Details

• Indonesia
• MADigiEcon-21
• Graduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 3 months

1. Preparation

Tips for the application process at WU for future outgoing students: The application process at WU was simple. My main advice is to apply on time and follow the deadlines. However, the partner university abroad can take a long time to process documents and usually requires many forms to be filled out. It is therefore important to complete everything as early as possible. Tips for preparing your semester abroad: I did not prepare much in advance. It is good to know that Yogyakarta has several large shopping malls with good stores, including international brands such as Decathlon and Uniqlo. Many items are cheaper than in Europe, so it makes sense to buy things locally instead of bringing everything from home. One important point is the visa. The visa process can take time, so it should be handled as soon as the university starts the process to avoid stress shortly before departure.

2. Accommodation

Accommodation search experience and type: Accommodation in Yogyakarta is mostly privately organized. I do not know anyone who stayed in accommodation officially offered by the university. Most exchange students live in shared student houses or villas. A common contact is Ganda, who can be reached via WhatsApp (+62 822 2199 1691), who manages several student houses and villas. Through him, it is relatively easy to find accommodation and get placed with other international students. These are often larger shared houses or villas with around 10 to 20 students living together. By Indonesian standards, the quality is generally good, and many places offer facilities such as a pool. However, the quality can vary, and there were cases where students decided to move out again because the accommodation did not meet their expectations. Looking back, I personally would have preferred a villa that is managed directly by one family, as these tend to be better maintained, but unfortunately I did not have a direct contact for this option. It is important to look for accommodation early. Places in the better villas are often fully booked months in advance. There are usually no formal contracts and no advance payments, which means you can cancel or change accommodation relatively easily before or after arrival if needed. Location, safety, and proximity to the university: Most student villas are located in the northern part of Yogyakarta, about 15-20 minutes from the university by scooter. This is also where most international students live. I liked this area and found it convenient, although I rarely spent time in the southern parts of the city, as Yogyakarta is very large. In general, Indonesia felt extremely safe. I never experienced or observed situations where I felt unsafe. For me and the people around me, it was possible to move around freely at any time without concerns. Tips I wish I’d known beforehand: I would strongly recommend staying in a student villa. The social aspect is very important, and the villa setup creates a large and active community, which makes the exchange experience much better. Some students moved into Airbnbs, and based on what I saw, I would not recommend this, as it makes it much harder to connect with other exchange students.

3. Academic life at host university

Compared to WU Vienna, the academic differences are quite noticeable. The general level of English, including among professors, is rather low, which can sometimes make lectures and discussions harder to follow. Classes are small, usually around 15-20 students, and consist mainly of international students. In terms of size and format, they are comparable to PI courses at WU Vienna. Courses are interactive, and participation is expected. There is a strict attendance requirement of around 75%, and courses usually take place once per week for two hours, at least in the MBA program. The courses are generally rather easy, and it is not difficult to achieve a top grade. Preparation is usually simple, but there are weekly assignments. Depending on how much time you invest, these assignments can still take up a considerable amount of time. In terms of infrastructure, the university offers everything that is needed, but on an Indonesian standard, which is very different from WU Vienna. The campus itself is very large and provides many facilities, including an on-campus medical center and various student services. Outside of academics, Yogyakarta is a very good hub for traveling within Indonesia and the region. Short trips or flights are easy to organize, and most weekends tend to be filled with travel or other activities. At times, it can be challenging to balance travel opportunities with attendance requirements.

5. Every day life in the host country

There is basically no practical public transport in Yogyakarta. Most daily transportation is done via Grab, which is similar to Uber and very cheap, usually around 1–2 euros per ride. Many students also rent their own scooter, often organized through their accommodation, so this is usually easy to arrange and not something to worry about. In terms of safety, Indonesia felt very safe. Neither I nor people around me experienced situations where we felt unsafe. Daily life can be managed without special precautions. Social life is mainly organized through the student villas. Many activities are self-organized by students, such as football, volleyball, basketball, or badminton. Very little of this is organized by the university itself, as far as I know. However, sports and leisure activities are widely available and generally very affordable. One of the main aspects of everyday life is traveling. There are certain trips that almost everyone does, and many trips are organized through villa communities or groups connected to the housing. It is common to be traveling or attending events almost every weekend. Most events and trips are organized by individuals or communities targeting international students and are usually affordable. Access to these activities often happens through contacts made in the student housing or student friends.

6. Testimonial

My exchange in Yogyakarta was special because it offered the opportunity to experience a place that is not very touristy in a very authentic way. Living in a student villa made it possible to be part of a close international community and everyday local life at the same time. This combination of immersion, strong social connections, and constant opportunities to explore the region made the exchange a unique and memorable experience.