In the winter semester 2025/26, supported by the Lothar and Sigrid Rohde Foundation, I spent an eventful semester in Grenoble.
As I already had a solid foundation in French from school and had positive experiences through student exchanges with our partner city in France, choosing the country was easy. Our neighboring country has always fascinated me, so close and yet somehow different.
I chose Grenoble because of its outstanding location in the mountains. In addition to hiking and climbing in the summer, I am particularly passionate about winter mountain sports, which is why my ski touring equipment naturally had to come along. In fact, it will mainly be the many beautiful hikes, ski tours and rock climbing experiences that I will miss the most. Being able to reach several climbing areas by bike directly from the city is simply unbeatable. From late August to early February, I was able to fully enjoy the entire range of both summer and winter mountain sports.
Academically, my time in Grenoble was also very successful. I studied at the Institut Polytechnique Grenoble at the engineering school Phelma (Physique, Électronique, Matériaux), which is one of the top Grandes Écoles in France, especially in the field of electrical engineering. I attended the ninth semester of the SEI program (Systèmes électroniques intégrés). This complemented my Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering at TUM, where I specialize in Electromagnetics, Microwave Engineering and Measurements, in an excellent way. For the first time, I was able to truly understand the connection between electronics and high-frequency engineering, which significantly broadened my academic perspective and inspired me in a completely new way. Grenoble is an internationally recognized hub for microelectronics, and the university maintains strong connections with industry.
Engineering studies in France are organized quite differently than in Germany. The Grandes Écoles are much more structured and school-like. It was therefore initially unusual not to be able to choose courses freely in the final semester before my thesis, but instead to follow a fixed timetable with mandatory attendance. About half of the courses were taught in French, which was a real challenge at the beginning. All the more rewarding was the fact that I was eventually able to take my exams in French, something I initially had great respect for, and pass them successfully.
After an initial adjustment period, I was able to adapt to the French system and also recognize its advantages. From a pedagogical perspective, there is a stronger focus on aligning theoretical and practical components. Even though the academic level is somewhat more application-oriented and less research-focused than in Germany, I learned a great deal and am glad to have had this experience.
For students, Grenoble offers many affordable opportunities to experience nature and the mountains. The university sports program is diverse, and the surrounding ski resorts offer discounted passes for students. I significantly expanded my vocabulary related to outdoor and mountain activities, not least through a university climbing course in which I was the only non-French participant. Over the course of the semester, I also became friends with a wonderful group of French classmates who welcomed me very warmly and openly into their circle. Through them, I gained an authentic insight into French student life, and we shared many great experiences, whether at the Christmas market, enjoying cheese fondue, skiing or having raclette evenings. In retrospect, the initially criticized structured university routine turned out to be a real advantage, as it allowed me to build genuine friendships with French students.
In addition to these encounters, I also made many connections with other international students. Overall, I really liked the atmosphere of the city, young, dynamic and enthusiastic about sports. I also resumed regular running during my time in Grenoble. The city constantly offers a 360-degree view of the surrounding mountains, and running along the banks of the Isère while enjoying the sunshine is simply great.
Beyond unforgettable moments in the mountains, trips to Paris, Lausanne and Nice were further highlights of the semester.
In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that my semester abroad significantly strengthened my awareness of Europe. The European Union is a remarkable achievement of our time, and I am glad to have contributed in my own way to Franco-German friendship. Geographically as well, Europe is a unique place, with such a diversity of landscapes, languages and cultures that one could spend a lifetime exploring its many fascinating regions. This experience has reinforced my conviction that international collaboration, both in research and in everyday life, is key to addressing the major challenges of our time.
The diverse and contrasting city in the French Alps left a very positive impression on me, and I will remain connected to the French way of life and the region for the rest of my life.