Should you go study abroad as a maths stu­dent? Ab­solute­ly!

I had actually already made the decision to spend a semester abroad back in year 11, after taking part in a student exchange to Taiwan. I was amazed by how many new and varied experiences I had once I stepped outside my comfort zone! So, when I started university, it was clear to me: spending time abroad would definitely enrich my studies. And now I can say with certainty – it really has! I’ve already spent one semester in Romania, and am currently studying in London. From my perspective as a mathematics student, here are the most important reasons to go abroad:

The lingua franca of mathematics is English

By the time you reach Master's level, virtually all maths lectures – even in Germany – are held in English. That’s mainly because it's the language of communication in mathematical research: The vast majority of academic papers are published in English, and even within German research groups, English is typically the working language, since international researchers are usually involved. So, becoming more confident in using English can only be a benefit.

I really noticed how much my English changed during the first few weeks here: I started adapting to the British accent and suddenly found myself using words and expressions I’d picked up from the people around me! Overall, I can definitely say that my time here has made me much more fluent and confident in speaking English.

Career orientation

As a maths student, choosing a career path can be a bit tricky – there aren’t many "typical" jobs for mathematicians. However, the skills you gain during your degree are often highly valued. Imperial College is very aware of this and offers great support. Every October, for example, they host the "Maths Career Fair", where you can meet representatives from over 40 companies in a speed-dating format. I had the chance to talk to former students who are now working in both large and small companies. This gave me a much clearer picture of different career paths and work environments.

There’s also the university’s Careers Service, where you can book one-to-one sessions for advice and have your CV checked. Thanks to my time abroad, I also gained a better understanding of how PhDs work in the UK – something that could be useful to me in the future.

New academic perspectives

At Imperial, over 250 students start the mathematics programme each year – so naturally, there’s a wide range of modules to choose from. In the fourth year alone, there are more than 70 courses to choose from! Some of these aren't available at Humboldt-Universität.

In the first week of the second term, I decided – just out of curiosity – to sit in on a Spatial Statistics lecture. I was so fascinated that I ended up choosing it as one of my four modules for the term. Through this course, I discovered an area I had never really encountered before. I'm now even considering specialising in statistics – so this experience has definitely helped me find a new academic interest.

It's also really interesting to get an insight into a slightly different university system: In the UK, universities tend to see themselves as much more responsible for students' overall experience than in Germany. There are dedicated contacts for nearly everything, and if something turns out to be inconvenient for students, it’s quickly adjusted. On the other hand, I've come to realise just how high the academic standard of mathematics teaching is at Humboldt.

Getting to know the UK

There’s so much to discover in the UK – a short holiday just isn’t enough. Since I live right in the centre of London, I’ve had the chance to easily visit parks, museums and other local highlights. But that’s just the beginning: The university offers loads of opportunities to explore other parts of the country as well.

Thanks to the HostUK programme, I spent a weekend with an older couple in Cornwall, where I got a deeper insight into British culture. Shortly after that, I joined the hiking club for a long weekend in the Lake District – a chance to experience a kind of landscape that just doesn’t exist in Germany. Most weekends, I’m off exploring new regions of the UK with either the caving or kayaking club – and the best part is, the trips are subsidised by the university and cost only 45 pounds per weekend! Even though I’m travelling a lot, I still feel like there’s so much more to see – it never gets boring.

02.06.2025