Details

• United States of America
• BBE-18
• Undergraduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 5 months

1. Preparation

For the application process I can recommend to start familiarizing yourself with a couple of options early in the semester to not be overwhelmed by the long list of universities you can choose from. Read the exchange reports, talk to people that have been at different universities you would consider going to and try to narrow down the list. Also, make sure to list at least one option where you are certain to get accepted at - you don't want to end up with no possibility to go on an exchange because you chose the most competitive universities only. Start to prepare for your exchange as soon as possible. UT Austin was very fast with giving us all the documents we needed to apply for the visa. Take advantage of that and get it over with - in our case the US government stopped the visa application process for a couple of weeks and nobody knew when they would allow to apply again. Luckily, I already had my visa but many faced uncertainty regarding whether or not they can go to the US (it all worked out in the end though!).

2. Accommodation

Finding an accommodation was a ride... I ended up signing a five month lease at Capitol Living closer to downtown Austin because it was cheaper and they offered flexible durations. However, the place was a mess and I ended up moving out again. There are a couple of things you should consider and options to choose from: - try to find accommodation in "West Campus" where all the students live. It's the place to be. - Apartment firm at West Campus: try to find a room to sublease for your stay as the apartment firms usually don't sell fall-term only leases. I had to sign for a whole year and had to find somebody to take over which is a hassle and not guaranteed at all (some friends weren't able to find someone to take over the lease). People mainly use Facebook groups to try to sublease their room. - Co-op houses: Many friends of mine lived at one of the co-op houses (Pearl, Taos, 21st, etc.). It's not the nicest place to stay at and you have to do some hours of work (like cleaning or cooking) every week but many international students stay there and have a great time. It's cheaper than the apartments and some meals are included. They are also flexible with the lease duration. - Airbnb: Some friends were living in apartments they found on Airbnb. It was similarly priced to the apartment complexes but flexible in duration.

3. Academic life at host university

I loved campus life in Austin! The campus is huge, you meet all kinds of people, everyone is very open and approachable. There are clubs and student orgs for everyone and everything. I loved to join the run club every week or meet random people at the gym. It's super easy to socialize if you just give it a try, especially with the huge amount of exchange students that are all in the same situation. My profs were all trying to make classes very interactive. They were really good and engaging - additionally, classes only last for 75min and I had the feeling that many of the other students were really locked in and actively participated.

5. Every day life in the host country

Austin is known for its high quality of living. Public transport is not really good (like most US cities) but you can get around by taking the bus which is free to use for students. I always felt really safe in Austin, there are some homeless people but they never bothered me or made me feel uncomfortable. It's also a very walkable city, especially around campus and downtown. There is a lot going on all the time, it is fun to go out or just do some cool activities like paddle boarding on Lady Bird lake. The highlights are the football games in fall!

6. Testimonial

I honestly don't know where to start... This exchange was truly special. I met so many new people and made great friends along the way. I got to see and feel what American campus culture is really like and enjoyed every single bit of it. UT Austin, to me, is the perfect destination to experience your exchange at: it has a great sports and academic culture, including one of the country's biggest football teams and some of the nations best programs, it is not only a small campus town but a thriving city that never gets boring, it is close to an airport which allows you to travel easily and experience different parts of the US, and you get to experience the southern hospitality of Texans! I had arguably the best time of my life and I'm so glad that I chose UT Austin for my exchange. If you have any questions regarding UT or your exchange in general feel free to reach out (+43 650 3818117) - I'd love to share more! Until then, good luck with your semester abroad - Hook'em🤘🏼