Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous

Will there be enough free time to explore the city, country, and continent?

You will have most afternoons free on a regular course day to explore Duisburg and the beautiful Ruhr Area on your own, with other BEST students, or your local “buddies”. At least one weekend will be free to visit a European city of your choice within the program. Also, most BEST students travel Europe and Germany before and after the official program.

What is the weather like in Germany?

This is really hard to answer. Summers in Germany can be really hot. Most of the time the weather is moderate and enjoyable, but sometimes it can be rather cool and rainy. Be sure to have everything with you: t-shirts and shorts as well as jeans and jackets.

Can I travel Europe with a visa for Germany?

Yes, you can enter most European states with a visa for Germany. According to the Schengen Agreement, you can travel all countries belonging to the so called Schengen Area, i.e. Germany, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

Are there any other currencies than the EURO in Europe?

Yes, the UK, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Poland, Czech Republic (amongst others) hold their own currencies.

Do I need a special health insurance?

Students require an adequate health insurance as foreign coverage is often not equivalent to German standards and needs. Therefore, BEST provides all guest students with a German student health insurance that is fully recognized in Germany. If you want to use your own health insurance, please get in touch with our staff.

What companies do we visit and what kinds of field trips are planned?

BEST features are subject to change since we do our best to consistently improve our program and meet our students’ ideas and wishes. BEST has recently visited renowned international operating enterprises such as Vodafone, ALDI, and König Brewery; attended meet and greets at institutions such as the Bundestag (federal parliament), Landtag (state parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia), and Bundesbank (federal reserve bank); as well as wonderful sights in and around Duisburg, e.g., old town Düsseldorf, Landscape Park Duisburg, Old Coal Mine Zeche Zollverein in Essen, various historic cathedrals, a medieval castle, and much more!