Joerg - Germany

After the first two years at my university, I decided that I needed a change. I wanted to get an idea of how students in other countries were working, I wanted to make sure that the stuff that I had been taught so far was actually any good when compared to other universities etc.; in short, I wanted to catch a glimpse of the big, wide world. Unfortunately, the exchange programs offered by my university were rather limited as to their academic usefulness: either they were too short (anything below one year did not seem to justify the effort of applying anyway), or they were badly organized (my work abroad would not have been recognized as equivalent by my university, in other words a waste of time), or both. Finally, I came across the Double Diploma program between my university and the ENSIMAG, a French school of engineering specialized in computer science, located in Grenoble. It turned out to be the only exchange program offering a clearly defined curriculum for my two years abroad and a mutual agreement between the participating universities of how to recognize the results achieved. Even better, the program would result in two degrees being awarded, one in France and one in my home country. When I wrote some tentative emails to the people in charge at the ENSIMAG and I actually got a detailed and informative answer a day later, my decision was made. Now, when looking back, that was one of the best decisions I have ever made. My French has improved from "rather bad" to "quite ok", I actually hold two diplomas in computer science, and I have had the difficult task of choosing between job offers from companies both in France and in my home country. The quality of the courses held at the ENSIMAG is good; the school constantly figures among the top ranked French universities in computer science, and the close link between the school and a number of research labs in the Grenoble area is a clear advantage. And I have not yet mentioned the excellent university sport offered, nor the language centre which will help improve one's French (or any other language as well), nor the marvellous countryside with a couple of natural parks and some of the most famous ski resorts in Europe nearby. However, when considering a stay at a French university, one should be aware of the different university system over there: specialization usually only starts in the third year, while the first and second years provide the general fundament. The stay abroad should be part of a cooperation program to make sure that the results will be recognized at home. By the way, the rather strict and inflexible class schedule typical of French schools of engineering helps to keep one motivated and makes sure that one actually learns French and gets in touch with the people over there and that is what it is all about. Joerg, Universität Karlsruhe, Germany