Frida and Sophia in Croatia: Semester abroad studying Tourism & Event Management at Dresden University of Applied Sciences.

Frida and Sophia's semester abroad in Split

Frida and Sofia, who are studying Tourism & Event Management, made a conscious decision to spend their semester in Croatia together. What began as a pragmatic decision turned into an experience that strengthened the friendship they had formed at the beginning of their studies at FHD.

You can read more about this in the interview with the two students.

Did you meet during your studies?

Yes, we did. In fact, it was during orientation week in our first semester.

How did you come up with the idea of spending your semester abroad together in Split?

Originally, we wanted to spend our semester abroad separately so that we could each gain our own experiences. However, when we talked about it, we realised that we were interested in the same places. The financial aspect also played a role – it was much easier to manage everything together. That's how we came up with the idea of spending the semester together after all.

Why Split?

Quite unromantically, it was actually the financial aspect. We were also very interested in Spain, for example, but after comparing the cost of living in more detail, we both ended up choosing Split. In addition, the university offered a very suitable range of lectures in our area of interest. And, of course, the old town of Split is absolutely worth seeing.

  • The old town of Split impressed the two students during their semester abroad.
  • After their lectures at Aspira University, the two had enough time to explore the city and go on excursions.

How did you go about planning?

First of all, it is important to contact the International Office at an early stage. The experience report of a student who had already been to Split was particularly helpful for us. Her tips were a great help.

Then came the organisational part: applying for Erasmus, sorting out BAföG funding for studying abroad, choosing courses and finally looking for a flat. Choosing courses was much more enjoyable than the paperwork. We found a suitable flat relatively quickly – centrally located, with two bedrooms and even two bathrooms. We were very happy with it.

How did you finance your semester abroad?

Financing varies from person to person, of course. In our case, it consisted of Erasmus funding, BAföG for studying abroad, child benefit, our own savings and some support from our families. Working locally is not as easy in Croatia as it is in Germany, as there are no comparable mini-job models and there are many organisational hurdles. Therefore, a part-time job was not a realistic option for us.

What was a typical week like for you?

As we are both routine-oriented people, we tried to maintain a certain structure during our five months in Split, while at the same time consciously seeking out new experiences.

Compared to Dresden, we had fewer lectures, as the focus was more on the experience abroad. During the week, our everyday life was therefore rather relaxed. We did a lot, went on trips, discovered Croatia, made friends and consciously moved out of our comfort zone.

  • The friends thoroughly enjoyed their time together in Split.
  • A highlight in Croatia was the winter ball we organised ourselves at the university.

Were there moments when you were glad to have each other?

Definitely. I think it was like a little gift. Especially at the beginning, when everything is new and you miss your family and friends, it was really nice to have each other. We were also able to support each other during difficult times.

What were your highlights?

A special highlight was our self-organised winter ball in the event management module, which took place on the last weekend of our semester and was also a kind of farewell.

Our weekend trips, for example to Dubrovnik, party nights with our new friends and a very personal souvenir – a joint tattoo to remember this time – will also remain unforgettable.

How would you describe your experience abroad in terms of your professional future?

We definitely stepped out of our comfort zone – that will also help us professionally. We have gained a lot of confidence, especially in terms of language, and have overcome inhibitions. Overall, we have become more open and courageous – also in terms of tackling things on our own and breaking new ground.

If you had to describe your experience abroad in three words, what would they be?

Adventurous. Happy. Golden.

Frida & Sophia, studying Tourism & Event Management at Dresden University of Applied Sciences. 

Further impressions

  • Frida and Sophia in Croatia | Dresden University of Applied Sciences
  • Frida and Sophia in Croatia | Dresden University of Applied Sciences
  • Frida and Sophia in Croatia | Dresden University of Applied Sciences
  • Frida and Sophia in Croatia | Dresden University of Applied Sciences

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