Details

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

1. Preparation

I would recommend reading all the available information very carefully before applying, especially the course requirements, semester dates, accommodation options, costs and visa conditions. It is important to choose only universities that you genuinely like and would actually be happy to attend, as you may be nominated for any of the options on your list. I also recommend checking student exchange reports and experiences from previous semesters, as they can give a much more realistic impression of the university and everyday life there.

2. Accommodation

If you have the opportunity to live off campus, I would definitely recommend taking it. Bentley provides shuttle buses, so getting to and from campus is easy, and you can save a significant amount of money on accommodation. Another advantage is that you won’t have to rely on dining hall food every day, which gets repetitive quite quickly. The main downside is that you may miss out on some of the spontaneous social life that comes with living on campus. However, you can still come to campus for events, parties, club meetings, and other activities, so it’s definitely possible to stay involved. If you choose to live on campus, keep in mind that there are many different types of housing, and you usually don’t know in advance which one you’ll be assigned to. The quality and room sizes vary a lot, but one thing they all have in common is that they are very expensive for what you get. One major advantage of living on campus is safety. The campus is extremely safe, and Bentley even has its own campus police, which makes the environment feel very secure at all times.

3. Academic life at host university

Studying at Bentley was completely different from my experience at WU, and I personally liked the American system much more. Everything is very well organized, transparent, and student-oriented. The Orientation Days were incredibly helpful and made the transition much easier. One thing that really stood out to me was how supportive everyone is. If you don’t understand something or have any kind of problem, you can simply reach out to someone, and they will genuinely try to help. Communication is very straightforward, and people usually reply very quickly. Classes are engaging, and you are encouraged to actively participate rather than just listen to lectures. I found almost all of my courses interesting, and the professors made an effort to keep students involved. Grading is also much less stressful than at WU because your final grade is usually based on multiple components such as participation, assignments, quizzes, presentations, and exams, instead of depending almost entirely on one final exam. This makes it much easier to achieve good grades if you stay engaged throughout the semester. One thing to keep in mind is that you will most likely have to buy textbooks. I spent around $300, but the exact amount depends on the courses you choose. Overall, I had a fantastic academic experience and found studying at Bentley both enjoyable and much less stressful than I expected.

5. Every day life in the host country

There is no regular public transportation directly next to the university, but Bentley operates its own shuttle buses. The shuttle runs approximately every 30 minutes and connects the campus with Harvard Square, where you can easily take the subway into downtown Boston. There is also a convenient website where you can check the shuttle schedule. While the live times are not always perfectly accurate, the shuttle is generally reliable. The campus is extremely safe. There are emergency call stations throughout the campus, a dedicated campus police department, and a safety app that sends important alerts and allows students to report concerns if needed. I always felt very safe, even when walking around campus late at night. There is an incredible number of activities and opportunities to get involved. The university has an app where you can browse upcoming events, clubs, and activities. There are countless student organizations, clubs, and associations covering almost every interest imaginable. Sports options are especially impressive. We attended free off-campus boxing classes every week, but there were also hockey games, a fully equipped gym, a swimming pool, group fitness classes, and many recreational activities like billiards. I also joined a dance club for the entire semester, and we even performed at the end. No matter what your interests are, you will almost certainly find a community. Overall, campus life is very active, welcoming, and there is always something happening.

6. Testimonial

My semester at Bentley was very different from my studies at WU, especially because of the American education system and campus life. I really enjoyed being part of such an active campus, trying new activities, and meeting people from all over the world. Living close to Boston was also a big advantage and made weekends much more interesting. Overall, it was a great experience that I’m happy I had.