MA in Auburn, USA, 2017

At a glance

What was done abroad? Master's thesis
Full name of the employer: Auburn University
Homepage of the employer: www.auburn.edu
Name of the author: Dominik Emonts
Degree programme at FH Aachen:
Business Engineering (M.Sc.), Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics
Start and end of stay abroad: 01.04.2017 - 01.10.2017
In which subject-specific semester did you complete your Master's thesis: 3
Name of the supervisor of the project/bachelor's thesis at the UAS: Prof. Reichert

When did you start the preparations? About 6 months before.
How did you contact the employer? Via Ms Brinker (Department of International Affairs) and Prof Reichert (Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics).
How long did the application process take and what documents were required? Approx. 2 months between application and acceptance. My CV, grades, certificates and a personal cover letter were part of the application.
Did you need a visa and if so, did you have to organise it yourself or did the employer apply for it for you? You need a J1 visa, which was paid for in full and largely organised by Auburn University.
Useful tips or further information on preparation: It is advisable to look for accommodation as early as possible, as finding accommodation can be difficult, especially at the beginning of the semester.

Did you receive any funding to finance your stay abroad? No. I had to finance myself with a part-time job. However, there are scholarship opportunities offered by the UAS, such as PROMOS. However, I was not aware of its approval criteria. My application was rejected, whereas a fellow student with significantly poorer academic achievements received a grant of €400 per month.
Did you receive any payment from your employer? No.
Approximately how much were the travelling costs to the host country? 800€.
Approximately how high are the living and accommodation costs in the host country? Approx. 1000€/month.
Did you have to take out additional insurance? Yes, in addition to German health insurance, you are also required to take out insurance abroad. The university's own insurance was recommended. However, this is much more expensive than other tariffs that you can take out in Germany. I personally took out insurance through the ADAC.

What formalities had to be completed after arrival? Registration at the Study Centre, submission of insurance documents, registration in the Z-EDV.
How did the search for accommodation go? A personal contact with a professor helped me to find accommodation successfully. Alternative recommendations: Stonegateofauburn.com, Craigslist.org, or in Facebook groups.
Where is the best place to live? Close to campus if you don't intend to buy a car. There are buses and good roads for bikes.
What are the local shopping facilities like? Supermarkets are a little outside. A car is very helpful.
What is cheap or expensive in the host country? Food is generally more expensive than in Germany. There are no dining halls (Mensa) on campus. You should budget at least $6 for lunch on campus and the surrounding area.
How far did you live from the university and what was the daily commute to work like? About 3km. I bought a car and sold it at the end of my stay.
What can you say about the location of the university? A very nice campus with lots of leisure activities offered by the university. There are also numerous sports facilities. There is also a state park nearby.

Briefly describe the company! A typical American university as you would imagine it.
Which Section did you work in? War Eagle Motorsports FSAE - Aerodynamics department
Were there any special features worth mentioning? There is the opportunity to accompany the team on races.
Topic of your project work/bachelor thesis or focus of your practical training: Empirical Study on CFD Validity and Optimisation of Simulation Modelling in Yaw for an FSAE Vehicle.
Was the topic of the project work/bachelor's thesis specified by the company or were you able to choose it yourself? I developed it in close consultation with the team.
How many hours did you work on average? 50-60 hours/week.

How would you rate your stay abroad overall? A very good experience. I would do it again.
What were the high and low points of your stay? Highlights: Travelling around Florida. Low points: Numerous hours of unsuccessful simulations.
What will remain unforgotten? Hurricane Irma.
What advice would you like to give to other students who decide to do their practical training or project/bachelor's thesis abroad? Do it!