Details

• Indonesia
• BaWiSo-19
• Undergraduate
• SoSe 2026
• Time spent at the partner university: 5 months
• Contact: Login to see contact information

1. Preparation

For the preparation of my exchange, I would recommend checking with your doctor early enough about which vaccinations are recommended for Indonesia and making sure to get them in time. The visa application is handled and paid for through the partner university’s website. There is no need to worry if you have not received the final visa confirmation shortly before departure. In our case, most students only received it a few days before their flight. I would also recommend bringing a small selection of important medication, for example stronger painkillers or antibiotics if appropriate, just in case. However, this should always be discussed with your doctor beforehand. Getting certain medication in Indonesia can sometimes be more complicated than expected. I travelled to Indonesia by plane with Scoot, with a layover in Singapore, and had a very good experience. Everything went smoothly, so I can definitely recommend the airline for the journey. Regarding accommodation, future students are also welcome to contact me directly. I stayed in a Gandhi House accommodation at Cozy River. Overall, my experience there was okay, but I personally had some concerns regarding the landlord and certain business practices. In addition, some of the rooms had problems with mould, although this did not affect every room. I can, however, recommend another landlord who has rented rooms to several exchange students and has received consistently very positive feedback. So if you are unsure where to stay, feel free to reach out to me.

2. Accommodation

I stayed in a private shared house from Ganda (the landlord) at Cozy River II, where around 12 people were living together. In terms of space, it was still completely fine, but it felt more like a very large shared apartment than a typical student residence. Overall, my experience there was okay, but I personally had some concerns regarding the landlord and certain business practices. In addition, some of the rooms had problems with mould, although this did not affect every room. Future students are therefore very welcome to contact me directly if they are considering staying there. The neighbourhood itself was quite nice and felt safe, but personally I found the location only partly convenient. It usually took around 20 minutes by scooter to get to the university. Getting to downtown Yogyakarta took considerably longer. Depending on traffic, you could easily spend around 40 minutes on a motorbike to reach the more central areas of the city. If I were to choose again, I would probably look for something a little closer to the university while still having good access to the city centre. I can also recommend another landlord who has rented rooms to several exchange students and has received consistently very positive feedback. So if you are unsure where to stay, feel free to reach out to me.

3. Academic life at host university

The university itself is beautiful and quite modern. I found it quite easy to find my way around the Faculty of Economics and Business, as the campus is relatively compact and the classrooms are well signposted. One important thing to know is that attendance is checked using a fingerprint system. The system usually closes around 15 minutes after the lecture starts, so being on time is important if you want to meet your attendance quote. The teaching style is generally quite similar to WU Vienna, although there is slightly more group work and more presentations throughout the semester. Personally, I had a very positive academic experience at UGM. I took seven courses in total and did not have a bad experience with any of them, so I can generally recommend the courses offered to exchange students. The organization can be a little confusing at the beginning and, to be honest, sometimes remains a bit confusing throughout the semester. Several different platforms are used, and each professor may organize their course differently or communicate through different channels. However, if you stay organized and keep track of deadlines and platforms, it is manageable, especially if you are not taking too many courses at once.

5. Every day life in the host country

Everyday life in Yogyakarta was very enjoyable, and in my experience it is a city where you rarely get bored. There are always different things to do, whether you are interested in sports, food, nightlife, cultural activities, or short trips. The sports options are especially good. Some exchange students joined Muay Thai clubs, while others regularly played tennis or padel or went to the gym. Watching a local football match can also be a really fun experience and is something I would recommend trying at least once. For getting around, a scooter is by far the most practical option. Traffic can feel quite chaotic in the beginning, so it is important to drive carefully and take some time to get used to it. If you do not feel comfortable riding a scooter at first, using Grab and travelling by car is also a good option. However, you should keep in mind that getting around by car usually takes considerably longer because of the heavy traffic. I can also highly recommend the organization YESC Yogyakarta Exchange Students Community. The two people organizing it were always very friendly and helpful, planned a lot of great events, and were also happy to help whenever someone had questions or needed advice. Their activities made it especially easy to meet new people and become part of the exchange community. Overall, I felt safe in Yogyakarta and found everyday life there very social, active, and varied.

6. Testimonial

The biggest highlight of my exchange was definitely the local people. Indonesians are incredibly warm, cheerful, and welcoming, which made me feel at home very quickly, and as a foreigner, especially if you are tall, you can sometimes become a bit of a highlight yourself. I also experienced a strong sense of freedom during my time there, and Indonesia is a perfect base for exploring other parts of Southeast Asia if you enjoy travelling. Overall, it was an amazing and very fulfilling time that was sometimes challenging, but that is also what made the experience so special.