Details

• United States of America
• BBE-18
• Undergraduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 5 months
• Contact: Login to see contact information

1. Preparation

The most important thing to sort out early is your visa — do not underestimate how much time this can take. Start the application process as soon as possible to avoid any last-minute stress. On the academic side, make sure to complete all registration requirements that the University of Richmond needs from you as quickly as possible. While you can still make changes during the first week on campus, acting fast gives you a real advantage when it comes to securing spots in popular or limited-enrollment courses. One thing I strongly recommend: check your professors before selecting courses. Platforms like RateMyProfessors are widely used and very helpful. I personally ended up in a course with a professor who graded very harshly — something I could have avoided with a simple check beforehand. Also, do not underestimate the workload at UR. The academic demands were noticeably higher than at WU, both in terms of volume and intensity. That said, it is worth signing up for five courses initially — you can always drop one later once you have a better feel for the semester. When planning your schedule, try to keep your Fridays free and aim for long weekends. This is especially relevant if you are a German speaker: UR may ask whether you want to offer German language tutoring sessions, which typically take place on Fridays. Factor this in from the very beginning. Beyond these specifics, general preparation for a US stay and a semester abroad applies. Most things can be figured out spontaneously once you arrive — people at UR are very helpful and welcoming. I traveled from Frankfurt to NewYork and then to Richmond. All by plane, more expensive but less stressful.

2. Accommodation

As an exchange student at the University of Richmond, on-campus housing is mandatory and assigned by the university. There is no need to search for accommodation yourself, but it is worth knowing what you might be in for. The range of room types varies significantly — from townhouses with up to four people, to apartments with a private kitchen and single rooms, all the way to double rooms sharing a bathroom with one neighboring room. Unfortunately, I ended up with the latter. It was quite cramped and took some real getting used to, so be prepared for that possibility. A lot depends on your roommate, who will typically also be an exchange student. Be very honest and upfront when stating your preferences — especially regarding sleep schedules. If you tend to sleep in, add at least two extra hours to whatever preference you submit. I made the mistake of not doing this and ended up with someone who was up every day at 6am. A few practical things to know: Bathrooms are cleaned only every two weeks, so be ready to maintain them yourself in between. The room comes with nothing but a bed, desk, and wardrobe — bring or buy your own bedding, toilet brush, and all other essentials. Wardrobes can be surprisingly small, so pack accordingly. The mattresses are on the firmer side — a mattress topper is genuinely worth it. The location is very convenient for getting to classes, as everything is on campus. However, campus life comes with strict rules enforced by campus police. Room inspections happen regularly — it feels somewhat like a boarding school. Parties or guests in your room are essentially off the table in most accommodations. If you want any kind of social freedom, strongly push to be placed in the UFA apartments. It is a complete game-changer: terrace, shared kitchen, living room, the ability to have people over. Guests and social gatherings are allowed there with prior registration. If you end up in a standard dorm room or apartment, the lifestyle is very much confined to the university bubble. On the positive side, the campus setup makes it very easy to connect with other students and build friendships quickly.

3. Academic life at host university

Campus Facilities The campus facilities at UR are genuinely impressive. The sports complex and gym are excellent, the campus itself is beautiful, and the food options are surprisingly good by US standards — beyond the main dining hall there are plenty of additional spots to grab a meal. One caveat for espresso lovers: do not expect anything close to a European coffee standard. The lake on campus is a lovely touch and worth appreciating. If you are hoping for a big-time US college sports atmosphere, UR may not fully deliver — it is a smaller university and the sports scene reflects that. Basketball is probably the most notable exception. That said, there are plenty of clubs and recreational sports to join yourself. I personally played tennis and golf, both of which were great experiences. Campus events are frequent, but many are geared towards a younger, undergraduate crowd. As an exchange student you may find some of it feels a bit juvenile. Alcohol and parties on campus are essentially non-existent — but the fraternity scene is open to everyone, and American students are genuinely welcoming and happy to bring you along. In my experience, nobody ever got turned away. Academic Culture & Teaching Style Academically, UR is very school-like compared to WU. Expect a fixed weekly schedule, regular homework assignments, small class sizes, and close attention from professors. This takes some adjustment — even coming from a BBE background. Learning and coursework take up significantly more of your daily life than back home. The library becomes a regular evening destination, and late nights are not unusual. Choose your courses wisely and do not overload yourself — you will have less time to travel than you might expect. On the positive side, professors are very approachable, supportive, and more practice-oriented than what I was used to at WU. Course Recommendations Course quality depends heavily on the individual professor, so I am hesitant to make specific recommendations. What I can say: I found Corporate Finance extremely difficult and unrewarding under my professor — interestingly, others told me different professors teach the same course in a much better way. Industrial Organisation also felt disproportionately demanding in terms of workload. Both experiences could have been different with better professor research upfront — which, again, makes the professor check before enrollment absolutely essential.

5. Every day life in the host country

Getting Around There is a free campus bus that runs into the city, stopping at supermarkets, a shopping strip, and a bar area — handy, but it only covers a small part of Richmond and takes over an hour. Free public transport is also available and covers somewhat more ground, though I rarely used it. In practice, Uber ends up being the go-to option for most trips. My biggest recommendation: coordinate with your fellow WU students before arrival and buy a car together. It is a complete game-changer. Day trips to the coast, lakes, and mountains suddenly become possible. Not having a car limited us far more than I expected — it is something I would do differently. Safety Richmond felt very safe, both on and around campus. If anything, I would say it felt safer than Vienna. Social Life & Leisure There is always something happening on campus, including organised trips and events. The downside is that most of it feels geared towards a much younger crowd — at times it has a high school series vibe rather than a university one. Senior students mostly live off campus and you end up having very little contact with them, which is a real shame. The social scene tends to stay within the international bubble. That said, I made some genuinely lifelong friends through it, and socially there is no reason to complain. For nightlife, go out in the city — that is where you will actually meet senior students. Some bars are genuinely fun, but you need to adjust your European expectations and be patient. You will not find a proper club, and some events are real letdowns. Stick with it though — it gets better. Getting into fraternity parties is remarkably easy — both day and evening events. Nobody gets turned away and American students are genuinely happy to bring you along. That said, be prepared: the evening parties in particular attract a very young crowd and things can get pretty antisocial. It is definitely not everyone's taste, but it is something you should experience at least once. The day parties tend to be wilder in a different way but draw an older crowd, which makes for a noticeably better atmosphere overall. Travel Make the most of your time and travel as much as the workload allows. Book flights early and find travel companions — but keep groups small, especially at the beginning. Large group trips tend to fall apart and end up costing more. I personally made it to the West Coast, Miami, Washington D.C., and New York — all absolutely worth it. Sports Sport is omnipresent at UR and the facilities make it easy to get involved in almost anything. I played tennis and golf. Watching sports is also part of the culture, even if the level is not particularly high. Definitely take advantage of it. Local Experiences Do not miss some of Richmond's more quirky events — the local Oktoberfest and the haunted house were both unexpected and oddly memorable. Lean into those kinds of things; they are part of what makes the experience unique.

6. Testimonial

I loved it. I hated it. I struggled, and I had the time of my life. The University of Richmond pushed me academically in ways I did not expect, the living situation took real adjustment, and there were moments where I genuinely questioned my choices. But looking back, not a single second of it was wasted. Would I do certain things differently — maybe choose a different university, tweak a few decisions along the way? Perhaps. But none of that changes the fact that it was an extraordinary experience!