A Semester Abroad in the Oldest City in Switzerland – Chur at the University of Applied Sciences Graubünden

The decision

I decided to spend a semester abroad because I wanted to broaden my cultural horizons in an international environment. I also wanted to integrate new and interesting experiences from a semester abroad into my further studies and be able to use them for my future career. I chose the University of Applied Sciences Graubünden in the Swiss city of Chur because of its location and the language of instruction. As I love the mountains and the University of Applied Sciences Graubünden in Chur is located in the middle of the Swiss Alps and in the German-speaking area, it was a good choice for me.

The preparations

During the application process, I received support from the International Offices of the home and partner universities as well as from the Internationalisation Officer of the Department of Information Sciences.

First, I obtained non-binding information about a semester abroad and the partner university FH Graubünden in Switzerland via the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam website and from the Internationalisation Officer of the Department of Information Sciences.

I then applied to the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam for a place in the selection process according to the requirements of the International Office. The application included a CV in tabular form, a letter of motivation and a current transcript of records. A language certificate was not necessary, as the University of Applied Sciences Graubünden also teaches in German.

After my application documents had been checked, I was accepted for the semester abroad by the International Office of the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam. This also included a nomination by the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam to the University of Applied Sciences Graubünden.

I received the final acceptance letter after submitting an additional application to the University of Applied Sciences Graubünden. In addition to my CV, letter of motivation and proof of performance, the application also included an application form, a copy of my passport, a passport photo and a provisional learning agreement. This set out the courses to be attended. The Learning Agreement was finalised after I was accepted by the University of Applied Sciences Graubünden. I also had to provide proof of health insurance for abroad. A visa was not necessary, but a residence permit was, which was coordinated with the International Office of the University of Applied Sciences Graubünden. They also organised a kick-off meeting (online) for all exchange students, where I received further information and could ask questions. I was assigned a buddy for any questions I had about studying at the University of Applied Sciences Graubünden, life in Chur, etc.

The accommodation

The search for accommodation was done quickly. I was very lucky to be able to rent a room in the Konvikt via the International Office of the University of Applied Sciences Graubünden. The Konvikt is a hall of residence for the students of the Chur cantonal school. However, some exchange students also live there every semester. I highly recommend renting a room at the Konvikt. The team is very nice and helpful. The building itself is modern and clean. They also offer breakfast and dinner during the week. I found the direct social contact with the other exchange students to be a great advantage of living in the Konvikt. Another plus point is the wonderful view of Chur, as the building is situated on a hillside close to the city centre. The university of applied sciences is easy to reach by bus.

Studying at the university

At the start of the semester, there was an introductory event organised by the International Office of the University of Applied Sciences Graubünden. The exchange students were given information about Switzerland, the University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons and opportunities to participate and help organise their studies. The Erasmus Student Network (ESN) Chur presented itself and the events it is organising this semester. As an introductory event, a cheese tasting was organised and chocolate was made.

After this semester kick-off, I took part in the courses Data and Information Visualisation and the project course of the Information Science degree programme. I also attended the Psychology, Design Introduction and Requirements Engineering courses on the Digital Business Management degree programme. I was able to take away exciting content from these courses.

The Psychology and Requirements Engineering courses were completed with an exam at the end of the semester. The exam in Psychology was written, while the exam in Requirements Engineering was taken online using the university's Safe Exam Browser and your own laptop. In the latter course, a requirements specification was also developed. In the Data and Information Visualisation course, a data set was visualised in group work. In the project course, some work steps for the upcoming curriculum reform were also carried out in groups, presented and recorded in writing. Individual course dates also took place in Zurich. A digitorial (interactive micro-website) created with Figma in the form of a prototype was presented as part of a lecture in the Design Introduction course.

Everyday life and leisure

As expected, the cost of living in Switzerland was somewhat higher. However, the high rent for a room in the Konvikt was reasonable in relation to the services provided. Public transport was also somewhat more expensive. If you used it frequently, a Half-Fare travelcard was worthwhile, as it halved the price of public transport and long-distance tickets. This was very practical, as it also included cable cars and ski lifts, for example. The monthly pass for public transport in Chur itself was also practical. As I used the bus almost every day, the travelcard meant I could travel on the bus at my leisure and save money overall. I mainly bought groceries from discounters such as Lidl and Aldi, as they were cheaper than the Swiss supermarkets. I found relatively cheap drugstore products at Rossmann. So I was able to save money here too.

In my free time, I was out and about in the countryside either on my own or with fellow students or exchange students, visited a few towns and took part in various events, e.g. organised by the ESN. There are some beautiful hikes around Chur, for example from Lake Cauma via the Rhine Gorge to Lake Cresta or on Chur's local mountain, Brambrüesch. A visit to the waterfalls or gorges in the area, such as the Roffla Gorge, is also recommended. The Engadin region offers a golden autumn, while time seems to stand still in the picturesque mountain village of Foroglio.

Switzerland not only offers beautiful nature, but also some pretty villages, towns and festivals. I particularly liked the towns of Zermatt, Appenzell and Lucerne. In the latter, I particularly liked the light decorations at Christmas time and the Christmas market. The Alpine processions and the Zauberwald winter festival in Lenzerheide were also worth seeing.

In winter, leisure activities such as skiing and ice skating are of course almost obligatory. In Chur itself, skiing is possible on the local mountain Brambrüesch. However, there are several other ski areas around Chur, such as the Arosa-Lenzerheide ski area or Churwalden. Both beginners and advanced or professional skiers will get their money's worth on the pistes there. Ice skating on the beautifully designed and spacious ice rink in Chur is also highly recommended. An ice disco is also held there from time to time. Another highlight is the ice rink next to Alp Raguta in Feldis. At an altitude of around 2,000 metres, you can glide across the ice with a view of a fantastic mountain panorama.

Conclusion

During my time in Chur and at the University of Applied Sciences Graubünden, I got to know many great people and learnt a lot of new things. Finally, I would like to share a few tips and recommendations with future exchange students:

• Make contacts: I have found that it is quite easy to make friends with other exchange students if there is a certain openness. Making real contacts with Swiss people often requires a certain amount of initiative. But once the "ice is broken", they are open to many things. Taking part in ESN events can also be helpful in making contacts.
• Use your contacts to visit cool places or try out activities together. After all, it's twice as much fun together with friends.
• Learn Swiss German: While it wasn't quite as important in the university context, it was important to understand Swiss German when socialising with fellow Swiss students, for example, or in everyday life. The Swiss also spoke High German, but it often happened that they switched back to Swiss German during a conversation. In order to take part in conversations and integrate, at least a few basic vocabulary words should be known. It was also always helpful to ask the meaning of frequently used words or phrases.
• Rent a room in the Konvikt: A room in the Konvikt makes it easier to settle in and socialise. The team will help you to make your living situation as comfortable as possible and to socialise with the other exchange students living there. In my case, the exchange students living in the Konvikt quickly got to know each other and got to know Chur together. Together, we explored questions that arose about life in Switzerland and Chur, which quickly brought us closer together.

The six months in Chur went by far too quickly. It was a really wonderful time, during which I learnt to love the mountains even more and the city of Chur became a second home to me.