DIT is stated to be the most international university of Bavaria. Around 30% of the students come from other countries. They serve as an inspiration for us German students to be brave and take steps over borders ourselves. So, here are 5 reasons why YOU should do a semester abroad.

1. Get to know other cultures!

I can hear you saying: how obvious, duh. But well, this is probably the most exciting benefit of spending a certain period of time in another country. You change up your way of life completely and expose yourself to a different one. Isn’t it interesting to see how people in other countries work, study and live their lives? It will give you a totally new perspective for your own path and it can definitely help to broaden your horizon.

2. Make friends globally!

Most host universities help you with getting access to their country’s people by organizing a so-called buddy program. This concept can be compared to mentoring. What such a program does is, it matches you with a native student who is like your navigator in your host country. He or she will be your contact person when it comes to queries regarding university life or helping you to mingle with others. It is the first step in getting to know more people from other countries and it allows you to gradually build friendships and a wide network across the globe. Just like someone wise once said: If you want to get to know a culture, you need to get to know its people!

3. Improve your self-management!

When was the last time you got out of your comfort zone? During a semester abroad you will most likely face inconvenient situations quite often. You are in a foreign environment, being confronted with unfamiliar behavior, a totally different societal system or language barriers. You will learn to cope with such challenges and how to act appropriately under stress. Just to warn you, your independence and adaptability will experience a massive boost during your semester abroad.

4. Pimp up your CV!

This should of course not be the main drive why to consider a semester abroad. But of course, it can’t be denied that such an undertaking adds a tremendous worth to your résumé. With companies having ties globally, many recruiters nowadays expect international experience from applicants. It’s almost a standard in today’s job market as it gives proof to having important soft skills and those are must-haves too, as we know.

5. Do it now or never!

Frankly, when will you ever again have the chance to take 4 to 5 months of your schedule to travel to another country? Chances are that it is NOT going to be as easy as during your time at university. Furthermore, here you will receive assistance from the International Office at both DIT and your host university. It’s the perfect setting for you to gain this intercultural experience “safely” since you can pretty much count on your universities backing you during your stay.

A semester abroad helps you to make a big leap forward, not only career-wise but also in terms of your personality and competencies. Therefore, as soon as there is an opportunity for you to take part in such an experience (and DIT really has plenty of offers – 195 partner unis to be exact), grasp it!

Julia Zitzelsberger is a Business Economics student who joined DIT in October 2020. Having a constant growth-mindset she likes to try out new things, like participating in the DIT blog. Currently, she is spending a semester abroad in Seoul, South Korea.