Caught Off Guard During a Semester Abroad

RWU student Cornelius Wilnhammer traveled to Sweden for his semester abroad at Karlstad University, arriving in the middle of winter. 

“When I arrived in Sweden in mid-January, I first had to get used to the conditions: sub-zero temperatures and the sun setting as early as 4 p.m.” After just a few days, however, the health economics student had settled in. He quickly got to know other students, especially through the dorms. Starting in March, his itinerary included trips to Lapland as well as city breaks to Gothenburg, Oslo, and Stockholm.

First Vocational Training, Then College 

After graduating from high school, Cornelius Wilnhammer first completed an apprenticeship as a nursing specialist at the Klinikverbund Südwest Böblingen. There, he gained valuable insights into everyday hospital life, but also experienced the structural challenges of the healthcare system. “That’s why, after my apprenticeship, I wanted to gain a different perspective and look at the healthcare system from an economic standpoint.”

In search of a degree program that combines health and economics, the student from the greater Stuttgart area chose the Bachelor’s in Health Economics at RWU Ravensburg-Weingarten University. In addition to the program’s strong reviews, its proximity to Lake Constance was a deciding factor. “When you’re leaving home for the first time, RWU is a pleasant place to be. You quickly make friends, and everything feels a bit more personal than in large university towns.”

Improving Processes in Practice 

He completed his internship semester at a company in Mannheim that advises hospitals nationwide on process optimization and improving cost-effectiveness. Even before that, he had already decided that he wanted to spend another semester at a partner university abroad following his internship semester. 

After a vacation in Finland, Cornelius Wilnhammer had also come to appreciate the Nordic mindset. Together with the staff at RWU’s International Office, he researched potential partner universities and ultimately chose Karlstad University. There, he took courses in business administration, economics, and international project management—all taught in English.

Learning and Networking 

“The workload was manageable, which left plenty of time to network with students from all over Europe and do things together.” He would even recommend a semester abroad to people who tend to be more reserved. A buddy program and an orientation week made it easier to get started. “When else in life do you get the chance to start over somewhere new so easily? Everyone arrives and doesn’t know anyone at first.”

Similarities and Differences

When asked about the differences between RWU and Karlstad University, Cornelius Wilnhammer first points out many similarities: the equal relationship between faculty and students, the pleasant atmosphere on campus, and the comparatively small lecture groups. The differences are mainly evident in everyday life. Distances are often longer than expected, and the built-up area is less dense than in Germany. “It feels like there’s more to do in Ravensburg-Weingarten, even though both cities have a similar number of residents.” He was also particularly surprised that Karlstad University doesn’t have a traditional cafeteria. Instead, students bring their own food and heat it up in long rows of microwaves.

His conclusion is clear: “The semester abroad was a great experience, and I hope that students in the social work and health care fields, in particular, will give this opportunity even more serious consideration.” Next on Cornelius Wilnhammer’s agenda is choosing a topic for his thesis. After completing his bachelor’s degree, he’d like to return to the field first. “A master’s program might be feasible on a part-time basis once I’ve settled into my job routine.” The master’s program in Social and Health Care Management at RWU would be an option for the aspiring health economist.