Edinburgh alum, Fiona Abbas, says studying at the University of Cologne for a year was a life changing experience in many ways and somewhat of a culture shock, but in a good way. Image Study abroad experience Destination; Cologne, Germany Year: 2006-07 Why did you choose your destination? The University of Cologne was the partner University at the time for the degree I was studying for. I've lived in Cologne ever since! I studied for a year at the University of Cologne and it truly was a life changing experience in many ways. Moving from Edinburgh to Cologne was somewhat of a culture shock, but in a good way, and experiencing Carnival on 11.11.2006 for the first time was something I will never forget. Seeing a whole city, young and old, dressed in costume and coming together to celebrate was amazing in many ways, not least because I met my husband (whilst I was dressed up like a bumblebee, no less). Flash forward 17 years and I've lived in Cologne ever since, only returning to Edinburgh to complete my 4th year and graduate in 2008. My degree from Edinburgh was the first step in my career working in international HR, made possible by my Erasmus year that happily changed my life! Seeing a whole city, young and old, dressed in costume and coming together to celebrate was amazing in many ways, not least because I met my husband (whilst I was dressed up like a bumblebee, no less). Flash forward 17 years and I've lived in Cologne ever since. Fiona AbbasUniversity of Edinburgh Alumnus What would you say to a student considering work or study abroad? Unexpected things will happen, and the experiences you will have and the people you will meet can change your outlook on life, your expectations and even your future. Current opportunities Read about all our current and future opportunities available: Student opportunities Find out more about our summer school opportunities: INCiTE Summer School A 2-week, in-person, part-funded summer course in Southeast Asia learning about intercultural competence, design thinking, social innovation, and entrepreneurship. INCiTE Summer School NICE Programme NICE offers students the opportunity to learn about entrepreneurship and intercultural competence in virtual teams across Europe, followed by a one-week in-person summer school. NICE Programme LERU Doctoral Summer School The League of European Research Universities (LERU) is a consortium of research-led European Universities that has had a significant impact on research policy in Europe. LERU Read other students' study and work abroad stories Student stories This article was published on 2024-06-24
