Testimonials

Aliki Oikonomou

Exchange Student from Greece, 2025

Why did you choose KIT for your semester abroad?

I chose KIT for my semester abroad because of its good reputation in the field of Engineering.

What did you like about your studies at KIT-Department of Architecture?

I greatly appreciated the fact that the classes consisted of a small number of students, which allowed for better collaboration.

How did you experience your time in Karlsruhe?

I really enjoyed my experience in Karlsruhe, mainly thanks to the excellent organization of the Erasmus Student Network, the enthusiasm of its members and all the activities they organized.

What did you like about the region?Regarding the region, I liked how close it is to the borders with other countries and how easy it is to travel and visit beautiful cities.

Why would you recommend other international students to do their semester abroad at KIT-Department of Architecture?

I would recommend other students to do their Erasmus exchange at KIT-Department of Architecture because it is a good and well-organized university, part of a nice campus in a student town in a privileged location.

What advice would you give future incoming exchange students?

I would advise future incoming exchange students to try to participate in as many activities as possible and take advantage of every opportunity they have to create unforgettable memories

Laurianne Lebrun

Exchange Student from France, 2024/25

Why did you choose KIT for your semester abroad?

I wanted to spend a year in Germany to improve my German language skills and to experience the country’s academic and cultural life. KIT attracted me because of its strong reputation in both technical and artistic aspects of architecture, which reflects my own interests. I was also drawn to Karlsruhe itself: a city with a very good quality of life, well connected to other European cities, and at the same time comfortable and welcoming for students.

What did you like about your studies at KIT-Department of Architecture?

I appreciated the open-mindedness of the professors and the international atmosphere in the department. The projects encouraged critical thinking, creativity, and teamwork. The facilities, such as the library and the studios, were very well equipped, and I enjoyed the chance to work with students from many backgrounds

How did you experience your time in Karlsruhe?

Living in Karlsruhe was a very positive experience. The city is not too big, but dynamic and welcoming. I quickly felt comfortable thanks to the student community. I especially enjoyed cycling everywhere, discovering local cafés, and joining cultural events.

What did you like about the region?

The region has a lot to offer: the Black Forest with its nature and hiking opportunities, nearby French cities like Strasbourg, and the rich cultural life of Baden-Württemberg. I liked the mix between tradition and modernity, and the possibility to explore both nature and urban culture.

Why would you recommend other international students to do their semester abroad at KIT-Department of Architecture?

I would recommend KIT because it offers high-quality teaching, a supportive academic environment, and an enriching international experience. One of the main advantages is the wide and varied choice of courses, which allows each student to build a personal study path combining design, technical subjects, and theory. This diversity makes the experience both challenging and rewarding, while living in a city that is open and welcoming to international students.

What advice would you give future incoming exchange students?

Be curious, take part in both academic and social activities, and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. Learning some basic German makes everyday life easier, but most people speak English and are happy to help. Also, get a bike—it’s the best way to move around the city.

Yagmur Yüksel

Exchange Student from Italy, 2024/25

Why did you choose KIT for your semester abroad?

It was one of the top architectural universities in Germany, and the city of
Karlsruhe, with its lush greenery and charming atmosphere, made it an even more
enjoyable place to study.

What did you like about your studies at KIT-Department of Architecture?

It has such a nice and vibrant campus.

How did you experience your time in Karlsruhe?

My time in Karlsruhe was great! The city’s green and calm atmosphere, combined
with its vibrant student life, made it a perfect place to study. I enjoyed the balance
between academics and social life, and the international environment made it easy
to connect with people from different backgrounds.

What did you like about the region?

The city has a lush, green, and peaceful atmosphere.

Why would you recommend other international students to do their semester
abroad at KIT-Department of Architecture?

I would highly recommend the KIT-Department of Architecture to international
students because it offers a top-tier education with a strong focus on innovation
and sustainability. The professors are highly knowledgeable and supportive, and
the department provides excellent facilities and resources for architectural research
and design. Additionally, the city of Karlsruhe has a green and calm atmosphere,
making it a great place to study, while the large student community creates a
vibrant and welcoming environment. The international atmosphere at KIT also
makes it easy to connect with students from diverse backgrounds, enhancing both
academic and cultural experiences.

What advice would you give future incoming exchange students?

I would recommend future exchange students to make the most of their time at
KIT by engaging with both academic and social opportunities. The courses are
well-structured and provide a great learning experience, so staying organized and
managing your workload is important. At the same time, don’t miss out on the OPhase
and student events—they’re a great way to meet people and integrate into
the community. Karlsruhe is a beautiful and student-friendly city, so take time to
explore its parks, cultural sites, and nearby regions. Lastly, learning some basic
German can be helpful in daily life, even though many people speak English.

Aleksandra Kulikowska

Exchange Student from Poland, 2024

I had an amazing time in Karlsruhe. (...) My time at the KIT-Department of Architecture was an opportunity to learn, discover new places and broaden my mind. I feel much more comfortable speaking German after my time in Karlsruhe, which I could not do anywhere else. As an international student I had a lot of support, which made this time less stressful and allowed me to enjoy my stay. I would 100% recommend choosing KIT for Erasmus exchange.

Sauco Barceló

Exchange Student from Spain, 2023/24

Karlsruhe may not be the first option that comes to mind when deciding on an erasmus destination, nonetheless I cannot reccomend it enough. Is a small city but full of charm, amenities and things to do, is perfect if you like nature as it has many parks and forests and the city is full of life as many students are hosted here. The KIT offers such an amazing academic experience even for non german speakers so don't fear if you don't know the language yet, you will learn some of it tho. In conclusion, if you can, don't miss out on this amazing experience that this beautiful city and great university have to offer.

