Destination: Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences
Study Period: September 2025 – February 2026
Affiliation/Grade at the start of studying abroad: Department of Art and Design Science, Industrial Design Course, 3rd Year　(International Program, 4rd Cohort)

I chose Darmstadt not only because it was the only university with a faculty-level exchange agreement that offered the Erasmus+ scholarship, but also because I believed that Germany held the origins of industrial design, including the Bauhaus.
The most difficult part of my study abroad experience was applying for a residence permit. The local government office told me I needed a German bank account to apply for a residence permit, and then the bank told me I needed a residence permit to open an account. Even the international office seemed unaware of this, and I was able to avoid the problem by opening an online bank account.
I believe that what I gained from this study abroad experience includes not only the knowledge I acquired from each course, but also what I saw, heard, and experienced while traveling throughout Europe. For me, encountering the ideas of designer who has different thinking from the Bauhaus, and the thoughts and designs of architects seen in magnificent buildings, were invaluable experiences.
What I need to do now is to internalize the vast amount of knowledge and experience I absorbed during this study abroad experience and make it my own. I believe that studying abroad isn’t the end; what you do afterward is crucial.