Details

• United States of America
• BaWiSo-19
• Undergraduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

First of all, I would strongly recommend being well informed about the destinations you want to apply for, especially the partner universities. It is very helpful to plan your courses in advance, as course availability at the partner university can be limited. This helps avoid unpleasant surprises if a course you were counting on is not offered or does not fit your study plan. Reading exchange reports from previous students is extremely useful. They provide honest insights into academic life, workload, and everyday experiences, and can help you decide whether a destination is a good match for you personally and academically. In my case, the interview process was quite easy, and I did not prepare anything special. However, I heard from other students that their interviews were more demanding, so it is still a good idea to be familiar with your motivation and study plan. Once you receive your allocation, I highly recommend getting in touch with the other students who are going abroad with you. This makes the preparation phase much easier and helps you feel more secure. It is also important to start early with practical matters such as housing, visa requirements, and general administrative procedures. The host university offered an online Zoom information session, which was extremely helpful and answered many open questions. I would definitely recommend attending these sessions, as they provide valuable information and reduce uncertainty before departure.

2. Accommodation

Accommodation search experience: Finding accommodation in Urbana–Champaign was, to be honest, quite exhausting. My goal was to find a sublease only for the Fall semester, but I did not have any success. I mainly searched on Reddit and Facebook, which did not lead to good results. Now, I learned that most students actually post sublease offers in the UIUC Snapchat housing groups, which I unfortunately did not know before. Because I could not find a semester-only sublease, I eventually signed a one-year lease in a student residence. Accommodation type (student residence / private): I lived in a student residence called 309 Green Student Apartments. Many exchange students from WU also chose this residence, which influenced my decision and made the transition easier. I shared the apartment with three American girls. Overall, the apartment was fine: I shared a bathroom with one roommate and also had access to a private bathroom. The apartment was equipped with a kitchen, washing machine, and dryer, which was very convenient. Location, safety, and proximity to the university: The residence was located on Green Street, the main street in Campustown. The location was excellent: everything was very close, and most of my friends lived within a five-minute walking distance. The area felt very safe, and I never felt uncomfortable living there. Tips I wish I’d known beforehand: One very important point I want to emphasize is that I was not able to sublease my room for the summer semester. As a result, I still had to pay rent even after leaving. This year, there was almost no demand for subleases, and many of my friends faced the same issue, not only at 309 Green but also at other student residences. Even those who managed to sublease often had to lower the rent significantly, sometimes receiving only half of the original price. There is also no support from either university regarding subleasing. Therefore, I strongly recommend trying to find a lease that only covers one semester. I know this can be difficult, but in the end, it can save you a lot of money and stress.

3. Academic life at host university

The academic life at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign was very enjoyable, and I really liked studying there. The campus infrastructure is excellent overall. Most of my business courses took place at the Gies College, which is very new and extremely well equipped. The libraries are also very nice, and I always found a free place to study. Everything on campus is reachable by foot, and there are many cafés and food places nearby. The whole campus environment really feels like something out of a movie, which made everyday student life very enjoyable. The academic culture and teaching style at UIUC are more personal compared to WU. In smaller classes, the atmosphere is very interactive, and active participation is expected, as participation often counts toward the final grade. I really enjoyed this teaching style. I also had two larger courses with around 200–300 students, which were more similar to large WU lectures (e.g. STEOP-style courses). Regarding exams, they were generally quite easy. It is relatively easy to achieve good grades if you consistently submit assignments during the semester. In some courses, I did not even have a final exam, and when I did, it usually counted for no more than 30% of the total grade. Overall, there is more continuous work during the semester than at WU, including homework, assignments, and midterms. However, this makes the final exam period much less stressful.

5. Every day life in the host country

Everyday life at UIUC was very comfortable and enjoyable. Public transport is extremely convenient: buses run all day long and are completely free as long as you carry your student ID. Most places on campus and in Campustown are also easily reachable on foot. Sports, social, and leisure activities are truly impressive. Access to the gym is included with the student ID, and the main recreation center is huge. It offers everything from modern gym equipment to swimming pools, saunas, and many other facilities. I also purchased an additional group fitness membership for around 60 USD for the semester, which allowed me to attend various classes such as cycling, barre, and HIIT workouts. There are also multiple tennis courts, basketball courts, and other sports facilities available on campus. UIUC also offers an enormous variety of student clubs, there really is something for everyone, ranging from water skiing to very niche interest-based clubs. Joining a club can be a great way to meet new people, although I personally did not join one. At the beginning of the semester, the university also organized several welcome events, which made it easier to get to know other students. If you are there during the Fall semester, football season is a major highlight. Almost every weekend there are football games, which really give you the full American college experience. The tailgating before the games was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me. From November onwards, the basketball season starts as well, and the games are also very fun to watch. Regarding safety, I generally felt safe in Champaign–Urbana, and there is a visible police presence. However, it is important to be aware that incidents can still happen. During the four months I spent there, there was one shooting on Green Street (Campustown). Fortunately, my friends and I were traveling that weekend and were not affected. Still, this is something to keep in mind when choosing the U.S. as an exchange destination.

6. Testimonial

My exchange semester at UIUC was one of the best decisions of my life. I had the best four months of my life and would highly recommend this destination to anyone considering a semester abroad. Even though Champaign might seem like a small town at first, which was also one of my concerns before leaving, there is actually a lot going on. What made my exchange especially memorable were the people I met and the friendships I formed. Many of these friendships truly feel like they will last a lifetime. UIUC is also known as one of the biggest party universities in the U.S., which made going out very fun, as there was almost always something happening. In addition, the football and basketball games, as well as the trips I took and the places I visited during the semester, completed my overall experience. Going abroad is truly one of the best things you can do and is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I would recommend to everyone.