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TUB

Noa Gal-Gartenlaub

Email: gal.noa@campus.technion.ac.il
Host University & Semester: Technical University of Berlin, Spring 2024
Home Faculty at Technion: Faculty of Architecture and Town Planning

Courses Taken: 3

  • Urban Design and Baukultur from a Planning Perspective – Recognized
  • Masterstudio Practicing Matters: Becoming Earthly Witnesses – Recognized
  • Multispecies Salon – Recognized

Course Recommendations: The studio level was lower than the studios taught in Israel. Since I participated in master’s level courses, the emphasis was more theoretical and less practical, which posed challenges, especially with how the home faculty views it.

Social Life: The university offers a sports center and subsidized sports courses throughout the semester, but these require advance registration.

Message to Future Students: The bureaucracy at the Technical University of Berlin operates very differently from the Technion. It can be challenging to know in advance which courses will be offered and what the syllabi will be, as these details are often finalized only within the first two weeks of the semester. This experience may not suit everyone, and it posed a particular challenge for me.

Yoav Harris

Email: yoav.h@campus.technion.ac.il
Host University & Semester: Technical University of Berlin, Summer Semester 2019
Home Faculty at Technion: Electrical Engineering (TU Berlin: Courses from various faculties)

Courses Taken: 5

  • Advanced Computer Architectures – Recognized (Equivalent to Computer Structures at Technion)
  • Automatic Image Analysis – Not recognized
  • Modern Signal Processing for Communications – Not recognized
  • Modern Channel Coding – Recognized (Equivalent to Introduction to Coding Theory)
  • Quantum Computing – Recognized (Equivalent to 2 credits in Quantum Information in the Faculty of Computer Science)

Course Recommendations: The courses were generally easier than those at Technion but provided valuable learning experiences. For example, Advanced Computer Architectures was simpler yet informative, while Modern Channel Coding, though challenging, was very rewarding and relevant, especially for students with a background in communication.

Social Life: Although I didn’t engage much in campus activities, Berlin itself offers plenty to do. Course selection can result in a mixed class composition, so it may be harder to form a consistent study group, but living in dorms helps with social interactions.

Message to Future Students: Only pursue an exchange in Electrical Engineering if you’re prepared to possibly extend your studies by a semester. The faculty is strict with credit transfers, and the experience may not be for everyone. Berlin University can feel less organized in terms of registration and administration, but it all works out in the end. Feel free to contact me with questions!

Gur Ladizhinsky

Email: gur.lad@campus.technion.ac.il
Host University & Semester: Technical University of Berlin, Summer Semester 2023
Home Faculty at Technion: Computer Science

Courses Taken: 4

  • Computer Graphics I – Recognized

Course Recommendations: Computer Graphics I is a fun and interactive course where you work on projects using Three.js (TypeScript), culminating in creating a raycasting renderer almost from scratch. The TAs are friendly and helpful.

Social Life: The university organizes many tours around Berlin at the start of the semester. German language courses also include numerous tours and social activities. The cafeteria is vast and has an extensive selection of food.

Message to Future Students: It’s highly recommended to apply for dorms as finding an apartment can be challenging. A mentor can be extremely helpful, given the complex bureaucracy. Feel free to reach out with any questions! Going abroad and living independently in a foreign country has been an incredible experience. Everything was new and exciting, and I learned so much about Berlin and Germany. Arriving without knowing anyone was challenging but also very rewarding.

 

Leen Bsul

Email: leenbsul@campus.technion.ac.il
University & Semester: Technical University Berlin (Technische Universität Berlin)
Technion Faculty & Host Faculty: Architecture and Town Planning (Technion) – Institut für Architektur (TU Berlin)
Course Recommendations: Urban Planning or Mobility Planning Studios, and material-based seminars on recycling.
Social Life & Activities: It is a versatile atmosphere, and a rich variety of culture and architectural information that each and every student has, people here are full of interesting stories, and they are nice, talkative and definitely love to spend time outdoors, Berlin is filled with attractions and activities that I highly recommend for students to participate in.
Message to Future Students: Don’t be shy, don’t hesitate to ask, and never think that you’re nosy or annoying, everyone is here to make friends and colleagues, and speaking English is always an option even if you struggle with your German! One could say it is a life-changing experience, first and foremost I got to know myself more, and I started to witness my growth. Meeting new people and hearing their stories is an eye-opener and it is something that I look forward to whenever I go abroad, so having an opportunity to work with other students and learn from their culture and talent is a bonus, not neglecting the vibrant social life and the positive energies that people transmit wherever I go. I would highly recommend studying at TU Berlin and enjoying what this city has to offer!

Mai Hirsch

Email: maihi@campus.technion.ac.il
Host University & Semester: Technical University of Berlin, Summer Semester 2023
Home Faculty at Technion: Architecture

Courses Taken: 4

  • Architecture Studio – Recognized (Intermediate level, less challenging than Technion’s studios)
  • Structural Design – Recogniore challenging than equivalent courses in Israel)

Social Life: Erasmus organizes bar nights every Tuesday, movie nights on Wednesdays, and parties every Friday. There are many activities and trips over long weekends, making sure there’s never a dull moment.

Message to Future Students: You’re welcome to consult with me! Important to know – it can rain even in summer semester, so be prepared!

Yotam Mandelboim - Winter 2024-25

Host University: TU Berlin

Home Faculty: Electrical Engineering at Technion
Host Faculty: Faculty 4 at TU Berlin

Email: myotam@campus.technion.ac.il

Courses:

  • Machine Intelligence 1 (בינה מלאכותית 1) – This course was highly relevant and useful. It provided a deep dive into the subject matter.

  • Digital Image Processing (עיבוד תמונה דיגיטלית) – A great course with strong practical applications in the field.

  • CMOS Biosensors (גלאי CMOS ביולוגיים) – This was a Master’s level course. I didn’t see an equivalent course at Technion, but it focused on biological sensors, which I found really interesting. The professor was very knowledgeable and passionate about the subject.

Course Recognition at Technion: The courses Machine Intelligence 1 and Digital Image Processing were recognized and approved by Technion. However, CMOS Biosensors is a Master’s level course, and since there wasn’t an equivalent course at Technion, it wasn’t recognized.

Campus: My social life at TU Berlin revolved around events organized by the European Student Network (ESN). They host events every week, which is an excellent way to meet other exchange students from around the world. I met most of my friends at these events.
They organize all sorts of activities, including weekly bar nights, board game nights, weekend trips to nature and nearby cities, and tours around Berlin itself. These events are highly recommended.

Personal Experience: Studying abroad was an unforgettable experience. Moving to a new environment, interacting with people from diverse cultures, and studying in a different university gave me a chance to take courses that I wouldn’t have at the Technion. Living in another country for six months really allowed me to immerse myself in the culture and life there, which was truly wonderful.

Advice to Future Students: I would say if you have the opportunity, go for it! Even if it means postponing your degree for a semester, the experience is definitely worth it. It’s something you can’t get anywhere else, and I highly recommend taking the plunge.