Image
Tuesday, 15 July 2025
- Introduction
Dear reader, let me introduce myself. My name is Daniel Jakab, a 3rd year PhD student in the Deparment of Electronic and Computer Engineering, . I want to dedicate this article to any students or researchers who are considering an Erasmus abroad. I will share my experience in the hopes that it will help you understand how to approach such a trip. From the sites I’ve visited in Germany, I will share my recommendations as well. The following sections are broken up into the following: Background, Trip Objectives, Things to Look Out For & Closing Remarks.
- Background
There can be a lot of good reasons why you would like to do an Erasmus. It could be to improve your future career prospects, travel the world, meet new people, make new relationships, and discover new things. Indeed, it could be all the above. The reasons are quite broad. For me, it was all of this, and my interest in cameras and computer simulation. Indeed, we have come a long way since the invention of the camera in the 19th century by French inventor Nicephore Niepce (read more ), where in 2025 we now have a live-action remake of . Yes, cinematic movies are one such application of cameras, and no doubt, with the help of cameras makes imagining a dragon against the backdrop of Northern Ireland possible. We also see cameras being placed on passenger vehicles and transportation to get a full surround-view of the environment. Here’s where the research starts for all of us. Our research interests lie in linking automotive perception with cameras. Here’s a question we need to answer: how good does a camera have to be for a computer to understand the environment it is in? To this day, a research gap exists in understanding how a camera influences the decisions a car makes on the road. We still have a long way to go before we can teach a computer to interpret a picture to the same level as a human does without requiring any intervention. The represents a major step forward in the world of automotive cameras, defining a standardized suite of objective and subjective test methods for measuring automotive camera image quality. And let’s not forget that timing is very important here. A computer must interpret a picture in frames per second and decide in a split second what to do to prevent a fatal road accident from happening.
- Trip Objectives
On the 16th of March, I set off on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend 3 and a half months at the University of Applied Sciences, Düsseldorf, in Germany. I was introduced to a wonderful research team (pictured below) under the guidance of , an expert in automotive image quality. Over these past few months, I have had an incredible time working directly with , from whom I have learned essential software skills, and his consistent input has helped me gain experience in both teamwork and collaboration. Alongside him, and both gave me crucial research guidance throughout my stay, which no doubt has shaped the progress I was able to make, and I would like to sincerely thank you all for this. I would also like to thank Julian Barthel, Orouji Haniyeh (Tolou), and with whom I also had the pleasure to meet and work with during these past few months. The research team made me feel at home as they introduced me to Düsseldorf and its culture. It is thanks to them that I was able to have a memorable experience, and I learned a lot from them. They also introduced me to the culture and history of Germany, not to mention the advice and tips on how to live there. The major objectives were to further the knowledge of optical simulations to test systems in detecting objects on the road, even with different optical cameras. This trip has rewarded me with important career skills working in a Research and Development (R&D) environment, which is invaluable when it comes to career development and has no doubt pushed the research project forward.
Image
Pictured: Research Group at University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf. From left to right: Christian Sieberichs, Jan Honsbrok, Simon Geerkens, Daniel Jakab.
- Things to Look Out For & Closing Remarks
This section specifies a few things that you should know before you choose to do an Erasmus in Germany:
- Most places are very welcoming, especially in Düsseldorf, with English being the second language used. A bit of language preparation is recommended, though, whether you intend to use Duolingo, take up a German language course, read the German newspaper, or listen to the radio, you will be able to pick up the language relatively quickly.
- Registration is very important in Germany. When you arrive, please make sure to register your address at the registration office of the city you are staying in within two weeks after arriving. For example, the Düsseldorf Registration Office has a website from which you can register (see the link ). Deregistration is also needed, and it is recommended to do this a week before you leave. Note: Please make sure to check in before each appointment at least 15 minutes before the appointment time you receive. There is a 5-minute window to complete check-in.
- Once you register, the broadcasting fee is legally required in Germany, and you will receive a letter from the service asking you to register your residency to pay the fee. The fee is typically calculated from the date you arrive until the next scheduled payment every three months and is currently 18.36 euros per month.
- The public transport system in Germany is highly recommended as the train service is well-connected to all cities and towns in North Rhine-Westphalia. If you plan to stay for more than a month, please download the on your phone or device from which you can purchase the monthly Deutschland Ticket for 58 euros per month. You will be able to easily show the QR code of the ticket to the train conductor. Note: Please make sure to cancel your ticket’s subscription before the 10th of the month you plan to leave.
- The taxi is the cheapest option to consider if you have a lot of luggage to carry, especially when arriving and leaving the country. The fare will vary depending on your location. If you are travelling from one side of Düsseldorf to the other, the price can be around 25 to 30 euros.
- Germany is a very social place to live, especially in the populated cities of North Rhine-Westphalia, and chances are you will most likely find something to do every weekend or Bank Holiday. It is encouraged to go out and meet new people while you are there, whether it is on the train or at a concert in Düsseldorf or Cologne. Typically, most Bank Holidays occur annually around May to June and December.
- I highly recommend getting the book from DK Eyewitness Germany Travel Guide for your stay in Germany, available on Amazon: . This guide is a good investment, especially if you are travelling to other parts of Germany. The following section will illustrate an example map from this book of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Hopefully, these points have helped you get an informed perspective on planning an Erasmus abroad. I wish you the very best for your trip wherever you go to study abroad. In short, an Erasmus is worth considering as you will gain so much experience from studying in another country. You will also find that you will become more socially active, whether it is going to social events or to explore new places, it is an experience worth having, and I am certainly glad that I was able to have this as a student. I would like to thank the , , , and the for making this trip possible. In German I will sign off with: “Viel Glück und Erfolg!”.
Please see the where an optional section will detail highlights of the trip at the end of the article.