I interviewed Anne Leipertz and I asked her about Fachhochschule Aachen, the
university of applied sciences she attended.
The German university system has a classification of schools which is becoming
more and more common nowadays - we can distinguish three types of schools there.
There are academic universities that focus on theoretical knowledge and
methodological expertise, then there are universities of applied sciences that focus
more on the practical side of learning and professional practice and last but not least,
there are colleges of art and music.
And now let’s dig into Anne’s experience at university…
What university did you go to? And why did you choose it?
I went to Fachhochschule Aachen, which is a university of applied studies in Aachen,
Germany. However, the faculty of Chemistry and Biotechnology where I studied
Biomedical engineering is not exactly in Aachem, it is located in Jülich. I chose this
school because it is pretty close to my hometown. Nonetheless, I lived on the
campus and I absolutely loved it. I shared a house with fellow students and we had
the time of our lives.
I have actually never dreamed about going there but I found this course of
Biomedical Engineering very intriguing and something I would enjoy.
What other courses can you study at Fachhochschule Aachen?
My faculty also offers the course of Biotechnology, Electrical Engineering, Physical
Engineering, Chemistry, Economic Engineering, Physiotherapy and Informatics.
However, there are also many other faculties like the Faculty of Architecture, Civil
Engineering, Design, Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Aerospace
Engineering, Business Studies, Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics, Medical
Engineering and Technomathematics and Energy Technology which offer many
various courses as well.”
What kind of requirements are there to get in?
You must pass A-levels and a 10-week-long internship is required.
What about the school’s atmosphere, how long did it take you to adapt to
university life?
It was perfect, we got extremely close with the teachers who motivated us and I
made friends for life there. I felt so comfortable right away, however, the hardest part
came with the pandemic when I had to spend the whole time alone in my room.
What are some advantages and disadvantages of studying there?
I see a huge advantage in the relationships with the professors, the great variety of
courses and the freedom of choice and also a huge campus. On the other hand,
there were also some little disadvantages. Some elements were a bit disorganized
and the city of Jülich is not incredibly big, but it is very cozy.
How is it with tuition there?
It is very cheap, about 300 euros per year but you can also apply for scholarships
which are based on your grades and achievements.
Is the school accepting foreign students as well? Is it welcoming there for
them? And how many foreign students are there normally?
Yes, absolutely. They are very welcome. I would say that maybe even half of the
students are from foreign countries.
How would you summarize your years at this university?
It was a great time with amazing friends who supported me when I initially struggled
with handling the massive information flow and shock of university life.
Yes, I agree, the people you meet are the most important factor when it comes
to university.
Thank you so much for this lovely interview!
Viktorie Berger