Details

• United States of America
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• SoSe 2026
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months
• Contact: Login to see contact information

1. Preparation

The preparation for my exchange semester at the University of Wisconsin–Madison was very manageable overall. The WU application process and the interview were quite relaxed in my experience. I would still recommend preparing a few clear reasons why you want to study in the United States and specifically at UW–Madison, but the interview is definitely not something to worry too much about. After receiving the placement, the main organizational steps were the visa, health insurance, flights, accommodation, and course planning. The visa process did not cause any major problems for me as a German citizen, but it is still important to start early enough and carefully follow all instructions. The visa cost was around 300 USD. In addition, international students have to purchase the UW–Madison Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), which cost around 1,000 USD for the semester. I did not need any additional vaccinations, but I would recommend checking the requirements and uploading all necessary documents in time. Organizing flights and credit cards was also straightforward. I travelled to Madison via Chicago, which I would recommend. Chicago is a major international airport and from there it is easy to continue to Madison by bus or car. In general, having a credit card that works reliably in the United States is very important, since card payments are used almost everywhere. One thing I would recommend future students to look into before arriving is the wide range of student organizations and initiatives at UW–Madison. There are many opportunities to join clubs, meet American students, and get involved in campus life. This can make it much easier to build a social network beyond other exchange students.

2. Accommodation

I lived at The James and was very happy with my choice. The location was excellent, as it was close to State Street, campus, the gym, and many bars and restaurants. The building also had its own gym, which was very convenient. My rent was around 900–950 USD per month. In general, I think most of the private student apartment buildings in Madison are a good option for exchange students, especially if they are located close to campus or State Street. Friends of mine lived in buildings such as Oliv, The Hub, The Rive and Waterfront, and these were also good choices. The main advantage of these buildings is that many students live there, the apartments are often well equipped, and the location makes it easy to participate in social activities. Personally, I did not find it too difficult to find accommodation. I started relatively late and looked for a sublease about one month before the beginning of the semester. Fortunately, I found something quite quickly. However, this can also depend on timing and luck, so I would still recommend starting the search as early as possible. Subleasing is a good option for exchange students who are only staying for one semester, because many regular leases in Madison are designed for a full academic year. My advice would be to prioritize location over small differences in price. Living close to State Street and campus makes everyday life much easier because you can walk almost everywhere and spontaneously meet friends, go to class, go out, or use the gym.

3. Academic life at host university

I took the following courses at UW–Madison: RMI 300, RMI 365, Finance 300, Finance 320, and Marketing 300. Overall, I found the courses quite manageable and less stressful than many courses at WU. I would recommend all of them and would not advise future students to avoid any of these classes. The academic system is different from WU because there are usually more smaller assignments throughout the semester. Some courses had mandatory attendance, regular assignments, midterms, and group work. This means that you have to stay on top of the coursework during the semester, but the workload was still very manageable. In my experience, the courses were not too difficult if you attended classes, completed the assignments, and prepared reasonably for exams. The professors were very friendly, approachable, and interested in their students. The relationship between students and professors felt more personal than what I was used to at WU. The campus infrastructure was also very good. UW–Madison has a real campus feeling, with many university buildings, libraries, gyms, cafés, and student spaces located close to each other. What I especially liked was that university life in Madison is not only about classes. The campus offers many opportunities to do sports, join student clubs, attend events, and meet new people. This makes the academic experience feel much more connected to everyday student life.

5. Every day life in the host country

Everyday life in Madison was a typical American student experience. The city is very student-oriented and a large part of social life happens around campus, State Street, and downtown. Since I lived close to campus, I could walk almost everywhere. I did not need a bike and only used the bus occasionally. Public transport exists and works, but for daily student life it is not absolutely necessary if you live in a central location. Going out is a big part of student life in Madison. The student bars around State Street are great and there are many options depending on the day and the type of evening you are looking for. I also enjoyed the bars around the Capitol, which offer a slightly different atmosphere than the typical student bars. Overall, Madison has a very active nightlife for students and it is easy to meet people. Sports are also an important part of life at UW–Madison. I went to ice hockey and basketball games, which were both very fun experiences. Even if you are not usually a big sports fan, I would recommend attending university sports events at least a few times, because the atmosphere is very different from what most European students are used to. I personally never had major safety concerns in Madison. I felt safe walking around the campus and downtown area. Of course, as in any city, it is still important to be aware of your surroundings, especially late at night, but overall I did not experience any problems. The exchange semester also gave me the opportunity to travel within the United States. I visited Chicago, New York, Washington, Philadelphia, Boston, and some places in Wisconsin. Madison is especially convenient for trips to Chicago, and from there it is easy to fly to other U.S. cities. Travelling was one of the highlights of the semester, but it is also something that should be included in the budget from the beginning. One thing future students should be prepared for is the weather. The winter in Wisconsin is very cold and quite long, especially at the beginning of the spring semester. However, Madison is still a beautiful place, and once the weather gets warmer, the city becomes even more enjoyable.

6. Testimonial

Overall, my exchange semester at the University of Wisconsin–Madison was a great experience. It gave me the opportunity to experience American college life, meet many new people, travel around the United States, and study at a university with a strong campus culture. The semester was academically manageable, socially very rewarding, and very different from studying in Vienna. I would definitely recommend UW-Madison to future students. The city offers a very authentic college-town atmosphere, the campus is beautiful, and student life is very active. Even though the winter is cold and long, the overall experience more than makes up for it. For me, the best part was the combination of studying, travelling, going out, and being part of a real American campus environment. It is an experience that I will remember for a long time.