Details

• United States of America
• MASIMC-17
• Graduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

There was not much that needed to be prepared. If you get a spot for the fall term and are interested in sports, it is important to get the “Big Ticket.” It costs around $200 and includes access to all sports events. However, be aware that this does not guarantee access to all football games, as those are allocated via a lottery. If you want to secure access to all games, you can additionally purchase the Foundation Ticket (it is released on a specific date, and you need to be very quick to get one) for an extra $130. I would definitely recommend getting it, as everyone always wanted to attend the games. In addition, make sure you secure housing early on.

2. Accommodation

Finding accommodation can be quite a hassle and often takes some time. You definitely want to live in West Campus, as most students live there and it is very close to campus, bars, etc. I found my accommodation via Facebook and subleased from someone who was also going on exchange. I lived at The Standard for $1,200 per month and negotiated the price directly with the girl I rented the room from. Be aware that not many rooms are available during the fall semester, so you have to be quick. Moreover, I would not recommend renting a room for a whole year, as you will have to find someone to take over your lease for the spring semester, which can be quite a hassle since many students are trying to do the same. Another option is living in a “coop,” which is a bit cheaper, but requires you to “work” around four hours per week. Laurel is definitely the best one, while Pearl is quite old and dirty. However, living in a coop can also be a lot of fun, as many exchange students live there. I absolutely loved living at The Standard and would choose it again anytime. Most student accommodations offer great amenities, including a pool, gym, etc. Austin in general, and West Campus in particular, is very safe.

3. Academic life at host university

The campus is huge but still very walkable and incredibly beautiful. It offers everything you could think of, including multiple gyms, dining locations, libraries, and various sports facilities. The MBA program is located in the Rowling Hall building, meaning all courses are held there. The classes were very good and highly interactive. Compared to WU, I actually liked them better. In most courses, you will have to complete a group project as well as some individual work. I would recommend choosing 3-credit MBA courses, as they were better structured and, for some reason, involved less workload than the 2-credit courses.

5. Every day life in the host country

UT is the best location you can choose. Even though it is less well known in Europe, it is an absolute top destination for an exchange semester. Austin is an amazing, young, and vibrant city. Public transportation is free for students, and everything is very easy to reach by bus or via Uber or Lyft, which is also quite affordable. The city feels very safe. We never had any problems walking around at night and sometimes even walked home after going out. Since UT is such a large university, the social life is absolutely incredible. There are no entry fees for bars, they are always packed, and many are either very close to campus or located directly in West Campus. There are also hundreds of student clubs you can join. People in Austin are extremely friendly and open, which makes it very easy to build connections and friendships. The exchange community is also very welcoming, and I would strongly recommend attending the welcome events, as they are the best opportunity to meet people. Students who arrived later had a slightly harder time making new connections and were generally less integrated. UT is also very strong in sports, and attending events such as football and volleyball games was incredibly fun and among my favorite memories of the exchange.

6. Testimonial

I really had the best time I could have wished for. The community was absolutely amazing, and UT and Austin are so much fun. The weather was also great, as it stayed warm until the end of November.