The University of Bremen Grows in Popularity With Students From India

It is an impressive number: About 700 students from India are members of the regional Indian Students Association with participation of students from all Bremen universities as well as the University of Oldenburg. At the University of Bremen alone, 268 students from India are currently enrolled, the widest student group from a non-EU country. We met two of them.

It was Mercedes that guided the way from India to Bremen. Chaitra and Vaishnavi come from the southern Indian megacity Bangalore, its approximately 11,5 million inhabitants making it the third-biggest city in India, which is an important IT center. Back home, the two already completed a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and jobbed at the research center of Mercedes in Bangalore. That was how they got in touch with Germany – and the master’s degree in Department 1 (Physics/Electrical Engineering) at the University of Bremen followed. “Germany is a world leader in research; a degree from here is priceless, and there is a wide range of offers for a master’s program in English. That made the decision to come to Bremen easy,” says Vaishnavi. Both are about to finish their degrees now. Have their expectations been met? “Our courses were extremely good, especially those in person, before the pandemic. We did many practical exercises, and we both have a job at Bremen-based research institutes,” Chaitra explains. “This would be very challenging in India if at all possible.” In Bremen, they have to assume responsibility for themselves, both students agree. But they experience that as very positive. “Empowering,” says Vaishnavi. Which also means, for example, covering all distances within the city by bike all by yourself. What a blessing for somebody coming from Bangalore with its chaotic traffic. What they miss most are the three capital Fs: Food, Family, and Festivities. However, these can be compensated quite well by the various activities, communal dinners, and monthly events at the Indian Students Association. “During the pandemic, we have still continued to cook together regularly in very small groups,” says Chaitra. So, it’s all good here? Almost: “At the beginning, we would have needed more contact to Germans in order to learn more about the simple things of everyday life.”

After a first preparatory meeting, we now want to establish an India Chapter of our Alumni Association on 7 May. If you are from India and interested, please feel free to write to us: alumniprotect me ?!uni-bremenprotect me ?!.de