“The personal growth is something I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life” Haizea’s Erasmus+ Experience in Germany

Visiting Cologne Cathedral, Germany

Haizea Kilroy undertook an Erasmus+ study abroad mobility in Germany as part of her undergraduate degree at South East Technological University (SETU), Carlow campus.

I’m currently a third-year International Business student at SETU Carlow. In 2024, I had the opportunity to take part in the Erasmus+ programme and I spent two semesters studying at Hochschule Hannover (HsH) in Germany, finishing up in 2025. I chose this course because I’ve always been fascinated by different cultures and wanted to understand how businesses operate beyond Ireland.

What motivated you to do it?
My course offers a double degree programme for International Business students who spend two semesters studying in Hannover, which was a major incentive. I’ve also always been interested in German culture – the language, the history, and especially the efficient way of life.

There’s always something to do, whether it’s exploring local traditions, visiting historical landmarks, or experiencing the vibrant city life. I was also drawn to Germany’s central location in Europe. Its well-connected transport system made it easy to travel to other countries, which was a big bonus for me.

Visiting Pompeii, Italy

How did you prepare for your trip?
Preparing to move to Germany was actually a lot easier than I expected. I started by researching Hannover – looking at the city, cost of living and daily life – as I had never lived abroad before and wanted to be extra sure of where I was going.

I found accommodation quite quickly; there are plenty of student residences in the city and they are easy to find on the German housing websites. My host university also sent out emails with available options to help us.

As an EU citizen, I didn’t have to open a German bank account, but I did need to apply for travel, liability, and health insurance. Health insurance is mandatory in Germany as a student, but I had a European Health Insurance Card, so it wasn’t much of an issue. My university helped with all the paperwork and soon enough I was ready to go!

How did you make friends and network?
The best thing about Erasmus+ is that you’re never truly alone. When I arrived in Germany, my university hosted welcome weeks, which made it easy to meet people from all over the world right from the start. There were organised trips to different cities, social nights at bars, and fun activities like bowling and movie nights.

HsH Halloween Campus Event

An ESN events page on Instagram regularly posted updates about what was happening around the city, giving me the chance to join in and connect with students from other universities too.

German people were also incredibly welcoming and friendly. Whether I was at a U-Bahn station, in a bar, or just walking down the street, I often found myself chatting with someone new. It didn’t take long before I had a close-knit Erasmus+ “family”. That sense of community was one of the most rewarding parts of the experience.

What about the language barrier? Do you have a favourite word or phrase in your host country’s native language?
Germans are very proficient when it comes to English, which made my transition a lot easier. Even when I wasn’t able to speak German, I never had any issues communicating with locals – they were always understanding and willing to help. Once you get the basics down and keep practicing, it becomes much easier to get around and handle day-to-day situations.

One of the most fun and surprisingly simple parts of my daily routine was saying goodbye. People would often say “Tschüss” with such enthusiasm and a cheerful, high-pitched tone (it’s genuinely a fun word to say) and it quickly became one of my favourites. It made even quick interactions feel friendly and upbeat.

I also really enjoyed the way slang and casual expressions are used in everyday German. Another phrase that stuck with me was “versprochen,” which directly translates to “promised.” I loved how I could use it in a casual way to reassure someone or gain trust, like saying, “Versprochen, das ist gut”. These little expressions helped me feel more connected to the language and culture, and they made conversations feel more natural and expressive.

What were the highlights of your Erasmus+ adventure?
Definitely travelling to different countries with amazing people I met during the experience. I had the opportunity to travel all around Germany with the Deutschlandsemesterticket, visiting cities like Hamburg, Berlin, Cologne, and Munich.

I also had the chance to visit Albania, Italy, France, Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic. Each trip brought something new, whether it was the food, the scenery, or the people I met. Every journey created unforgettable memories, and none of them ever felt the same. There was something so freeing about being able to just grab a train and see where it would take me.

Visiting Tirana, Albania

Another highlight was the friendships and sense of community that formed throughout the experience. From spontaneous nights out to cooking dinners in the student dorms, I quickly connected with people from all over the world. Many of them became close friends: I still keep in touch with them, and we are planning to meet again. We supported each other through homesickness, celebrated birthdays together, and made everyday moments feel special. Having that Erasmus+ “family” turned a foreign city into a second home and showed me just how powerful connection can be, no matter where you’re from.

Hello from Morocco, The Netherlands, Vietnam, Uzbekistan and Ireland

Has Erasmus+ changed you? What lessons and skills did you take home?
I experienced major personal growth during my time abroad. Moving to a new country on my own pushed me far beyond my comfort zone and challenged me in ways I hadn’t expected. Before going to Germany, I was quite shy and tended to keep to myself. Suddenly, I was in a completely new environment where I had to adapt quickly, navigating a different education system, managing my own finances, handling paperwork, and learning how to use public transport in another language. These everyday tasks, which might have seemed small back home, felt like big hurdles at first. But over time, those challenges became opportunities.

I slowly built confidence and independence as I learned to handle things on my own. I started saying yes to more experiences, speaking with strangers, and stepping into situations I would have once avoided. I now feel much more open to meeting new people, going on adventures, and being myself. Erasmus+ helped me discover a version of myself that is more self-assured, adaptable, and resilient. It was incredibly empowering to realise how capable I truly am when taken out of familiar surroundings, and that growth is something I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.

Final Marketing project

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All photos are reproduced here with permission from Haizea.

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