Details

• Italy
• BaWiSo-19
• Undergraduate
• SoSe 2026
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months
• Contact: Login to see contact information

1. Preparation

I recommend arriving well in advance, as there are many unofficial events organized at the beginning of the semester where students form their groups and make their first friends. I arrived one week before the semester started, but if possible, I would recommend arriving at least two weeks early. For my trip to my host university, I flew, but for my journey back, I took a FlixBus. In the end, I actually enjoyed the FlixBus ride more. However, if you decide to fly, try to book your flight to Milan Linate Airport, as you can simply take the metro directly into the city center. Unfortunately, Ryanair does not fly to Linate, but easyJet does. Otherwise, make sure to attend every event organized by ESN. They are a lot of fun, and they are a great opportunity to meet many new people.

2. Accommodation

I was lucky enough to get a room at Aparto Giovenale, which was an amazing place to live. However, I have heard that it is very difficult to get a room there because of the high demand. If you are not able to secure a place there, there are several other useful platforms, such as Spotahome and HousingAnywhere, that can help you find accommodation. It is also worth checking Airbnb, as you can sometimes find suitable options there. My biggest piece of advice is to start looking for accommodation as early as possible and not leave it until the last minute. I stayed in a student residence, and it was a great experience. Aparto Giovenale was only a five-minute walk from the campus, and the location was excellent. I always felt very safe, as there was staff at the reception 24/7, and the surrounding neighborhood was also very safe. If you stay in the Spadolini residence, however, I would recommend being a little more cautious, especially when walking around late at night. Another advantage of Aparto Giovenale was the strong sense of community. The residence regularly organized social events, which made it easy to meet new people and get to know other students. The only downside was that it was quite expensive compared to some other accommodation options.

3. Academic life at host university

The university facilities are excellent, and the campus offers a great learning environment. However, I think it is even more difficult to find a study space than at WU Vienna, especially during the exam period. My favorite place to study was the Gobbi building, which has individual study pods that are perfect for concentrating. They are very popular, though, so they tend to fill up quickly during the exam season. Overall, I found the academic culture to be quite similar to that at WU Vienna. If anything, the full-time students at the host university seemed slightly more motivated, but the overall atmosphere was comparable. The teaching style also depends heavily on the course and the lecturer, so I did not notice any major differences compared to WU. One noticeable difference, however, is that almost all exams are taken online on a laptop. One piece of advice is to start studying early. It is a shame to spend the last two weeks of your exchange studying all day instead of enjoying your remaining time with the friends you have made. In many courses, the lecture slides are the main study material, and there are often no textbooks required, so it is important to keep up with the content throughout the semester. My course recommendation is 0598 – Sustainability and Corporate Communication, as I found it particularly interesting and well organized.

5. Every day life in the host country

Milan has a well-developed public transport network, but unfortunately, it is not always very reliable. The metro is generally the most dependable option, although many stations are not particularly accessible, as they often lack elevators or escalators. I used the trams most frequently, but it was not unusual to wait 15–30 minutes for one to arrive, and sometimes they did not come at all. Fortunately, Milan is a very walkable city, and cycling is also a convenient way to get around. After midnight, only night buses operate, even on weekends, and regular public transport does not usually resume until around 7 a.m. In terms of safety, I felt slightly less safe than I do in Vienna, although I never experienced any problems myself. I did hear from several other students who had their belongings stolen, so it is important to stay aware of your surroundings. Necklaces and other valuables are common targets for theft, especially on the metro. However, I always felt that the area around the university was safe. Milan offers an incredible variety of leisure activities. Whether you enjoy shopping, going out for an aperitivo, or trying new restaurants, there is always something to do. One of the biggest advantages of the city is its location, you can easily take a train to visit nearby towns or spend a relaxing day at Lake Como. There are also many beautiful parks where you can unwind, and the city's food scene is excellent. If you enjoy nightlife, you will never run out of options, as there are parties and social events taking place almost every day.

6. Testimonial

I truly enjoyed my stay in Milan, especially the countless aperitivos with friends, which are some of my favorite memories from my exchange. The semester went by incredibly fast and was without a doubt one of the best decisions I have ever made. Looking back, I could not have chosen a better place than Milan for my exchange. It was an unforgettable experience that allowed me to grow personally, meet amazing people from all over the world, and create memories that will stay with me for a lifetime.