Troy University, USA, 2023
At a glance
Where, who, when
- Full name of the host university: Troy University
- City, Country: Troy, Alabama, USA
- Homepage of the host university: https://www.troy.edu/
- Degreeprogramme at FH Aachen: Bachelor of Industrial Engineering and Management, Faculty 8
- Start and end of the stay abroad: August - December 2023
About the host university
I studied at Troy for a semester from August to December 2023. The campus is large and you live there 90% of the time, as all life takes place on the university grounds. The buildings are all open during the day and the dining hall (Mensa) is open from
in the morning until the evening.
You register for courses before the semester, but if necessary you can change something within the first week. The international office helps with all questions and is very helpful in all situations.
There are mid-term exams, presentations, quizzes and a somewhat larger final exam. These are not particularly difficult. My professors were friendly and help you with questions and also situations around your life. I also had private dealings with them and am still in contact with them.
The gym is free for students and is simply gigantic with 2 basketball courts, a pool and lots of sports equipment. If you walk around the campus, you quickly realise that there is a big focus on sport, as the football team has a large stadium (30,000 seats) and the basketball teams have their own very modern sports hall. There is also a baseball stadium, football pitches, tennis courts and even a golf course on campus for other sports. I myself started playing rugby at amateur level, and we had a pitch right behind our flat.
About the courses and lectures attended
My degree programme at FH Aachen is Engineering Management and I only took and received credit for business subjects. Attendance is compulsory for the courses, it is similar to lessons in the upper school.
I took 5 subjects in my semester and got credit for all of them. International Business, Macroeconomics, Statistics, Entrepeneurship Management and Supply Chain Management were credited for my degree programme.
About living
As an international student, you live on-campus and can choose between several housing options. I can only recommend living in the Trojan Village (3200$ for 1 semester). This offers you your own room in a 4-person dorm. You will often live with other Europeans who are also there for a semester. I never cooked during my semester as you can buy a meal plan (1400$) and eat "all you can eat" in the dining hall (Mensa) every time.
About the journey
I flew from Frankfurt to Atlanta with Lufthansa (1000$). After a 2-day stay in Atlanta, I took a bus (2.5 hours for 40$) to Montgommery and was picked up from there. The university offers trips to Montgommery, Panama Beach and Orlando (Thanksgiving).
About the city and leisure activities at the study location
Life mainly takes place on campus, as that's where all the events are. There are cinema evenings, fraternity parties, sporting events and good football games. There's not much in the small town centre of Troy. We occasionally went out for a meal or sat in the beer garden before going to one of the two "clubs".
Final considerations - Conclusion
- What did your stay abroad do for you personally?
The semester abroad had a big impact on my personal development, as I got to know people from all over the world and made new friends. Of course, my English was improved and I got to know the dominant American marketing. When I was back in Germany, I realised that I had become a much more extroverted person. I had the time of my life and unforgettable moments. - What special tips would you like to give future applicants?
Move into Trojan Village to have friends around you "automatically". Gamedays are the best weekends as there is a grofle party on campus. Rent cars with several people and just enjoy life. We went to Panama Beach, Pensacola, Nashville, New Orleans, Atlanta, Orlando and finally to the Everglades with our group of friends, who quickly got together. - Other
I would definitely not have wanted to miss this time. The Americans are helpful and happy to help. I met many of my American friends in the global scholar programme, which includes all Americans who are planning a semester abroad. As a German, you are often the contact person and spend a lot of time in class or on business trips with the course.
