Details

• Australia
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 5 months

1. Preparation

Applying to UTS was actually pretty straightforward once you stay organised, but start early. The nomination from WU took longer than expected, so I’d definitely keep an eye on deadlines and have all documents ready in advance. Especially language requirements. Before going to Sydney, I underestimated how helpful the UTS pre-arrival info and Orientation would be, it made settling in way easier, both academically and socially (they also use Canvas, you can connect there with other semester abroad students before even going to Sydney). My biggest tip is to sort out accommodation (I wouldnt recommend staying at UTS housing) and the visa as soon as you get your offer, because everything else feels much less stressful once those are done. Overall, being prepared early lets you enjoy the experience instead of worrying about paperwork once you’re there.

2. Accommodation

Finding accommodation in Sydney was honestly one of the most stressful parts before going, but in the end it worked out really well. I stayed at UTS Housing, which was super convenient because it’s close to campus, felt very safe, and made everyday life easy since you can walk everywhere and meet SOOO many semester abroad students (probably 80% are student abroad students there). The biggest downside is that you have to pay rent for the entire semester, even if you travel at the end and don’t actually stay there anymore. Looking back, I’d still recommend UTS Housing for the start of the semester because it helps you settle in quickly and meet people, but I wish I’d known earlier that moving out earlier isn’t really an option. If you plan to travel a lot towards the end, it might be worth considering private accommodation or a short-term lease instead.

3. Academic life at host university

UTS feels way more chill than WU Vienna, the campus is super modern, everything’s close, and the whole vibe is really relaxed. Classes are more interactive with lots of group work and assignments instead of just one big exam, and lecturers are easy to talk to. It’s also way more practical and less theory-heavy than WU. The atmosphere is so laid-back that I sometimes even came to class with my surfboard after a morning surf, and no one thought twice about it, that kind of sums up the UTS experience.

5. Every day life in the host country

Everyday life in Sydney was super easy and relaxed as a student. Public transport works well with trains, buses, light rail, and ferries, and I mostly got around with an Opal card or just tapping my phone. The city feels very safe overall, even at night, as long as you use common sense like in any big city. There’s always something going on, mostly beach days, markets, festivals, uni events, or just hanging out at cafés and pubs. Sports are a big thing too, especially outdoor stuff like surfing, running (shoutout to The Sydney Run Club), gym, or joining uni sports clubs, which makes it really easy to stay active and meet people.

6. Testimonial

My exchange at UTS was honestly the best experience of my life. I made so many friends from all over the world, and we traveled to amazing places together, Malaysia, Fiji, the Philippines, Japan, which made the semester even more unforgettable. Between the interactive classes, the relaxed campus vibe, and spontaneous beach days after lectures, it was the perfect mix of studying and adventure. I’d recommend it to anyone without a second thought.