Details

• Great Britain & N.Ireland
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 3 months

1. Preparation

Personally, I had a really good experience with my interview. Try preparing by expanding on the questions asked in the application form. My interview was held online at the beginning of January. I would also advise you to start preparing for the semester abroad as early as possible. The University of Edinburgh can be a bit slow with some parts of the process (such as allocating accommodations). You will likely have to lock in your class choices when submitting your application to the University of Edinburgh (although you can change them later on), so try to look through the course finder online. Apart from the accommodation process, the overall preparation is not too difficult once you have secured your spot.

2. Accommodation

I loved my time in Edinburgh and my experience at the University of Edinburgh, however, the accommodation process was incredibly stressful. No exchange report had mentioned the long waiting time, but when I asked another student from a previous semester, she told me that we would only be allocated at the beginning of August. This seemed stressful enough, but I actually received my accommodation offer in the middle of August—about two weeks before leaving for my semester abroad—even though I had applied in March/April. Everything up until that point was extremely stressful because I didn’t know whether I would receive an university accommodation at all. Eventually, in August, the university sent an email to all students who still hadn’t been allocated (including all WU students from that semester), and I finally received an offer. The accommodation I was assigned, however, was not one of the five options I had listed. Luckily, I ended up receiving a very good accommodation: Deaconess (much better than the ones on my list, however, more expensive). The location is amazing—just five minutes from campus. Had I been on a higher floor, I would probably have had a view of Arthur’s Seat (depending on which building you're placed in). It’s also close to Pleasance gym and several supermarkets. I really like all of my flatmates, but I was especially happy to have my own ensuite room because expectations of cleanliness can vary a lot. Tip: I would avoid Cowsgate as it is THE party street of Edinburgh and can be busy and loud. Overall, I am incredibly happy with the accommodation I received, even though it is very expensive (almost €5,000). Just be prepared for a potentially long waiting time for university accommodation. You can also look for private housing if you prefer, but I was extremely satisfied with my accommodation, my flatmates, and the overall experience—and I wouldn’t change a thing (despite the stressful waiting period).

3. Academic life at host university

The “main campus” is amazing, and I spent the majority of my time in Appleton Tower and the Business School (both of which are fairly new buildings and unfortunately don’t have the typical “Edinburgh vibe”). The professors I had were extremely nice and encouraged us to address them informally. I loved my courses (Marketing & Strategy, Global Business and the Sustainable Development Goals, the third course I had applied for was dropped from the curriculum, so I was able to only take two). They were very interesting, and I would definitely recommend them. They were also 100% coursework with no exams, although I wouldn’t underestimate the time required to prepare for them. The grading system is very different from what I’m used to, and I feel that it is a bit more difficult to achieve a high grade. Business School classes also tend to have fewer contact hours and require more independent preparation.

5. Every day life in the host country

Everyday life in Edinburgh is truly amazing. Since I lived very close to campus, I rarely spent anything on public transport. Even when I did need it, a bus ticket costs only about £2–3, regardless of the distance. Edinburgh is also similarly safe compared to Vienna. I was able to go on many trips with my family and friends who visited, as well as on an Isle of Skye trip with ESN. Moreover, the University of Edinburgh has a large number of societies you can join (book clubs, many sports clubs, and much more). There’s genuinely something for everyone. I personally loved being part of the radio society and the pole dancing society (which is very cheap compared to Vienna). I was lucky enough to meet many amazing friends and had a great time with them. Lastly, Deaconess also offers many social events every month.

6. Testimonial

My semester abroad was truly an enriching experience. Edinburgh was the perfect choice for me, and I don’t regret anything about choosing the UK for this special opportunity. I was lucky enough to visit countless beautiful places across Scotland and even travel to London while I was here. The University of Edinburgh is an amazing university with interesting courses and lovely professors that taught me a lot. My flatmates and the other friends I made during my stay have been a huge part of what made this experience so memorable, and I am incredibly grateful for the people I met and the memories we created together.