The DAAD award is conferred for exceptional achievements and social and intercultural engagement of international students. This honour went to Isha Das for her outstanding academic achievements and social and intercultural commitment. She is currently a doctoral candidate and research assistant at the Chair of Constitutional and Administrative, European Law, European and International Economic Law headed by Professor Christoph Herrmann. Previously, she gained her Master of Laws in International Law with distinction at the University of London in 2019, making her one of the best students of her cohort. Isha Das is currently conducting doctoral research in the field of international trade and the circular economy. Her extracurricular social and intercultural commitment are no less impressive than her academic prowess. As a research assistant, she helped a team of Brazilian (exchange) students to qualify for the world finals of the John Jackson WTO Moot Court in Geneva (spring 2023) on behalf of the University of Passau – a first for the University. Furthermore, as a lawyer in India, she represented victims of police violence and unjustly imprisoned activists on a volunteer basis. Isha Das is a co-founder of the Indian student society at the University of Passau and helps organise various events for Indian students in this capacity.
235 international students from 33 countries
For the winter semester 2024–25, 235 international exchange, free-movers and double degree students from 33 nations have come to Passau. Turkey, France, Argentina and Tunisia are particularly strongly represented. This figure does not yet include those who come to study here on special scholarships awarded by the DAAD or other organisations, or those taking up a full degree programme at Passau. A total of 1,647 (15.65%) international students from 105 countries are studying at the University of Passau this winter semester.
The welcome reception is held annually during the winter-semester Orientation Weeks for International Students, which this year ran from 30 September to 13 October. During the Orientation Weeks, numerous workshops are offered in German as well as university and library tours in German and English. Students can also get to know the country and its people through fun activities: the programme includes a Quidditch game, a pub crawl, hikes in and around Passau and a games evening.