Studium trifft Vielfalt: Ein ukrainischer Erasmus-Student berichtet

A Dream Come True: The Decision to Go Abroad

My Erasmus experience at Katholische Hochschule Freiburg was truly beautiful. Going on an exchange had been my dream since my first year at university. However, I couldn’t go abroad as a man during wartime.  So, when I heard aboutthe updates in Ukraine’s law that allowed male students to apply for exchange programs, I knew I couldn’t miss this chance. When I received the acceptance letter, I couldn’t believe it was really happening. I was so excited, but I tried to keep it inside to avoid disappointment in case something went wrong. I didn’t fully understand it until I had crossed the border—and even then, it didn’t sink in immediately.

Preparing for the Adventure: The Erasmus Process

Before the trip, I had to prepare many documents for the Erasmus exchange. It was a bit difficult , but I managed it, especially with the help of two friends who had already done it before. Sometimes, I watched videos about life in Freiburg and Germany in general, but not too many — I wanted to see everything with my own eyes. When I started receiving group emails, I created a WhatsApp chat for other exchange students to support each other during the application process.

First Steps in Freiburg: Language and New Friendships

However, the most helpful way to get to know each other was through the German courses. These courses not only helped to improve my basic communication skills in German, but also gave me the opportunity to meet most of the  other exchange students. That was one of the main reasons we became such good friends.
I wasn’t really scared of this new life adventure. By the time I applied, I had already been living on my own in my  student city, Chernivtsi, for two years. So I felt quite ready for independent life in Germany. Even when I found out that I didn’t have a place to live yet, I didn’t panic. I contacted everyone I could — the administration office, student union, teachers, the Erasmus Student Network in Freiburg, and even Ukrainians in Freiburg WhatsApp groups — to  help me find accommodation. Eventually, a few days before departure, I got a guest room in "Margaret Ruckmich Haus". The conditions were pretty good and it was really cozy. I had nice neighbors, a good bathroom, a big living room, and a cute kitchen. After two weeks, I moved into a permanent room because, sadly, one Erasmus student from Morocco couldn't come due to visa problems.

Academic Growth: The Courses and New Knowledge

I was really curious and excited to start studying at KH Freiburg. Even though I am a psychology student and the program was in social work, it wasn’t a problem for me. I gained many new insights during my studies there. I especially liked the subject “English for Social Science,” where we watched TED videos about social issues and  discussed them. Another interesting course was “Identity and  Violence,” where  where we read and talked about the book by Amartya Sen.  I also took part in the training “TraumaInformed Psychological First Aid,” which deepened my knowledge in  psychology — and I’m still participating in it online because I liked it so much. Another great experience was the course “Social and Educational Work with Refugees,” which was closely related to my coursework at my home university. I had chosen this topic myself and successfully defended it. I also joined the “Blended-Intensive Learning Programme” (Norway, Netherlands, Germany) and the course “Health Care System in International Comparison,” which opened up new knowledge in areas that were mostly new to  me. The second course even organized an exciting excursion to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. Overall, I really  enjoyed my academic experience.

Fun and Exploration: Discovering Freiburg and Beyond

Besides studying, I also had a lot of fun. I was riding my bike almost everywhere — I’m a big fan of bikes. I explored the city, visited famous sights, ran with the Erasmus Student Network, swam in a pool, went to an amusement park, discovered the Black Forest and much more. I really enjoyed spending time with my Erasmus friends. We traveled a lot, besides Freiburg, we visited Berlin, Frankfurt, Zurich (Switzerland), Colmar (France), Rome (Italy), and did many small trips around Freiburg. We often gathered just to cook together, watch movies, play board games, go to parties, or just chat. What’s really nice is that we still keep in touch in our WhatsApp group. I'm looking forward to my friend from Bolivia visiting my student city this semester, and I hope to visit others as well in the future.

The Impact: Personal and Academic Growth

This exchange was one of the best experiences of my life. It will stay in my heart forever. It taught me not only academic knowledge but also life lessons. For me, it’s hard to name any bad experiences. I believe I was open to everything new and unfamiliar.
The only thing that was difficult was my mental state — thoughts about the war, my life purpose, the meaning of life, my goals and etc. I realized that even in a completely new environment, what’s going on inside of you can still affect your experience a lot. I think no place can change what’s bothering you inside, until you’re ready to face and process it. But the place and people around can help you do it more effectively. And in this way, the exchange helped me a lot.