS, because there you feel welcome. Whenever I have a problem or need information, I have someone standing by my side.

Living in Osnabrück?

I really like living in Osnabrück, you can make a lot of friends here with whom you can laugh a lot and experience many wonderful moments. I live in a shared flat, that was my wish, because here you can experience the real life of a student.

I recommend that you take part in most of the events, because you will find a lot of useful information there that is helpful for a first semester student. During a break you can relax at the canteen and even eat something tasty with your friends, because there is a variety of interesting dishes.

Thank you for your attention and I wish you a warm welcome to Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences and we are waiting for you, this is the perfect place to feel at home.

Hi everyone, I am Marina, a 25 year old Cameroonian living in Germany since April 2022. I moved to Osnabrück in September the same year where I started my Masters in International Business and Management and currently in the 3^rd semester. The first 2 semesters were very interesting and it always gets more and more exciting as the semesters go by. I chose this program because the content of the program was closely related to my bachelors and matched with my future working aspirations.

Finances?
As far as finances are concerned, I am part of a DAAD Scholarship program called “Leadership for Africa” where my studies are fully sponsored by the scholarship. Thanks to this I don’t have to worry about finances given that even my health insurance is covered by the scholarship.  I also applied for the DAAD price offered by the Hochschule which is a one-time price independent from my Scholarship. From my experience with my friends and with the International office, there are several opportunities students have to find finances for their studies enlightening the burden of self-financing on International students.

Socialising?
Though Osnabrück is situated in the Northern part of Germany, the people are not as cold as one might imagine making it not so difficult to meet new people and make new friends. But no worries if you are not an extrovert; the Hochschule and organisations provide so many opportunities to meet new people, these include: Campus Ohne Grenzen, Caritas, you also have parties such Study In, Terassenfest and many others offered by the student associations. I personally met really good friends in the meetings of Campus Ohne Grenzen and I also “Friend-Family” from a program offered by Caritas in collaboration with the Hochschule Osnabrück.

Housing?
Even though housing is not very easy to find in Osnabrück, the Hochschule provides a lot of assistance as far as this topic is concerned. I was late to apply for Housing service but the International Office helped me a lot in the start and I found a first short-term Flat in “Alte Fabrik” for 6 months where I got enough time to search for a new home and I am now living in Jahnstrasse in a shared flat owned by Studierendenwerk with 4 other students, and I really love it.
Lastly some tip to easily find a flat in Osna are: stay alert and try to gather all the information you can about housing, talk to people (friends, friends of friends, ...) about your search, seek for help from the Hochschule and lastly use app such as WG Gesucht, immo welt and not forgetting the Hochshule website.

My name is Elsa, I'm from Cameroon and I've been living in Germany for a year and a half and in Osnabrück for a year now, where I'm doing my Master's in Management in Nonprofit Organizations. This course is only offered at a few universities and colleges in Germany, which is why I chose Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences on the recommendation of a friend.

Funding?

As a DAAD scholarship holder of the “Leadership for Africa” program, financing my studies was not a big issue for me, but I was very happy to learn that there are special scholarships for international students, such as the Deutschlandstipendium, and that the university offers students access to current job offers from the university and partner companies via the intranet. This has enabled me to work as a student assistant, which I really enjoy and where I work with nice people.

Getting to know/socializing?

Through Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences offers such as “Meet & Greet@Café International” or “Campus without Borders”, I got to know very nice people who I am always happy to meet on campus. There are also many initiatives such as the country evenings or the campus festival, which bring many internationals and Germans together. This always brings a lot of fun and a lot of great memories, which is why I like to be there on (almost) every occasion!

Services?

There are so many reasons why the university enjoys such a good reputation. Whether it's the advice from the Center for International Students, the support from highly qualified and attentive professors and staff, an excellent information system (intranet, Instagram, website), the huge range of international academic texts online and in print in the library, the wide range of continuing education and self-study opportunities or the delicious food in the canteen - everything is designed to make your time at university enjoyable. At least that has been my experience so far and I am sure that I have chosen the right university.

The city and the Foreigners' Registration Office?

I also think that I enjoy my stay here more because I was able to rely on the Foreigners' Registration Office, because I conveniently registered online in the city and also quickly got an appointment to extend my residence permit. I also learned to love the city. Osnabrück is small, but very cozy and varied. There's always something going on in the city center, whether it's a concert, a festival, a flea market or a demonstration. My friends like to party or do karaoke here, but if I want some peace and quiet, Osnabrück is also the place to be, which I'm very happy about.

My name is Mattia, I'm from Italy and I've been studying Business Administration and Management at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences since the winter semester 2023/24.

Why Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences?
I decided to study in Germany to perfect my language skills and establish new interpersonal relationships. I also want to combine theory and practice so that I can put the skills I have acquired into practice straight away, which is why I decided to study at a university of applied sciences.

