Details

• United States of America
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• SoSe 2026
• Time spent at the partner university: 5 months

1. Preparation

To prepare for the exchange semester, I would recommend reading several exchange reports, as they can provide different perspectives and a variety of useful tips to help you prepare as well as possible. In addition, I would suggest looking into the course structures and difficulty levels beforehand, and checking the professor reviews as well.Regarding the flight to Raleigh, I flew from my home country. I had a layover in Paris and then continued on to Raleigh. Everything went smoothly. If I remember correctly, there are also flights available from Vienna. From the airport, I took an Uber to the university, but there is also a bus service that you can use.

2. Accommodation

For accommodation, I simply gathered information through the university’s housing website. I spent my semester in Alexander Hall and was very happy with my choice. In my opinion, it is the best option. It is the residence hall for exchange students, which makes it very easy to meet people from different backgrounds and build your first friendships quickly. The only downside is that you share a dorm room with another person and use a communal bathroom. However, in my opinion, this is more than compensated for by the great atmosphere and the amazing people you meet there. In addition, the residence hall is very centrally located, and everything on the main campus is within easy walking distance. If this type of accommodation does not appeal to you, I also had friends who lived in private rooms in four-person apartment-style housing. In that case, I would recommend "Wolf Ridge".

3. Academic life at host university

Academic life at NC State was different from what I was used to at WU. The atmosphere was often more interactive and less formal. Throughout the semester, students are required to complete weekly assignments and quizzes in almost every course. In addition, most courses include midterm exams. In some classes, there is a certain degree of flexibility regarding when you can take the midterm, while in others, the date and time are fixed.The campus facilities are excellent and were easily accessible for me. If a class happened to be located farther away, the university’s bus system, known as the "Wolfline," made it easy to get around campus quickly and conveniently.

5. Every day life in the host country

The university is not located directly in downtown Raleigh, but it is easy to get there by bus. In addition, the regular public bus routes are free for NC State students, making transportation around the city very convenient. For the most part, I felt safe in Raleigh. Since open carry is legal in North Carolina, seeing people openly carrying firearms felt a little unsettling at first. However, I gradually got used to it over time. On campus itself, I never had any concerns and always felt very comfortable and safe. The university organizes an Orientation Week, which gives exchange students the opportunity to meet one another and make their first connections. In addition, each student is assigned a mentor who can be contacted with any questions, which is very helpful when adjusting to life at NC State. Overall, there are many events on campus that students can participate in, making it easy to meet a wide variety of interesting people and build new friendships. NC State also has a very large sports and recreation center that offers a wide range of athletic activities, allowing students to stay active and try out different sports throughout the semester.

6. Testimonial

I am very grateful that I had the opportunity to spend my exchange semester at NC State. During my time there, I met many amazing people and gained a variety of new perspectives that broadened my horizons.Although the campus is excellent and offers a great student experience, I have to admit that Raleigh itself was not as exciting or interesting as I had initially expected. For that reason, I am glad that I took the opportunity to travel extensively during my semester, and I would highly recommend doing the same to future exchange students. The United States has so much to offer, with a wide variety of landscapes, cities, and cultures. I believe it is worth making the most of the experience and trying to see as much of the country as possible while you are there.