Malgorzata Andrzejewska

Exchange Student from Poland, 2022/23

I spent half a year at KIT and I have to say it went by too quickly! Karlsruhe is a very friendly city with a lot to offer for students. At the faculty, all classes are free to choose from, and the variety of classes means that there is something of interest for everyone.
The Erasmus students are mixed in with the regular students, which makes it possible to meet many great people also from outside the "international group". Ultimately, I can recommend studying at KIT to anyone. It was a time full of great moments and people I will remember for a long time.

Bruno Kaltenbach

Personen sitzen zusammen in einem Straßencafe

Exchange student from France, 2021/22

This Erasmus in Karlsruhe was a great experience in many ways. Humanly, it was the moment to meet a lot of new people with different cultures and visions but also the moment to find myself and to leave my comfort zone sometimes.
The city and the campus are beautiful, there are many sights to discover and the student facilities are incredible. The life in the castle park and everything that happens there is worth the detour.
I highly recommend this experience to all students!

Misa Nurminen

Exchange Student from Finland, 2021/22

In spring 2022 the situation after the pandemic was slowly returning to normal and I finally got to leave for my exchange semester in Germany. I chose KIT and Karlsruhe, because I wanted to come to beautiful South-Germany, improve my German skills and benefit from the interesting teaching. I immediately felt like home here. Karlsruhe was conviniently small, cozy and perfect for students. Free time, campus life and sports offering in the city matched up to my active lifestyle - I played spikeball, attended a yoga course at the campus and did a lot of hikes. Karlsruhe is very well connected and it was easy to take a train to the Schwarzwald - or to other cities in central Europe. I travelled a lot and saw many unique places, but it always felt good to come back home. Living with German roommates improved my language skills and connected me to the local life, studying together in a master studio group gave a strong sense of community and the lively ESN-Karlsruhe organized a lot of fun trips and events. I made lifelong friends and had the time of my life!

Kamila Bąk

Exchange Student from Poland, 2020

I have to say that my one semester stay in Karlsruhe was great! The people I met, at Uni or outside, were very very nice and the friendships I made will probably last very long!

The city is small, but it has its charm, especially the castle area (maybe beside the construction works everywhere :D). It has some architectural must see pieces like the castle or Dammerstock and the city urban layout itself.

There is an ESN section, that take care of international students and offers various events for internationals few times a week (so one will not be bored if don’t want to) and the biggest one at the beginning called “O-Phase” which is a MUST BE for every incomer and is the best way to meet new friends!
It is also great that just a few kilometres outside Karlsruhe there are many hills/small mountains to hike and as well beautiful cities like Heidelberg or Strasbourg in France which are just one hour away and really nice for one-day trips.

What I really liked about the University was that there was a great choice of studios, seminars and workshops, so it was easy to choose project’s and research topics one is really interested in. The classes were mostly lead in German (but the ones marked in English were lead in English), but even though the teachers were quite okay with speaking English if necessary.

Everything from the Erasmus office side was directly defined and easy to understand. And there was always someone available to answer the questions , and you will probably have one as there is some paperwork to do while one moves to Germany.
The biggest downside was the housing situation. It is not easy to find a room (was not easy for me at all), but at the end everyone got a place to call home.

Ephrem Mersha

Exchange Student from Ethiopia, 2020

In the first weeks of my stay in Karlsruhe, the time difference was one of the difficulties I have faced. However, the winter weather was the bigger problem. I haven’t prepared myself for that very cold weather. Since, I was from Ethiopia, where there is sunshine throughout the year, I was surprised how some places in the world can be as cold as that. But, it didn’t take much time of my stay, I was relieved of it as soon as I bought winter jackets that were fitting to the environment.

The university environment here is very welcoming, due to the fact that there are so many students working on their projects and as well as their daily activities. Which gave me the opportunity to present myself openly. That led to having so many friends around me to help with adapting the new environment of this huge campus. The friendliness of students that were part of my design studio and as well seminars were more than a friendly gesture rather have a welcoming feel.

KIT, as I mentioned above, is one of the prominent research institutes of the world which in turn gave me a big chance to get to know dedicated researchers and as well academicians that strive to leave a mark in the world, they live in. Moreover, these past few months of experience at KIT made me realize that I was not using my potential to the best. Seeing all the choices put in front of me, like the facilities, to put my ideas into reality, and professors, who are more willing to give a hand in whatever means possible, I haven’t used the time wisely. But that’s what I like about KIT, it gave me a huge mirror to view myself in a different but often a likely perspective.

When it comes to the city, Karlsruhe, during the first days, I can’t be lying if I say, I hated it. That’s mainly because of my first-time exposure to the harsh Winter-weather and the “different” way of living. I’m from the capital city of Ethiopia, Addis Abeba. To describe the city in this interview would be so short, but I want to give it a try with the following three words of my choice: chaotic, lovely, and lively. But Karlsruhe was very calm and quiet, which in the first weeks of my residency, led me to think of the city as dormant and inactive. However, spending more months here, I judged myself of wrongly accusing the city of falsified characters. Now, if you ask me the question of what I like about the city, Karlsruhe, I will say, its interactive and lively environment that gave me the potential environment to set me free to do whatever I would like to do or think. Which is a dream that I wished I had in my home city, Addis Abeba.

Diana Altounji

Exchange Student from France, 2020

I am very happy for this new experience. The relationship with the professors and the students was really good and the atmosphere was okay. The campus is so big and the faculty of architecture was in the center of the city and the buildings were beautiful. I'm really happy with the decision that I made, I think that Erasmus is always a good experience that we should try once, especially if we choose a good university with the best professors. I learned a lot and we travelled together.

I suggest you try it, you won't regret it!