Hello! I am Phung Nguyen, and I spent my spring semester as an exchange student at Hochschule Worms in Germany, studying Global Trade Management. My exchange allowed me not only to experience a different academic environment, but also to discover a new daily rhythm and see both similarities and differences between studying in Germany and Finland.
Studying in Worms
What I particularly appreciated was the connection between theory and real business practice. For example, in the International Supply Chain Management course, we had the opportunity to join a field trip to Amazon. Instead of only reading about logistics processes in textbooks or seeing them in presentation slides, we could visit the facilities, listen to explanations about the actual operating processes and see how logistics and warehouse management worked in practice. For me, it was a real opportunity to see, touch and experience the processes that we had discussed in class.
My Spare Time – Staying Connected Across Countries
My exchange experience was a little different because while I was living in Worms, my small family continued to live in Tampere, Finland.
One of the most important parts of my daily routine was our family video call. Almost every evening, we arranged a time to call each other and even had dinner together through the screen. It made us feel as though there had not been such a long distance between Germany and Finland.
We also continued sharing small moments from our everyday lives. Whenever someone visited a new or interesting place, we sent photos to each other. Sometimes the photos were nothing special at all, perhaps just something funny, a meal or a small moment during the day. However, these little things helped us remain connected and made Germany feel a little closer to home.
At the same time, living in Worms gave me opportunities to explore the city, meet international students and participate in student activities.
Germany and Finland: Different but Also Familiar
Studying in Germany and Finland showed me that the two learning environments have both similarities and differences.
In both countries, students attend classes, work in groups, complete individual assignments and are expected to spend time studying independently. Therefore, moving from TAMK to Worms did not mean entering a completely unfamiliar academic system.
One noticeable difference was the rhythm of student life. In Worms, I experienced the idea of a “quiet Sunday”, when most shops and supermarkets were closed. It meant that I had to plan grocery shopping and other daily activities more carefully during weekdays or on Saturday.
I also noticed that many students came from other cities or countries mainly to study in Worms. Because of this, many activities for students were organized in the evenings or during weekdays. This made it easier for students to attend classes during the day and still participate in social activities afterwards.
For me, this was one of the valuable parts of the exchange experience. I did not simply compare which system was better. Instead, I learned that universities and student communities can organize everyday life differently while still sharing the same goal: supporting students in learning, connecting with others and preparing for their future careers.
My spring semester in Worms gave me academic knowledge, practical business experience and many small everyday memories. Most importantly, it helped me experience what it really means to study and live between two countries.
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