Heidelberg is a small town dominated by the University with many associated Research Institutes. Despite the picturesque setting and ancient buildings it’s incredibly international and you are as likely to hear other languages spoken in the street as you are German. Due to its prestige and research excellence, it’s always been a popular destination for Life Science students. Read what one of them wrote of in her feedback form.
Local Information: I didn’t have term/semester dates I could ask for any holidays I wished for within reason. Germany has a strang system of public holidays depending on where you are in the country. Easiest way is to ask a German in your lab, they’ll tell you when it’s a holiday and if there’s any traditions you should do on the day e.g attend a carnival/ eat cake etc
Travel: Semester ticket for the area is really cheap and cover buses, trains, trams for a certain area. Check what your university ID card allows you to have, it’s often weekend and evenings free. They have a trust system where you don’t have to buy a ticket but if they check your bus etc then you get fined 60 euros for not having one. Alternatively get a bike or walk. Germans have stricter laws about bikes eg need lights and you can be breathalysed, however basically everywhere has a cycle path on the pavement so its crazy safe!
Useful paperwork to take with you: Passport, EHIC (so easy to use, if you unfortunately have to!)
Local bureaucracy, language issues: You have to sign into and out of the city, but the university tells you everything you need to know either in a welcome meeting or via email. The Heidelberg accent is interesting… (often only found in older people, who are less likely to speak English.) Most people speak English if you’re having a nightmare about something.
Financial matters: UK students still get the normal loan amount, (slightly less than normal as you don’t get the London allowance) Erasmus grant is really helpful 280 a month (in a 2 lumps). Worth opening a german bank account means you can do rent etc by direct debit.
Social Activities: 2 erasmus socities: AEGEE and ESN. Both do trips, pub nights and other activites. ESN were generally organised better but both were pretty good. Definitely go to these events at the start; easiest way to make friends. Mensa does Sunday brunches that were amazing. Sports clubs etc and events over the city, often found on facebook.
Food, pubs clubs, bars: Mensa is the student canteen, good food and you pay by weight of the food using your uni ID. Loads of restaurants all over the town, very international, our favourites were the Korean restaurant, the all you can eat sushi, kase spätzle in any restaurant, falafel, all Christmas market foods. Loads of bars along Unterestrasse, student night most nights but Thursday was big. Free Sekt (german prosecco) for girls on Thursday in Mohr was a highlight!
Accommodation: Very cheap but not guaranteed by the erasmus department, can be close or fairly far out. Bed, desk, wardrobe, shelves and I had shared bathroom and kitchen with another girl. Occasionally you get loads of leftover stuff eg plates, microwave etc from a a previous Erasmus student but no always. Can buy things really cheap if necessary. Me and my flatmate set the firealarm in our apartment off quite a lot through questionable cooking (might not happen to everyone!)
Local places worth a visit: Everywhere close by, little german towns are great! Deinitely see the castle, Konigstuhl, the old nazi amphitheatre, student prisons, old bridg, Mannheim, schwetzingen. As many beer/wine festivals or carnivals in the close by towns!
Things to avoid: Check bus times for late at night, they aren’t 24 hr like London! Don’t miss the early ESN and AEGEE events. EVERYTHING (except McDonalds) is CLOSED on Sundays, you need to make sure you have food.
Where to go for help: Erasmus office but they have a strange queuing system and really inconvenient office hours for labs. Someone in labs will take you under their wing and look after you. I was always invited to their social gatherings, we regularly had coffee break discussions and they always remembered to tell me useful stuff.My lab was very international and many of the PhD students needed more help with life than me (eg how to cook chicken!)
Health matters: Loads of doctors surgeries, really easy to book and loads of pharmacies (normally open til 8). Most speak English if necessary. So much easier than the UK!
Comments on any courses taken: Do the preparatory language course, really easy to make friends and you can have a month getting used to Heidelberg before starting labs and they have free tea, coffee and amazing pastries!
Comments on project/lab: My lab was computer office suite made of computational fields eg astronomy, geometry and 3 life sciences groups. My lab group was international so we mostly spoke English unless the 3 germans were together. We had group outings: wine tasting, football match, meals and bbqs. They were really welcoming and friendly. Make sure to ask questions and don’t be afraid to contribute in group meetings.
Preparing your report write-ups: Cultural: do the research early, you have the whole year to do it for LfS so don’t leave it until October the following year. Scientific: remember to do it in lots of time for your supervisor to read through before you hand it in, they are often very busy.
Comments on College Project Tutor visit: LfS students get visited twice which is perhaps too much. Both the German coordinator and a life science department member. Not sure it was that useful as feedback could’ve been given during regular skype meetings. Meeting with supervisors and life science department member needed booking really far in advance due to other commitments and visitor paperwork; best to be organised for this. You get taken for dinner which is really nice.
Preparation for final year while abroad: Worth watching final year module panoptos if they work. (A few of ours didn’t work) You are at an advantage of having friends that will have just finished the courses so ask questions, they’ll help you out with honest answers I’m sure. You may have friends doing four year courses in other subjects to live with or other year abroad students, worth having a think about in March but you can still get accommodation in August/ September time.
Any other suggestions or comments: It was probably the best year of my life. Do things you wouldn’t normally do, do German things, see different places, meet new people, learn more about labs, go to conferences and talks, ask questions. You will learn so much about international science, other cultures and yourself.