Details

• Spain
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• SoSe 2026
• Time spent at the partner university: 5 months
• Contact: Login to see contact information

1. Preparation

It is helpful to closely follow the emails from the partner university, as they provide important information about the organization and the first weeks of the exchange semester. Information about accommodation was also shared by the university. However, as I found the suggested options too expensive, I searched for an apartment independently through Idealista and contacted landlords directly. After finding accommodation, I planned my journey to Pamplona. From Vienna, the easiest options are usually to fly to either Madrid or Barcelona. I chose to fly to Madrid and continued by train to Pamplona, changing trains in Vitoria-Gasteiz. The necessary train connections were easy to find and book through Renfe.

2. Accommodation

As mentioned above, I found my accommodation through Idealista and contacted several landlords directly. In many cases, the landlords did not speak English. However, this was not a major problem because Idealista has a translation function, and I was also able to communicate using my basic Spanish together with translation tools. I found a room in a mixed-gender shared apartment with five people between the ages of 23 and 32. The flat was also international, which helped me improve both my Spanish and English during the semester. In my case, I also had to pay an agency fee equivalent to one month’s rent. Before choosing the apartment, I looked into the different areas of Pamplona to see where many students live and where accommodation is relatively affordable. I decided to live in Iturrama. The location was very convenient, as I could walk to the university and also reach the Old Town easily on foot.

3. Academic life at host university

The UNAV is a campus university, which means that students from different faculties study in the same place. I found this very interesting, especially because students from different academic backgrounds also came together in my courses. The campus is modern and clean, with many seating areas and a large park, which made breaks between classes very pleasant. Most of my courses were organized in an interactive lecture format, similar to a VUE at WU Vienna. Traditional large lectures were less common. Because of the smaller and more interactive course format, I was able to build a more personal connection with my professors. I had a very positive impression of the teaching style, as the professors encouraged students to share their opinions, discuss different perspectives, and actively participate in class. If I had to choose my courses again, I would make the same choices: Spanish, Corporate Governance, Human Resource Management, Negotiations, Marketing, Project Management, and Regional Studies Africa. All of these courses gave me the opportunity to meet new people and study in an open and discussion-oriented environment.

5. Every day life in the host country

Pamplona has a good bus network, although I rarely used public transport because the city is very walkable. Due to the location of my apartment, I could easily walk both to the university and to the city center. I also felt very safe in Pamplona, both during the day and at night. The university offers a wide range of sports activities that students can use free of charge. I enjoy ball sports, my friends and I played padel two or three times a week. Booking a court was easy through the university website, and rackets and balls were provided on site. In addition, students can choose from more than 15 different sports. In the evenings, I often spent time with friends, other exchange students, and local students in the Old Town. Pamplona has many bars and is a good city for meeting people and going out. There were also regular events organized on campus, which provided additional opportunities to meet other students.

6. Testimonial

My exchange gave me the opportunity to meet people from many different countries who were very open and welcoming. I also started learning a new language and experienced a culture that was completely new to me. One of the most special parts of the semester was the friendships I made, some of which I hope will last for many years.