Details

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

1. Preparation

It is important to find out in advance which courses you can/want to take abroad and which can be credited at WU. The recognition database shows all courses that have already been credited. You should also familiarize yourself with the GPA and language requirements before applying. It is also essential to select all 7 preferences, as many people also want to apply to the USA. You should also consider whether you want to focus on academics or on sports and campus life.You should prepare yourself just as well for the interview and really ask yourself why you want to spend a semester abroad.

2. Accommodation

The University of Kansas offers a wide range of on-campus housing options. You should consider whether you want to share a room with someone or have your own apartment. Please note that there are also dorms where only men or women are allowed. I would also consider several options, as housing is assigned randomly when you select your housing and it may happen that there is no more space available in your preference. I personally shared a room with an American in a student dorm. Naismith Hall is a 5-minute walk from the dining hall, the business school, and the recreation center. In addition, most buses stop at the building, allowing you to travel across the entire campus. The campus is generally very safe and everything is within walking distance. Tips: You should be sure that you really want to share a room with another person or share a bathroom with another room for a whole semester. You should also clarify in advance that you are not classified as a freshman in the system, otherwise you will be placed in a building where only freshmen live and you will have a limited choice. Many international students live in Jayhawker Towers, McCarthy Hall, Downs Hall, and Stouffer Place Apartments.

3. Academic life at host university

Infrastructure: Basically, everything on campus is within walking distance. There are also plenty of buses that take you everywhere (all free of charge). There are three large dining halls, several Starbucks, food outlets, Chick-Fil-A, Wendy's, and much more where you can get food and drinks. There are also plenty of places where you can study and meet friends. Most lectures are also held in the business school, which is very similar in style to WU. Academic culture and teaching style: Most lectures involve a lot of homework and exams. However, this means that the exams cover less material and you don't have to study too much. The professors are very nice and accommodating and always help you whenever possible, even if it's not related to your course. All teaching assistants are also available at any time and offer tutoring sessions. The overall workload is also limited; you can easily take five courses in one semester and still have enough free time. There is also the opportunity to participate in competitions such as the Case Competition. Compared to WU, the level is a little lower and you are usually one of the best students in the courses.

5. Every day life in the host country

Public transportation in Lawrence is very well developed by American standards. However, you always have to take an Uber to Kansas City. Safety: The campus and the city are very safe, and you can walk around town without any worries. Social Activities: The university offers many opportunities: at the beginning, you can join a wide variety of student clubs. There are numerous sports facilities, including the Rec Center, which has several basketball courts, volleyball courts, tennis courts, a running track, and much more. Downtown, there are many good restaurants and cafes where you can meet up with friends. Football and basketball are the two biggest sports, and the stadiums are always very full. The university also has a very good volleyball and soccer team, which students can watch for free. In general, college game day is always a big event that takes over the whole city. As a student, you always have the option of buying tickets for $10, or you can buy a season pass for all sports, which allows you to watch anywhere. The university itself is built like you see in the movies. There is also the Triangle right next to the campus, where three student bars are located right next to each other and you can go there in the evening, and there are also a few downtown. In addition, Kansas' central location makes it possible to rent a car for the weekend and visit neighboring states such as Colorado, Texas, Missouri, Illinois, and Oklahoma. Kansas City Airport also flies to all other major airports. Furthermore, AMTRAK also runs through Lawrence, which you can use to travel to Chicago, for example.

6. Testimonial

In summary, it can be said that at KU you experience typical American college life. Thanks to the orientation at the beginning, I was also able to make many new friends. I can really recommend experiencing Midwest culture for yourself. Kansas' central location allowed me to take several trips to other cities and states and really get to know America. The local people are very nice and help you with everything. Spending a semester abroad in the USA was the best decision I made during my entire studies.