When I chose to do the Management & Marketing Program at ESAN University (in Lima, Peru), I knew I wanted to go abroad and to have a different perspective of my studies. There are many options when you look for universities far away from your home country. For example you can find summer programs, normal exchange programs double degrees. I chose the last one, so I could have a whole year to gain as much experience as possible. I wanted to go to Germany, wherefore the choose of Business with the specialization of International Marketing in Pforzheim, was a clear choice. 

Coming from a different continent, you just hear about, how Germany could be; and yes - Germans do take punctuality very seriously. As a result, I have missed a few buses to school, but after a while I ended up learning :)! German beer tastes incredible and you will even find it at the universities cafeteria, next to the juice.

Pforzheim University attracts many exchange students, which I wasn't expecting. So I was glad after I noticed the contrary! I got to meet people and cultures from everywhere in the world and Pforzheim, although it doesn't have many touristic attractions, is a great place to live, especially when you are a student. The living expenses are quiet low and there are several places to go around with friends (parks, restaurants, clubs, pubs, etc.) Also, you can find great connections from Karlsruhe (20 min. away) to almost everywhere, what let's you see Germany and Europe from a very different point of view! 

Moreover, studying in Germany is completely different. There are no midterms, no tests, no homeworks and no surprise quizzes. All of that lets you go around easy during the semester and even do some travelling, due to the fact, that normally there is no compulsory attendance! Nevertheless, you will really have to put on high effort to the final exams, since they can make up 100 % of your final grade. But don't worry, if you prepare yourself well, there is nothing to be scared about.

Germany is not only good for studying, but also for working; so, after a great year in Pforzheim, I wanted to do an internship in Germany. I got the chance to work at the Adidas group and be part of the Concepts to Consumer - Concept Fulfilment team; dealing with Demand & Inventory, Customer Service and Systems & Reporting. Even though the deadlines were demanding, I was never pressured on something I couldn't take. The way of working is just amazing; you want to go to work, not only when there are artists or celebrities visiting, but any other day as well. The large campus with all its ammenities and the amazing working environment make the company just a great place to work. And the freebies don't hurt neither!

Doing the Double Degree in International Marketing at Pforzheim University was not only good for textbook knowledge, but led me to my first working experience. And I wouldn't change it for anything!

María Kcomt, ESAN University

I am a person, who really loves to experience new things and progress forward in life. I was a second year student at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia and had the dream to study abroad and get a degree in Europe for my bachelor. I found out that UGM has a partnership with some of the best universities in the world for their double degree program. So, it really was a difficult choice, but finally I decided to pursue my second degree at Pforzheim University in Germany, what completely changed my life!

The first atmosphere I felt at the beginning of my life in Pforzheim was the diversity. I lived in student housing ("Studentenwohnheim") at Keplerstr. 75 and you will never find such diversity on any other place! I got the chance to meet some people with the brightest minds. I never stopped learning, even in the kitchen, while we cooked and shared our native dishes. I also connected with the people on personal basis every day, which really opened my mind to different opportunities, which we had been available out there. I am still in close contact with my best friends, which I could find during my time in Germany. 

At university, I was taught by the best teachers from all over the world, while the teaching process was really interactive. There is no restriction if you want to tallk or discuss with the professors. In addition, we had the opportunity to work together in different teams with the smartest students from different continents! If you put your effort, you can even land some scholarships like the "Baden Württemberg Scholarship" and the Matching Funds. 

Pforzheim University really understands how to balance fun and working hard at the same time. It is not just a place where you are allowed to learn a lot of things. On the other hand, a student committee arranged a lot of fun events, like travelling around Germany, international dinners or something else.

With the possibility of a residence permit - which you can get as a BIM Double Degree student - you are allowed to travel to all Schengen countries in Europe. Using part time jobs, scholarships and some travel tricks you even don't have to worry about the money. We never had a boring time in Pforzheim and I get to know people, who visited more than 10 countries!

After one year of study I had to find an internship for six months, which was quite challenging, but not impossible! Some friends from the MBA program in Pforzheim taught me in preparing my application files and getting through this process. They taught me, how to give good interviews, how to find the internship and even how to find a good flat during that time. 

I finally started at Danone Waters DE, which is based in the area around the city of Frankfurt and offered me a lot of challenging tasks and complex problems, I could solve.

Go to Pforzheim expecting nothing and embrace it all. Don't have any predispositions about the food, the German people, the ranking of the university, nothing. You will arrive in a place unknown, with people who sound completely different from those at home and embrace it. 

When you first walk in to the school and see a sea of faces, take it in because those people will be our companions for the coming academic year. Talk to as many native Germans as you can and don't worry about not socializing with the foreign students, there'll be many time for that later. Native “Pforzheimers”, you will soon find, are warm and inviting, witty and funny so I encourage you to introduce yourself and socialize. Throughout the year, take advantage of every event, every day trip, every international day and every chance to speak with the teachers. Get to know the people leading the classes because you will soon find that they can teach you much more than what is in the curriculum. 

The University staff will warmly and efficiently help you get what you need done and don't worry about bothering them, that's what they are there for. The school offers a ton of resources (online and offline) that you should take advantage of. For those of you debating the opportunity to do the Double Degree program at Pforzheim University, take in to consideration the intrinsic skills and connections that will be made on top of the academic possibilities and when you arrive. 

I have grown up in an international environment and am used to different cultures so I was immediately drawn to the double degree program in Pforzheim. I decided to apply due to the high level of courses the university offers and the partnership with multiple highly ranked universities around the world. When applying for the program there is a lot that needs to be done but the staff at the university is very capable and makes the process incredibly easy. 

I found my house through a Facebook group of students from the previous semester and managed to find a place close to the university whilst still in a good area close to other students. Going out was easy, everyone lives at the student housing close to each other which allowed for big groups to migrate into the city. Don't miss the karaoke nights on Wednesdays at the Irish bar as well as the cocktail casino (roll a dice to determine how much you pay) at Lehner's Wirtshaus. During the weekends I enjoyed visiting the Wildpark by the university as well as the beautiful trips into the schwarzwald (black forest) where a day trip to Bad Wildbad during autumn is a must. 

The classes are all taught in English (other than German) and in most classes, the international students are mixed with German students which gives everyone a chance to better connect across cultures. Pforzheim boasts comprehensive courses with attentive teachers who care for your academic welbieng. The university does a lot to make sure that the students are well looked after and offer an abundance of resources so that the students can easily learn what they need to. The infrastructure is incredibly impressive and very modern. Overall my time in Pforzheim was incredibly well spent socially as well as academically and I do not regret taking this opportunity.

Filipe Amaro - ISCTE Business School