By Reece Bracewell
Whilst looking at possible universities to study at, part of the research I conducted was around the modules they offered and what I could study whilst abroad. I 
was given some specific/core areas by the Management School which were mandatory to take whilst on study abroad, this was to ensure I was able to progress in to my third and final year when I returned to Sheffield. The other modules I was free to choose from the business school in Mannheim (where I was studying). After selecting which modules I wanted to take they then had to be approved, this is done when you complete the learning agreement form, which you then have to get signed by both home and abroad universities. It sounds like more work than it actually is, it was relatively painless.
While I was studying in Germany I took a range of different modules, and as the credit system was different in Germany (ETCS) it meant that I was able to take a larger number of modules than if I had been in Sheffield as the courses were smaller in content than what you may be used to, allowing me to explore more areas of business a
nd gain a wider range of knowledge. For instance I studied financial behavioural psychology which was a completely new area for me, I feel this was a major benefit from the study abroad programme and one that not all students get the opportunity to do, it is just another reason to grab the opportunity with both hands and take advantage of study abroad.
Some examples of the range of modules I had the chance to study included; Strategic marketing, production and operations management and international and strategic marketing. Whilst studying abroad there were also many guest lectures from global companies such as Nivea and SAP which always brought a great insight to real business and added depth and context to what we were learning throughout the modules.