In picturesque Wernigerode, nestled in the hills of the Harz, Lea-Sophie Becker planned for her exciting future. The 24-year-old Master’s student in Tourism and Destination Management has always dreamed of faraway lands and new cultures. She jumped at the chance to spend a semester abroad. Her destination: Seattle, USA. Thanks to a scholarship by the Deutschen Akademischen Austauschdienstes (DAAD), this dream is becoming reality.

The International Office at Harz University of Applied Sciences actively helped Lea-Sophie apply for the programme, and she was accepted for a semester at the renowned City University of Seattle.

“It was an exciting application process, and every step was worth it,” says Lea-Sophie. “From putting together my CV and a letter of recommendation from the Degree Programme Coordinator, up to the weeks spent waiting for approval or rejection – everything went toward me being able to take this unbelievable opportunity.”

Financial support from the DAAD was a critical factor in Lea-Sophie’s semester abroad. “I wouldn’t have been able to afford it without the scholarship,” she explains. The DAAD funds German students around the world and helps them gain valuable experiences abroad.

The scholarship covers tuition fees as well as the costs of living. “It takes the financial worry off of you and lets you focus entirely on your studies and the new culture,” says Lea-Sophie.

Lea was immediately enthralled by Seattle upon arrival. The skyline dominated by the Space Needle, the vibrant cultural scene, the breathtaking nature – all of it took her breath away. “Seattle is an incredible city. The mix of urban space and nature is unlike anything else,” she swoons.

Lea-Sophie lives in the Cornish Commons dormitories, about 10 minutes away from the university by foot. “It’s great being in the heart of it all. You get to know so many people and you can take part in all these activities for international students.”

While overseas, she is taking the opportunity to explore the West Coast of the USA. She is visiting impressive cities like San Francisco and enjoying the breathtaking nature of the Pacific.

Studying at the City University of Seattle is intensive and challenging. Lea-Sophie is taking the courses “Digital Marketing & Analytics”, “Entrepreneurship & the Art of Creative Thinking”, “Disruptive Business Models” and “Managing Global Operations and Value Chains”. “The teaching methods here are different than in Germany. There’s more group work and weekly course discussions, so that you have to work more during the semester,” she explains. “This helps you understand the subject matter and how to work and communicate with classmates from around the world.”

The university also offers many ways to start a career. “In some courses, professors invite CEOs or marketing managers from big companies like Amazon as weekly guest speakers. These guest presentations give the students valuable insight into the current business world and let you network directly with decision-makers. The students benefit from this unique opportunity by expanding their network and getting to know potential employers,” she says.

Lea-Sophie’s semester abroad is coming to an end, but the experiences and memories she made will stay with her for a lifetime. “I learned so much – not just academically, but at the personal level. It was a time of growth and self-discovery,” she says.

After returning o Germany, Lea-Sophie will continue her studies at Harz University of Applied Sciences and write her Master’s thesis. She then hopes to work in regenerative tourism. “I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity and can only recommend that everyone try to get similar experiences. It broadens your horizons and opens a lot of doors to you.”