Incoming - International Students at the Department of Mathematics

After finishing my bachelor’s studies, I wanted to pursue a master’s program in Mathematics that could expand my knowledge and broaden my horizons as much as possible. Finding the possibility of outgoing to the University Stuttgart, I chose to spend my academic year of 2021/2022 in this university under the Erasmus+ exchange program as a master’s student, from University of Aveiro.

The university infrastructures are particularly good, with the perfect conditions to develop your skills and learning the wide range of mathematical topics offered. The same should be said with respect to the campus library which contains a very extensive collection of (mathematical) books to explore and deepening the knowledge presented in the lectures. Also, it is excellent to sit down and study the whole day. Besides, this library is right next to the Department of Mathematics.

The professors are remarkably friendly and open to give their courses in English, courses that cover a lot of exciting and interesting topics. On this basis, the professors reflect the department staff as well as the students, always ready to help, have a nice conversation and make sure everything is going well with you. From you is just expected work and compromise.

I lived in a flat in the student dormitory Allmandring III. The dormitory is included in the campus area, which is semi-surrounded by a forest, where the freedom of an afternoon walk presents itself. Lots of people use this forest also for jogging, cycling or even just to sit on the benches near the small lakes, reading or smelling the freshness of the nature.

Everyone needs to relax occasionally, and for that the city of Stuttgart has excellent museums and galleries to explore the history and some art. Stuttgart has also very nice restaurants and bars to explore worldwide gastronomy and all kinds of German beer.

All in all, my experience in Stuttgart was extremely fruitful and fulfilling in all kinds of ways, but certainly the learning part was the best of it.

Today, I can proudly say I made an optimal choice in this year of my life!

Simão Lucas,
University of Aveiro, Portugal

Translation of Thomas Nagy’s report into English- translated by Elisabeth Schaettgen – Administrative Contact for Erasmus Students Department of Mathematics

I am studying Mathematical Structures at Charles University in Prague and spent the academic year 2017/2018 as Erasmus exchange student at the University of Stuttgart. I lived in the student dormitory Pfaffenhof II and very much liked the campus – the whole campus is surrounded by forests, presenting lots of possibilities for a walk.

When I was looking around for an Erasmus stay, one of the reasons to choose Stuttgart was the Intensive German Course offered by the Department of International Affairs from September on, a perfect possibility to meet other students from abroad, to improve my German and to get used to the life in Stuttgart before the winter term started.

Before coming to Stuttgart, I never had studies Mathematics in German, but I had no problems to understand and to follow the lectures. This is one of the beautiful things mathematics offer: the language of mathematics is so easy and precise, that it may be understood in a foreign language as well.

The biggest difference between studying in Prague and Stuttgart, is how exams are organized – when passing an oral exam in Prague, you get all the questions before and you get your time to prepare (even the proofs). I was not used to answer questions directly in an oral exam (even if they are perhaps not so difficult).

Of course I noted other differences between the university system in the Czech Republik and Germany, but that is the interesting part of an Erasmus exchange. You do not only learn a foreign language and about another culture, you may also learn about different kind of teaching and scientific research.

During mystay in Stuttgart, I also enjoyed exploring the surroundings – I especially liked the Allgäu Alps and the region around the lake of Constance. The mountains near Stuttgart (Schwäbische Alp and Black Forest) reminded me of the mountains at home and in Slovakia, where I grew up. I often remember my trips around Stuttgart.

You often hear about Germans to be rude, but I never had this feeling or experience. On the contrary, when travelling, I often was addressed by Germans asking where I was from or what I liked in Germany, and very often we had interesting conversations. This usually does not happen in the Czech Republik. People never contact you for small talk unless they want to sell you something or ask you for money.

I also remember interesting conversations with my neighbours in the student dormitory – about history, politics, environment, etc. I have the impression that Germans are very interested in topics, being interesting and relevant, but not directly related to the studies or their future career. This also is the case in the Czech Republic, but not so often.

When talking to someone about my Erasmus stay in Stuttgart, I cordially recommend Stuttgart. For students not speaking German at all it is perhaps not suitable, but for me the lectures in German where one of the reasons why I choose Stuttgart.

[Note of the translator: the number of lectures in English is presently increasing]

One last recommendation from my side: An Erasmus stay in Prague is also a very good option for students. The offer of mathematical lectures is even broader, and almost all lectures in MSc Mathematics are given in English – just contact the professor in advance and most of them will teach in English, too.

[Note of the translator: this is also a recommendation for Stuttgart. Just contact the professor and you will see whether the lecture you are interested in may be given in English.]

Thomas Nagy
Charles University in Prague

"I am a PhD student in Mathematics and Computer Science, at the Department of Mathematics at the University of Bari Aldo Moro, (Italy). In my PhD thesis I study partial differential equations; in particular, I look for long time decay estimates for the solutions of some dissipative evolution equations.

I started my research activity studying some papers of Prof. Jens Wirth. So I decided to come at the University of Stuttgart to collaborate with him, learning new techniques to apply in new problems. It was very nice spending this period of three months in Stuttgart in the research group of Prof. Wirth.

I am grateful to him for this opportunity and to all of you for your nice welcome."

Giovanni Girardi (Universität Bari, Italien)