Details

• United States of America
• BBE-18
• Undergraduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

Take time to prepare. There are several steps and unexpected turns that could result in a lot of stress if dealt with last minute. Make sure to know what you want to gain on your exchange abroad. An exchange semester can help you figure out what you value and how you work best. If you choose universities solely on reputation, ignoring your own values, it might become a frustrating experience.

2. Accommodation

The university provides accommodation. You cannot choose the one you get. If you are lucky and get an apartment with a kitchen such as Forest University Apartments you are eligible for meal plans that allow you to take fewer meals but save more money. If you know someone who will stay at the university for the same time period you can ask to be put into the same apartment. The area is very safe. You live on campus therefore every important building (dining hall, lecture halls, gym) can be reached in maximum 15 minutes.

3. Academic life at host university

Academics should be a main focus if you decide to go to the University of Richmond. In general the level of content in the US is lower than at WU. However, the University of Richmond applies a unique teaching style resulting in a way higher workload. Classes are small (typically less than 15 people per class) and you'll attend each class twice a week with mandatory attendance. It is possible to skip some lessons with a valid reason, however this depends on the lecturer, may affect your grade and was not something many students did. The workload is much higher than at WU! There are assignments after every lecture typically taking at least an hour to complete. Not being properly prepared really stands out in a class of less than 15 people. Students at UR are working all the time it is very typical to see people studying on a Sunday night to somehow manage the workload. It is not difficult material, only time consuming material meaning you will get an A easily if you are willing to put in the work. This means that going on trips mid-semester will likely affect your grades for the worse. On the flip side lecturers are excellent. All of my lecturers took their time, were happy to answer any question and came from the most reputable places in the US (in my case I had lecturers that graduated and taught at University of Pennsylvania, worked at the Brookings Institution etc.) In short: Be prepared to work long hours on rather easy assignments for rather easy grades and amazing lecturers.

5. Every day life in the host country

There is a bus shuttle provided by the university that wasn't used much. There are buses but they take very long and I would not recommend taking them at night or even in the evening for safety concerns. Everyone takes Uber or Lyft to get around. This will get very expensive quickly. You really cannot go any place (there is no direct access to nature, no barber, no bar,... in walking distance) without a car so I would recommend contacting fellow exchange students going to the University of Richmond to rent a car together. Having a car sometimes felt like a necessity. If you are planning to visit Washington DC or New York City I would recommend taking a train. Amtrak is not very expensive, feels safe and even goes to Penn Station, meaning you arrive in the middle of Manhattan. The University is located in one of the richest neighborhoods of Richmond so it is very safe. Richmond itself has some dangerous neighborhoods but there isn't really any reason to end up in one of those areas. The center itself is quite nice for US-American standards. There are some bars, museums and a nice walk at James River, however compared to European cities it doesn't feel very lively and nice. There are endless opportunities and clubs regarding extracurricular activities at the University. I would definitely recommend joining one, it is the best way to get to know the people and culture. There are also tons of non sports related clubs and countless options provided by the university. For example you can take free piano lessons, join the student newspaper or join a club that meets to play board games. I joined the rowing team and it was one of the best experiences of my stay abroad! The University has 2 Division I basketball teams (men and women with woman being especially successful playing teams such as Columbia University) and a Division I football team. Home games are free for UR students I would definitely recommend attending some.

6. Testimonial

As with most things in life it's always the people that make experiences truly special. I got to meet some amazing people from all over the globe that were also on their semester abroad, enjoyed the strong community focus of the rowing team and truly appreciated some inspiring lecturers. Going on trips, traveling in the US was another highlight. The landscape and some cities in the US are truly amazing and unique! Lastly, the university itself is very good. It provides help on any matter, has a beautiful campus and really represents a perfect example of a wealthy small liberal arts school in the US.