Study abroad in Germany: learning internationally at eye level

RPTU is a magnet for students from all over the world. This is not only due to Germany's coveted location, but also to the conditions for international students and doctoral candidates. Dr. Parya Memar came to Germany from Iran as a doctoral student in 2001 and has been head of the Department of International Affairs and the International School for Graduate Studies (ISGS) for over 16 years. The ISGS programs are only available in this form at RPTU. In this interview, she talks about how she supports international university members and what offers are available for German and international students. 

“At the beginning of their stay abroad in Germany, all international students, lecturers, researchers and employees initially come to us,” explains Memar. Together with her team, she supervises departments that offer special programs for stays abroad in Germany, for example, to enable everyone to gain experience beyond national borders. The RefIntA department provides support in organizing stays abroad and advises on financial matters. “At ISGS, we try to attract qualified talent from abroad and look for people who want to do their postdoc in Germany, for example. There are a lot of third-party funded projects and job advertisements that want to be filled by highly qualified people.” These also have to come from abroad, says Memar, because: “Germany cannot overcome this skills shortage on its own.” This is why the ISGS in Kaiserslautern supports around 3,000 foreign students during their stay abroad in Germany, and around 300 in Landau.

The international community as a family for their stay abroad in Germany

The ISGS not only provides support with formalities such as visas or finding accommodation during a stay abroad in Germany. The department has been organizing the international graduation ceremony since 2009, at that time exclusively at the Kaiserslautern campus. In the meantime, the ceremony has become a real highlight for many students, reports Memar. “At the ceremony in 2023, we were able to congratulate around 150 graduates. The stage in the Audimax in Kaiserslautern was filled to capacity. By comparison, there were just nine graduates in 2009. This shows us that the community is growing and is looking forward to the joint celebration. The ceremony will also be broadcast live so that the families and friends of the new graduates can be there, at least virtually. Separation from their families is particularly difficult for many during their studies abroad. For this reason, the ISGS Family was created, which is open to all international students, lecturers, researchers and employees of the university who are involved in supporting this target group. “We deliberately call it that because all generations are represented in this group. It is intended to be a kind of surrogate family for them during their stay abroad in Germany,” explains Memar. 

Step by step to the goal 

However, it is often a hard road to the big celebration. “The first hurdle has already been overcome if they have even made it to Germany for their stay abroad,” says Memar. “The preparation for the time in Germany can sometimes take up to 18 months.” Some interested people only get a visa appointment very late, others struggle with the German bureaucracy. “If they're not in Germany, they can't open a bank account. They can't get a tax ID because they don't have a place of residence or an address - and they can't get one because they don't have an account yet,” Memar explains by way of example. Although all beginnings are difficult, the employees of the department try to break this vicious circle. In addition, there are often financial problems. “In some cases, German students are no different. Depending on their country of origin, foreign students come to Germany with their families' hard-earned money to study abroad and don't want to disappoint their hopes,” explains Memar. She knows: “This pressure can be very stressful.” 

Exchange opportunities during your studies abroad 

We all benefit from a diverse society in which people exchange ideas about their different cultures. This is why RPTU has the International Club, for which Ms. Memar's department is responsible. Here, university members who come from the same geographical region come together to present their home country or country of origin. Anyone who wants to learn about other cultures is welcome at this public event. Ideally, you should come with an empty stomach, because: It is well known that culture is best communicated through the culinary arts. 

One of the biggest hurdles to finding your feet while studying abroad is the foreign language in the country. “German can be challenging, but it's not bad at all to speak bad German,” says Memar reassuringly. “The important thing is not to always speak in English, even though most Germans speak good English.” To improve language skills, the RefIntA organizes regular tandem meetings. At the beginning of the semester, you look for a partner on the “language market” who speaks a language that you would like to learn yourself. In return, you teach this person your own language. “So if you want to learn Spanish and already know German, you could meet someone there who wants to learn German and can teach you Spanish. This creates groups, which in turn organize bilateral events,” reports Memar. 

Learning from and with each other through experience abroad 

“I know it's a cliché. But almost all internationals underestimate how important punctuality is in Germany. In many of their home countries, this is viewed much more loosely and the adjustment is correspondingly difficult during a semester abroad in Germany,” laughs Memar. Nevertheless, Germans should also be open to learning from foreign university members: “I have observed that almost all international doctoral candidates and students come to Germany without any form of security for a stay abroad, especially as most of them come without a scholarship. They often put all their eggs in one basket without even knowing what will happen after their time in Germany. Some don't even know whether they are allowed or able to stay,” explains Memar. “Nevertheless, they come with an incredible amount of hope and confidence and often become successful on their own. For them, it's a dream to study here. They work hard for it, are committed and do everything they can to realize their goals and wishes.” Everyone could certainly learn from this mentality. 

Text: Lena Frohn