Details

• Mexico
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• SoSe 2026
• Time spent at the partner university: 5 months
• Contact: Login to see contact information

1. Preparation

Overall, the preparation effort is quite manageable. Here are the most important things to consider: Visa: As an Austrian citizen, you do not need to apply for a visa in advance. You will receive a 180-day tourist visa upon arrival. Important: Always double-check at the airport border control that they actually grant you the full 180 days. Spanish Certificate: To take courses in Spanish, ITAM requires a B2 certificate. At WU, you automatically receive this if you pass Wiko 1 & 2 with a grade of 1 or 2. If you haven't taken these courses yet (like me), you will need to provide alternative proof. In my personal case, I was able to arrange a short oral exam/interview with the WU Department of Business Communication to get my B2 proof. However, please note that this was an individual arrangement and is not an officially guaranteed option for everyone every semester. Insurance: Health insurance is mandatory. ITAM offers their own policy, but getting an external one is usually cheaper and offers better coverage. I highly recommend Dr. Walter, which also covered my luggage and theft. Course Selection: Final course registration takes place locally. Arriving shortly before Orientation Day (one week before classes start) leaves you with plenty of time to enroll. While it's smart to prepare a preliminary list of desired courses, remain flexible, as actual course offerings can change. Language Skills: Even if you only plan to take English courses, basic Spanish skills are highly recommended for daily life. English is not widely spoken everywhere (sometimes not even at the airport).

2. Accommodation

Search Experience: I simply used the official ITAM housing catalog sent out prior to the semester. Tip: "Hidalgo 26" is widely considered the best option, but it is often fully booked before the catalog is even distributed, so be fast if you want to stay there. My Choice (Alpina 11 - Casa Magda): I stayed here and was very satisfied. It feels similar to a student dorm but is still social, featuring a large terrace where students hang out. It offers more peace and quiet compared to a classic shared apartment. (If you prefer a traditional shared flat/WG vibe, look into "Yucatan" or "Hidalgo"). Location & Safety: Alpina 11 is located in San Angel, an overall very safe neighborhood. It is only a 12-minute walk to the university and is close to many other student houses listed in the catalog. Room & Amenities: The rooms are functionally furnished (bed, desk, wardrobe). I highly recommend spending the extra ~€100 per month for a room with a private bathroom instead of a shared one. Kitchen Facilities: The kitchen is shared by about 16 people. It is a bit run-down and the cooking equipment is lacking, so I barely used it for cooking (mostly just for quick breakfasts like avocado toast).

3. Academic life at host university

Campus Atmosphere: The ITAM campus is fantastic, very green, lively, and highly social. There are always lots of students around, making it a great place to spend your lunch breaks or hang out between classes. Campus Facilities: The facilities are generally good. The university offers tennis courts, ping-pong tables, and a sports hall with basketball and football courts. There is an on-campus gym, but it is quite small and often crowded. Many students prefer getting an external membership at gyms like SmartFit. Teaching Style (vs. WU Vienna): The academic culture is quite different from WU and feels much more like a high school environment. Attendance & Participation: There is a strict mandatory attendance policy of at least 80% for every course. Depending on the class, active participation is often heavily required and graded. Workload: While the high school-like structure takes some getting used to, it has its perks. If you have a good professor, the interactive style makes the classes very engaging and allows you to absorb most of the material during lectures, significantly reducing the amount of self-study required afterward.

5. Every day life in the host country

Getting Around & Traffic: Public transport is decent, but severe traffic jams often turn a normal 30-minute ride from San Angel to Roma Norte or the city center into an hour-long trip. Uber & Uber Moto: Uber is significantly cheaper than in Austria, especially when sharing a ride with friends. A great hack is using Uber Moto (motorcycle taxis), they are even cheaper and quickly bypass standing traffic. I always felt safe, though you should keep in mind that it is naturally riskier than a car. Safety on Public Transport: I always felt comfortable using public transport in the city; just keep a close eye on your belongings to avoid pickpockets. When traveling through Mexico outside the capital, I highly recommend using "colectivos" (shared minivans). Leisure & Nightlife: San Angel is a bit quieter for everyday activities. The main social hub for weekends is Roma Norte, where we frequently went to bars and clubs. Other great everyday activities included grabbing tacos with friends, exploring the city center, or attending a football match at the Azteca Stadium. University Sports Program: ITAM offers an extensive and free sports program, including yoga, football, tennis, and basketball. I took advantage of this and went salsa dancing at the university twice a week. Weekend Trips: Traveling around Mexico is very accessible and highly recommended. We frequently took weekend trips to beautiful places like Puebla and Oaxaca.

6. Testimonial

The absolute highlight of my exchange was the tightly-knit community among the international students; living close together, attending the orientation day, and sharing classes made it incredibly easy to build strong, lasting friendships. Everyday life was also fantastic, largely thanks to the amazing and highly affordable local food, which allowed me to eat out almost every day for just a few euros. Finally, taking weekend trips to explore incredible places like Puebla, Oaxaca, and Mazunte perfectly rounded off an unforgettable semester.