Why did you choose to study abroad and why at Bucerius specifically?
Interestingly, I did not have a choice in the university I was chosen to go to. I was provided with a list of countries which offer a semester abroad, under which I had to select my top five. For some reason, I have always been drawn to Germany and thus, I made it my number one option out of the list.
I am grateful I got Bucerius because the other German law universities were in smaller cities. Bucerius was perfect in that it is a big enough city to have things to do on weekends and it is also student friendly in aesthetics, size and calmness (in comparison to Berlin).
You had studied abroad in the US before. How did your experience in Germany compare?
When I went to the US, I was based in Tennessee which is part of the southern region. As it is commonly known, southern people tend to be warmer and kinder than their northern counterparts. For that reason, I feel my American experience was all about the people I connected with and the subsequent homeliness I felt within them and the city.
Germany is not renowned for the friendliest and most embracing of people so, that was the first contrast. I would say that in Germany, I experienced more of an internal growth because the environment developed my self-sufficiency, confidence and courage. I do believe the experience has molded me into a tougher cookie than I was before and I guess, this is a good muscle to have in the long run.
Would you recommend the exchange program to other South African students?
Absolutely! Firstly, I would recommend that all South African students study or work somewhere else in the world because the broadening of one’s horizons is not something that can occur in class or work. These experiences teach us so much about the world & about ourselves, giving us invaluable skills that are needed for those destined for bright futures. I would then specifically recommend Germany for South African students who are looking for some form of character development.
In what way was studying at Bucerius different than at your home law school?
Studying at Bucerius was different from an institutional perspective as my home law school is a public university whereas, Bucerius is private. Thus, the obvious difference would be the sizes of classes – at Bucerius our classes were smaller which afforded us the chance to become more familiar with each other and our lecturers. I also noticed that most of the courses were based on how German law interacts with EU, UK, US and other international laws, which was different to my law school where there is not as much of a comparative law aspect to our syllabi.
What is the most interesting thing you learned academically and personally during your exchange term?
Academically, my most interesting courses were International Commercial Litigation & International Commercial Arbitration. It was very informative to me to understand how international commercial matters are tackled in the global realm, especially as a future legal practitioner that will have clients on a global scale. This was knowledge that I certainly will not forget.
Personally, I learned a lot about resilience. Being the only African student out of 90 pupils was an honor however, also came with great responsibility. I felt that I had to represent my continent well and this is not a responsibility I take lightly. However, regardless of the few challenges that came my way, I can confidently say that I was authentic, bold and open to learning. I believe I have made my mark to the best of my abilities and have no regrets.
What was your favorite experience during your exchange term?
I have two favorite experiences. The first is, I got to work a few days at Harmsen & Utescher, one of the top IP law firms in Germany. While it was interesting getting to understand aspects of EU IP law, I really loved how embraced I was at the firm. I emailed them, not knowing that they have close ties with the IP law firm that I signed to work for in South Africa in 2025. When I met the partners, a lot of them referred to me as their colleague from South Africa. It is a seemingly small gesture but it honestly meant the world to me to feel so automatically welcomed in a space (especially in Germany).
The second experience cannot be described as one isolated event. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know all the bright and mature future legal practitioners in the program. To be frank, I don’t know what I was expecting however, the calibre of students that were chosen are really great individuals. I enjoyed sharing moments with them and establishing a global network of friends that will likely be friends for life!
What was most surprising to you about studying abroad?
What surprised me the most about studying abroad in Germany was the fact that I did not anticipate to be surprised as much as I was, to the extent that by the end of the program, nothing surprised me anymore. Honestly, Hamburg is such a unique city and I guess we always got painted a perfect picture of what Europe is like.
However, I think just like any other place in the world – Germany has its strengths and weaknesses. So perhaps, to manage your expectations when moving to a different country, regardless of what you’ve been told, wherever you go is going to have its equal share of unique advantages and difficulties. No where is perfect.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the future exchange students at Bucerius?
For people wanting to come to learn all about German culture, I would say they should plan and concretize their trips around Germany ahead of time with good weekend breaks in between. When you arrive, you feel like you have all the time in the world to plan things and after one trip and realizing how exhausting the process is, you might start to relax and procrastinate those plans. If I could go back, I would plan my trips more effectively so that I could have gotten to soak up the German vibes better.
Sanda, thanks for the interview!
