Computing Student Spends Year Studying, Working, and Learning in Germany 

For students seeking international experience, studying abroad can offer opportunities that extend well beyond the classroom. Computer Science (CS) Student Nicholas Byrd's year-long experience in Germany gave him the chance to study CS at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and to intern at TNG Technology Consulting.

During the 2025–26 academic year, Byrd spent one semester studying at TUM through Georgia Tech’s exchange program and the following months completing a full-time internship. Along the way, he took courses in artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning, worked on large language model benchmarking, traveled throughout Europe, and made friends from around the world.

What drew you to the TUM exchange program and spending a year in Germany?

I was drawn to the TUM exchange program for a couple of reasons. TUM is a great computer science university, often regarded as a top 20 CS University in the world. TUM is also a very international university, with about 45% of its student body being international students. This meant I could take high-quality CS courses in English and meet students from all over the world.

I wanted a new perspective on life and to create more unique experiences, and I felt that studying abroad, traveling, and meeting people from all over the world was a great way to do so.

What classes did you take at TUM, and did any courses or projects stand out?

At TUM, I took an Intro to Deep Learning course, an Intro to AI Course, and a Visual Data Analytics course. Of these, the Intro to Deep Learning course stood out as a great one, despite being difficult, with a very organized structure and impressive faculty.

One thing that stood out overall was the difference in course format between the courses I took at TUM and those in the US. At TUM, each course had only one exam, which counted as the entire course grade.

What did you do as an intern?

As an intern, I worked on their Innovation Hacking team focusing on large-language model (LLM) benchmarking. The company provides its own internal models, for which benchmarking is essential to assess how well the internally hosted models compare with expensive external models. One main thing I worked on was using agents to automate the benchmarking system, making it more efficient to run large-scale LLM benchmarks frequently.

Have you used anything you’ve learned in classes at your internship?

I mainly programmed in Python for this internship and used the skills I learned in CS1301: Intro to Programming at Georgia Tech. I also benefited from the knowledge I gained in CS1332 (Data Structures and Algorithms).

What has surprised you most about studying, working, and living in Germany?

Working in Germany, I was surprised by the emphasis on separating work and life. German colleagues emphasized the importance of enjoying your vacation days and said that time away from work should be truly disconnected from work.

What has been your favorite experience or memory from your time abroad?

My favorite overall experience from my time abroad was making friends from all over the world and spending a lot of time in the beautiful nature and mountains around Germany and Munich.

I also traveled a lot while I was abroad, and my trips to Spain and Finland were some of my favorites.

What advice would you give to students considering studying or interning abroad?

Studying abroad can feel like a big decision, but it can create lifelong memories and expose you to experiences you might never have otherwise.

Many processes, such as gathering documents and information about the country or program, can be confusing and stressful, so it is essential to be proactive in sending emails and figuring things out.

Students interested in exploring similar opportunities can learn more through Georgia Tech’s Office of International Education. Information on the TUM exchange program is available here, and information on other international opportunities is available here.