Details

• United States of America
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

For the application process try to practice the interview. You will get questions about the fact sheet that you handed in earlier and general questions about yourself. For preparing for your semester abroad try to start early. There is a lot to prepare with trying to find an accommodation and selecting your courses. But don't worry, it will all work out.

2. Accommodation

I just searched via the Internet. It were private student apartments. Me and a friend applied together so we could be in the same apartment which was very helpful. It was in the campus town, and everything was 10/15 minutes walking distance. I'd recommend that and not be too far away. There are mostly students, so it feels like a safe environment to live in. The only tricky thing is that most only offer contracts for a full year and later on you have to search for your own sublease. Keep that in mind.

3. Academic life at host university

The courses have mandatory attendance most of the time. And there is no such things as "Prüfungswoche". Your exams can be at any time during the semester. Overall I really liked the courses, since they are more focused on practical parts as well and you immediately practice how you can do the things you just learnt.

5. Every day life in the host country

Especially for sports there are a lot of options. You can go to all of the university public sports games. There is this one main street called Green street, where eveything happens. The bars are located there, grocery shops and restaurants for students.

6. Testimonial

It was the best experience I could have had. I had such an amazing time, met new lifetime friends and visited a lot new countries. Illinois really is a university like you imagine them in the movies. The university was great and so were all the extracurricular activities. I am writing this right now while I am only dressed in Illinois Merch and thinking back how amazing these 4 months were. UIUC really is an amazing university, I can only recommend it!!!