Details

• Canada
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

Make sure to prepare yourself for the interview process. Think of all the reasons why you want to do your exchange a specific place and why you want to do an exchange in general. To be prepared for the semester abroad, look up housing options and check flights in advance to avoid stress.

2. Accommodation

I looked for off campus housing and found student housing close to university in an apartment complex. The building had a spa area, gym, party room, and study space. It was easy to find the accommodation and less than a ten minute walk from university. The building was located at the main street and therefore homeless people surrounded the building. Personally, I was not too disturbed and generally felt safe. I wish that I would have known about the busy street and the homeless people walking around beforehand. They ended up not disturbing me but I have heard bad stories from others.

3. Academic life at host university

My classes were all on the same campus. It is accessible and easy to find buildings and rooms. Attendance was mandatory in all of my classes and most of them had a mid term and final exam. Some classes had simulations, case studies, or presentations. The interactions with the professors seemed less distant and more personal in comparison to those at WU. Classes had a lot of study material but the level of difficulty seemed less hard than my previous classes at WU Vienna.

5. Every day life in the host country

Ottawa felt safe and comfortable. I did not need to use public transport, as everything was in walking distance and the Uber was cheap. Our leisure activities included day trips, walks, going to pubs, or visiting local farms. We watched ice hockey, went ice skating, or went to the gym. The university had football games and an on-campus gym. Public transport options were the bus, train, or tram. Unfortunately, Ottawa was rather small and sometimes you would get the feeling that there was not much to do.

6. Testimonial

The friendships I have made throughout the semester abroad have marked my stay. The travels to the various cities and the living adjustment made the exchange exciting. We were spontaneous and made the most out of our days. I was able to discover a new side of university life and meet people coming from all around the world.