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

Start the preparation process early and stay organized throughout, as this significantly reduces stress and ensures a smooth run-up to your exchange semester. Having a clear personal motivation for studying abroad is more important than crafting a highly specific reason for each university, though authenticity during the application and interview process is key. Reach out to current or former exchange students at SDSU as early as possible, since their firsthand advice on courses, housing, and the overall process is invaluable. Handle all administrative requirements well in advance, including the English language test, visa application, required vaccinations, and financial statement, and read all emails from both universities carefully, as they contain crucial deadlines. For housing, popular student options are on-campus at Aztec Corner or off-campus at 619 and The Rive, the latter two being especially social as most other exchange students live there. When it comes to flights, book a flexible ticket or skip the return flight altogether if possible, since plans often change once you arrive, you meet new people, and rarely want to head home right when the semester ends; plan at least 2-4 weeks after your last exam for traveling before you actually fly back.

2. Accommodation

Housing in San Diego is best organized through informal networks: almost everyone I know found their place either through Facebook groups passed down between exchange cohorts or by directly contacting current SDSU students, so plugging into these channels early is one of the most useful things you can do. You're generally choosing between private houses shared with other students, which offer more space but require active searching, off-campus residences like 6nineteen, The Rive, or Fifty Twenty-Five, which are easy to book in advance and popular for their social scene, or on-campus dorms at Aztec Corner, which the university markets as limited but which most applicants still get into. I lived in a shared, fully furnished house with other WU students in the College Area, a short walk from campus, and booking a backup Airbnb during the search gave extra peace of mind. Expect roughly $850 to $1,000 a month for a shared room and about $1,300 for a private single, which compares well to on-campus prices once you factor in what's included, and the College Area itself felt safe even at night, though US safety standards differ somewhat from Austria. Finally, having a car makes daily life noticeably easier for groceries, the beach, and general mobility, since public transport reaches campus but distances are much larger than at home, and affordable rental options like Dirt Cheap Car Rental are worth considering.

3. Academic life at host university

SDSU's campus is huge (around 50,000 students) yet feels remarkably clean and self-contained, with facilities like a gym, pool complex, soccer fields, and plenty of shops and restaurants including a Trader Joe's right on campus. Academically, the workload is generally lighter than at WU, with grades built from a mix of weekly assignments, quizzes, and smaller exams rather than one high-stakes final, and professors actively pull students into discussion instead of just lecturing. Exchange students can pick courses across essentially any bachelor's program at SDSU, and while prerequisites are listed, they're rarely enforced in practice, so the main thing to check is whether a course counts toward your degree back at WU. It's well worth taking one of the sport electives on offer, such as surfing at Mission Beach or a soccer/football league, as these often become semester highlights and can double as credit-bearing courses. Before finalizing your schedule, always check professor ratings online, since teaching quality and workload vary a lot between instructors and give a far better indication than the course description alone.

5. Every day life in the host country

Public transportation in San Diego is limited (just a few trolley lines and a slow bus network), so most exchange students rent a car to get around; it's mainly useful for specific trips like Downtown or the harbor, where parking is expensive and driving isn't necessarily faster anyway. Overall, San Diego is one of the safer US cities, and areas like the College Area, Pacific Beach, and La Jolla feel comfortable even at night, though it's worth being a bit more cautious in Downtown after dark. The warm, sunny climate makes outdoor activities a constant part of daily life, with surfing, running, cycling, football, and beach sunsets all being popular ways to spend free time. Socially, Pacific Beach is the main hub for nightlife, university sports events like basketball games draw big crowds, and fraternity/sorority parties are a classic (and worth experiencing) part of American college life. If you're renting a car, make sure someone in your group has a proper credit card, since rentals for trips further afield (Hawaii, Florida, etc.) usually require one, while local student-friendly options like Dirt Cheap Car Rental are more flexible.

6. Testimonial

My exchange semester at SDSU was about meeting friends from all over the world and living every single day to the fullest, with never a dull moment. I got seriously into surfing, both through class and on my own time at the beach, while acing exams with barely a day of prep. Unforgettable trips to places like Hawaii, Mexico City, Cancun, Colombia, and Puerto Rico rounded out the semester perfectly. On top of that, the party life was non-stop, with frat parties and nights out happening 3-4 times a week.