Markus Köhler

Studies

Alongside its excellent reputation, what particularly attracted me to the Politecnico di Milano were the broad and interdisciplinary range of courses it offered and a working environment that included international students and professors.

Right from the start I felt at home at PoliMi. The courses were of a reasonable size and although the lectures were online, contact with my lecturers and professors was very pleasant and direct. The courses I chose were largely interesting and well organised. One of the elements I particularly enjoyed was the opportunity to enrol on interdisciplinary workshops and master studios. I took courses in a broad spectrum of subjects. From space architecture to curating exhibitions, I got to know many diverse and interesting topic areas within architecture. Elective courses such as sociology, climate and hydrology, and history of art expanded my horizons and gave me fresh impetus. I particularly liked the teaching methods employed by the professors on the courses in the theory of architecture. I gained new insights into interesting subject matter and learned how to look at architecture from a different perspective. Unfortunately online teaching made the design studio particularly time-consuming and even chaotic at times. It was somewhat unusual for me to work on several design tasks in parallel. But by doing so I learned to coordinate several tasks at once, to coordinate with my team members and to establish priorities.

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Markus Köhler on the campus

Due to the ongoing crisis situation in Europe, it is hard to draw comparisons between my studies in Milan and my studies before then. Even though I was able to study in person despite the pandemic, the lectures, exams and events were largely organised online. Where they could be held in-person, they were very restricted. Thankfully the situation was easing towards the end of the second semester, which meant I was able to get an insight into normal university life.

Daily life and leisure

Early on I got to know students from several faculties through events arranged by the Erasmus organisation. If you take English-language courses you mainly meet international students, so I also took some courses in Italian during the second semester. By the later stages of my stay the university had fully reopened. On campus I made friends with students from right across Italy. I would have liked to make the most of the sports and music offered by the university to make contact with people who share my free-time interests. Unfortunately this was severely limited during my stay, which meant I either went running on my own or played football or basketball with friends.

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The on campus swimming pool invites to do sports even in the Italian summer

What excited me about Milan was the range of culture and leisure opportunities. The city is full of thrilling contradictions. Every district has its own unique charm and offers numerous bars, restaurants and boutiques. Milan is the international centre of Italy and is considered the capital for architecture, fashion and design. You sense this particularly strongly in the art and design exhibitions at the Triennale, the Fondazione Prada and the Museo del Novecento. In the immediate vicinity of Milan are the great lakes of northern Italy and the southern foothills of the Alps, while cities like Bergamo, Genoa and Mantua are well worth a spontaneous day trip. An Interrail Pass is the best way to explore Italy. Mine allowed me to travel cheaply and quickly by train and to visit cities like Rome, Naples and Bologna.

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The location of Milan allowed many trips to the surrounding area

Although Italy is geographically close to Germany, people's attitude to life is often very different to that in Germany. I was always welcomed warmly and happily. Even though I had difficulty communicating early on, people consistently spoke Italian to me. The Italian spirit and open expression of emotions were particularly evident when they won the European Football Championship.

Conclusion

Over the past few months I have developed myself personally as well as academically, particularly in handling digital working methods and improving my soft skills. By presenting my projects in Italian or English I made substantial improvements to my social and language skills. I have learned to deliver presentations freely and with confidence. I also find it easier now to understand complex academic texts and to write essays. Unfortunately the movement restrictions, particularly during the first semester, meant I lacked opportunities to put my Italian skills into practice.

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The Patio of the Politecnico di Milano is a place where students come together

During my stay in Milan I got to know students from around the world and from Europe in particular, so I built up an international network that I am sure will endure even after I have completed my studies. My year in Italy has shown me how closely we are brought together by the Europe we share. Despite the differences peculiar to each country, my generation shares one cultural space. We benefit from a Europe without borders that makes it so much easier for us to travel, make contacts and gain experiences during our studies and careers. We can acquire new perspectives, not only on the contents of our studies, but beyond, too.

I am leaving Milan filled with positive impressions, experiences and memories. During my stay I got to know new people, took interesting courses and had the chance to experience the culture and architecture of Italy and, above all, of Milan. I was able to gather academic and personal experiences that will stay with me for my whole life. Living and working in groups of international students was so much fun. It inspired me, motivated me and encouraged me to achieve my goals. I would urge anyone who has the chance to apply for a stay abroad to do so and can unreservedly recommend Milan and the Politecnico di Milano.