Which university do you attend in your home country?
Reykjavík University.
Why did you choose to study abroad and why at Bucerius specifically?
Moving to another country for an extended period had always been on my bucket list, and I seized that opportunity through an exchange program. Germany was one of the countries I had always considered moving to, so I promptly began exploring schools there, and among them was Bucerius.
Encouraged by great recommendations from Icelandic students who had attended in previous years, I made the decision to choose Bucerius for my exchange experience.
Would you recommend the exchange program to other Icelandic students?
I would recommend getting enrolled in an exchange program to everyone! It`s a valuable experience moving to another country and studying in a new school. Bucerius has a great international exchange program.
The international office is really helpful if you need anything, and they make you feel very welcome right away. They also make sure that exchange students are informed about important things, and they often host events that makes it easier for students to get to know each other.
The Bucerius library gets an honourable mention, I really loved studying there.
In what way was studying at Bucerius different than at your home law school?
Aside from learning everything in English, the main difference for me was the attendance being mandatory in Bucerius.
Unlike my home university, which encompasses diverse departments including law, engineering, and business, attending a dedicated law school like Bucerius offered a unique experience where everyone shared a common pursuit of a legal education.
What is the most interesting thing you learned academically and personally during your exchange term?
During my exchange term, the most interesting academic revelation was gaining insights into practices and current issues across various jurisdictions. This broadened my understanding of international law.
There were also some very interesting courses offered like Video game and esports law and law of identity. For me, the most interesting thing I learned personally was the self-reliance and independence that comes with relocating to another country and starting a new school there.
What was your favourite experience during your exchange term?
My most cherished experience during my exchange term was meeting fellow exchange students, building lasting friendships, and creating good memories together.
Even though it’s been a few months since we last met, we still stay in touch every other day. I genuinely miss them, and I will forever be grateful to Bucerius for bringing us together. These friendships are and will always be very valuable to me.
What was most surprising to you about studying abroad?
There were a lot of things that surprised me. For example.e many Germans don´t speak English or speak it only to a certain extent. It is cheap to live in Germany (at least for an Icelandic person) and things like groceries are very affordable.
Almost everything is closed on Sundays which I had a hard time getting used to, but now I wish we had that custom here in Iceland. Most importantly, I was very surprised with how safe Hamburg is. I could name so much more and almost only positive things.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the future exchange students at Bucerius?
If you can, take the German language classes at Bucerius! My favourite place in Hamburg was definitely Sternschanze as it is full of restaurants bars, people and stores including thrift stores.
Other recommendations: Zoë 2 sofa bar, shopping at Mönckebergstraße, all the Christmas markets in November-December, Reeperbahn, bakeries, Döner Kebab and traveling to other places in Germany or neighbouring countries with Flixbus.
