Kia ora & Guten Tag! In this episode, host Mareike Schmidt welcomes Mia Horridge, a future maths teacher from the University of Auckland who spent an exchange semester at the University of Heidelberg.

Mia shares what it was like to study in one of Germany’s oldest and most prestigious universities — from attending a preparatory German language course to diving into academic life and exploring the country. Mia, who was actually born in Germany, reflects on the application process, cultural surprises, and the bittersweet feeling of saying goodbye to new friends. Her story is full of practical advice for anyone considering studying abroad.

🎒In this episode, we talk about:

• Why Mia chose Heidelberg for her exchange
• How she navigated the application process
• What it was like to take German language courses
• Everyday life in Germany
• Weekend travel and the joy of exploring Europe
• Real talk: the hardest goodbyes and the biggest highlights
• How the experience shaped her dream of teaching Maths in Germany
• Her advice for future exchange students

If you enjoyed this episode, follow Kia Ora & Guten Tag: Exchange Stories on your favourite podcast platform and share it with someone dreaming of studying in Germany.

Bis bald — see you soon!

More general information about the University of Heidelberg

https://www.uni-heidelberg.de/de

Check out exchange options with 360International at University of Auckland

https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/study/study-options/360-international.html

Your options to study German Abroad with the University of Auckland

https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/arts/current-students/student-exchange-and-study-abroad0/study-abroad/german.html

Stay informed about opportunities with DAAD Scholarships

https://www.daad-newzealand.org/en/find-funding/scholarship-database/

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This podcast is made possible with support from the DAAD Lectureship Programme.