You made it!

They all came to Zittau one last time for the 2018 graduation ceremony. Their studies lasted five years—ten semesters. They come from Munich, Hamburg, and the Saarland. Leipzig and Cottbus are practically just around the corner. Their employer is—or was—primarily the railway company, specifically DB Training. Most of them had been training instructors themselves for years; now they were faced with the question of how to move forward in their careers and what prospects were available.

And the only way to find them was through a degree program. For these students, studying while working means attending two online lectures every Tuesday and Thursday during the semester after work, starting at 4:30 p.m. The internships and exams were completed during two two-week periods of in-person study in Zittau.

It wasn’t always easy, especially at the beginning with the “dry” fundamental subjects of math and physics. The practical applications came later, as did the realization that all the hard studying and overcoming exam anxiety had been worth it.

The consensus at the small farewell gathering in the F-EI faculty area with the participating faculty members was unanimous: It was worth it! Two of them had already taken on new positions before they even held their diplomas in their hands.

This type of program isn’t exactly easy, but it’s certainly lucrative. The university, with its labs and facilities, was also praised. Even Zittau and the surrounding area were found to be pleasant and charming.