Accommodation?
Finding a place to live can be very difficult, especially if you have to look for it from another country. I searched the internet for a long time from Italy, but could never find anything. When I finally found a temporary room, I decided to fly to Osnabrück to look for a place right here. After a few problems, however, I was left without a place to live and turned to the Center for International Students and the Studentenwerk. Both helped me a lot and, above all, in a very short time and found me a free room in one of the student dorms. That was a huge relief and a very important support for me, which allowed me to start my studies in Osnabrück in a much more relaxed way!

Language challenges?
Before I came to Germany, I prepared my German up to B1 level. But when I arrived in Germany, I realized that my German wasn't good enough. I could read and write a lot, but I couldn't speak much and didn't understand everything. Because I was in my home country, I didn't have many ways to use my German and communicate. So I looked for opportunities to use my German as much as possible.

Tips for learning German?
From my experience, I would recommend using German as much as possible. Please don't be afraid to make mistakes and use your German.

In the last two semesters, I participated in the university's sports programs, was in the Friend Family Program and took German classes at the university. These activities gave me more opportunities to activate my German.

German courses during the semester?
First of all, the German courses at our university are free. And I knew that in the German classes I would meet other international students who, like me, were trying to improve their German. And I want to improve my German as soon as possible because I am preparing to work in Germany after I graduate.

Conclusion?
To be honest, the German courses were my favorite courses in the last two semesters. The teachers were very nice, patient and cared about their students. I also met other international students with the same challenges. I was able to expand my network. And I met my best friends there.

My name is Corine and I study International Business and Management as a Master student at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences.

Learning German?
As an international student from Cameroon, in continuous pursuit of improving my German skills, the German Language courses offered within the semester at the university have been a game-changer for me.

Even though my studies are in English, I jump into a German course every semester. I'm currently rocking my 3rd semester, and guess what? I've got to say, my speaking and writing skills have come a long way since I started. The classes are well-structured, interactive, and the teachers are awesome. It's also a pretty cool way of meeting other fellow international students and making friends.

My tip for anyone wanting to learn German? Dive in! Join the courses, talk to locals, join university clubs and groups, and explore the city. Learning German isn't just about classes; it's an adventure!

STUDYPREP?

The most helpful experiences for me were the intercultural training and the tutorial, where I was able to speak a lot and try out how to say things, even make mistakes.

The support is very good, I can always ask questions directly or get help. There are many ways to get in touch: by e-mail, by phone or in person at the office, etc.

I chose STUDYPREP because it helps me to reach C1 level and then I can go to university or college. The difference between STUDYPREP and other courses is that it has the optimal number of lessons. It is enough to understand the material and prepare for the exam. I feel very comfortable in this course, it is exactly how I want it to be.

STUDYPREP?

I have learned a lot since taking part in the STUDYPREP program. Not only because of the German course, but also because of the other modules: the tutorial, the project days, the group work, etc.

I liked the cultural training the most because we talked about cultural differences and relationships. This experience was very interesting. The relationship with the teachers and staff at CIS is good and everyone is respectful.

We always have time in class to absorb what we have learned and the atmosphere is friendly. The students have the opportunity to ask questions and express their opinions freely.

My name is Abdullah Al Mohamed Salih. I am 25 years old, come from Iraq and play rugby as a hobby in a club in Osnabrück. I am currently in my 5th semester studying mechanical engineering.

STUDYPREP?
Before I started studying, I took part in the study preparation course. This enabled me to successfully reach the C1 level required for my studies.

In addition to learning German, you can benefit from such a course at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences in several ways. First of all, you get to know your fellow students and important contacts at the university, such as the Student Advisory Service or the Center for International Students.

Secondly, you will have the opportunity to become active outside the university environment, e.g. in one of Osnabrück's clubs. This allows you to make friends with locals with whom you can practice your German. These two points contributed significantly to my language acquisition.

Living in Osnabrück?
The city of Osnabrück is generally very suitable for international students because the city has a very nice mix of foreign and local people. This means that you will find a wide variety of shops, such as German, Arabic, Turkish, African and Asian markets.
So there is something for everyone and you can definitely experience the international atmosphere.

In addition, living in Osnabrück is quite cheap compared to other larger cities, especially if you get a room in a student dorm.

New home?
Although I've only been here for 3 years, I can say that Osnabrück has quickly become my second home. I am very happy to live in Osnabrück because I am having a great experience.

Good to know: Abdullah has now successfully completed his Bachelor's degree and is studying for a Master's degree in "Development and Production" at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences.

Guest student program?
My goal is definitely to get a Master's degree in Germany. To do this, I need to speak German. That's why I've taken several steps to improve my German language skills to C1 level in order to get a place at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences. I have also taken a bridge course for two semesters and regularly attend courses at the Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences as part of the guest student program.

Osnabrück?
Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences has inspired me to constantly expand my mind, and I feel integrated in Osnabrück. Osnabrück is a good place for me.

My personal and professional goal is to always do something good for people, because this gift is a natural part of our culture. I would like to build my career here. I have noticed that it is very difficult to make and develop friendships here in Osnabrück. I had to get used to that.