Fabian Host, Mechatronics

Even as a teenager, I was fascinated by technology in various forms. As I grew up and went to school in Aachen, the decision to study something technical here was quickly made. However, the question arose as to whether the RWTH or the FH was the more suitable university for me. I was able to answer this question as part of the "Good start of studies" project. In this project, students were able to study at RWTH and FH at the same time in a "zero semester" in order to familiarise themselves with the advantages of both universities. It quickly became clear to me that the UAS offered the more suitable form of teaching for me personally, as great importance is placed on practical experience in addition to theory.

The group sizes were so manageable that we quickly formed study groups. We spent several weeks together in this study group during the exam phase, so that the fellow students became friends. Outside of the exam phase, we enjoyed a beer or two in the park or explored Pontstrasse. Learning in a team was particularly important for me in the first semesters, as the basic subjects such as maths and physics were not what I expected from a practical mechatronics degree course. However, this changed in the later semesters, as we were able to work on and carry out more and more projects independently. One of these projects, for example, was the development and construction of an electrically powered longboard.

For me, FH Aachen is particularly characterised by the fact that most professors are very interested in the success of the students and are very open in their dealings with each other.