Details

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

1. Preparation

Read the exchange reports. Visit the website of the partner university. Check the WU Credit Transfer Database to see whether the courses you would like to transfer are available at your partner university. Connect with the other WU exchange students in front of the exchange. I booked my flight relativle sponatneously only 1 week before

2. Accommodation

I lived on campus in a suite with five other people, however, I had my own bedroom. The dorm rooms are very similar to those at other WU partner universities in the US. I would definitely recommend living on campus, as otherwise you might miss out on the American college experience and the events happening directly on campus. It also makes it much easier to meet people, make friends, and connect with other students. Bentley is located in Waltham, slightly outside of Boston. A free Bentley shuttle takes you directly from campus to Harvard Square (Cambridge) in around 20-25 minutes. There are many student bars and restaurants, and it's only a few subway stops from Harvard Square to downtown Boston. Note: Public transport in Boston is actually pretty good compared to many other large US cities. In terms of safety, Bentley's campus is not too big, and the campus police are super nice and highly attentive. They offer many apps and services to help keep students safe. Overall, Boston, and Bentley campus in particular, felt super safe and I never saw or heard of any issues.

3. Academic life at host university

Overall, the academic facilities are excellent. I especially liked the library, which is a perfect place to study. The classrooms are modern and very well equipped. Class sizes are generally smaller compared to WU, and the relationship between professors and students tends to be more informal. The professors are very approachable, and you can tell that they genuinely want their students to succeed. The workload depends a lot on the courses you choose, but in my experience, most classes included several smaller assessments throughout the semester rather than one large final exam.

5. Every day life in the host country

As already mentioned, the university is located a little outside of Boston in a rather quiet and unspectacular area. However, a free university shuttle takes you to Cambridge every half hour, and the ride only takes around 25 minutes. From there, Boston’s public transport system makes it easy to get anywhere in the city, so you really do not need a car. In general, sports play a huge role in Boston, and experiencing that culture was one of the highlights of my exchange. While sports at Bentley University itself are not the main attraction (apart from ice hockey!), the city offers an amazing sports atmosphere. Going to, for example, a Boston Celtics game is definitely worth it, and I also highly recommend visiting Boston College for a football game, as it offers one of the best American college football experiences in the area. Even smaller events, like college hockey games, are a fun way to experience American sports culture. Boston is also a historically very important city, with many beautiful neighborhoods and landmarks to explore. Areas like Beacon Hill are especially worth visiting because of their unique architecture and atmosphere. Another highlight is spending time at Harvard University. Since the campus and libraries are open to students and visitors in many areas, it is a great place not only to visit but also to study regularly and enjoy the unique academic atmosphere of one of the world’s most famous universities. The holiday weekends and special events during the semester were also a big highlight. Celebrations like Halloween or the fall foliage season were a lot of fun and felt much bigger than in Austria, with students and locals really embracing the traditions and organizing many themed parties and events on and off campus. These experiences made the exchange feel even more like the classic American college experience. If you are 21 or older, Boston’s nightlife is also very enjoyable. I found the bars much more fun than in Vienna, while the club scene was a little less impressive. However, that did not really matter, since the bars and student events were always a great time.

6. Testimonial

My exchange semester was an amazing experience, especially because Bentley University is located so close to Boston. I spent a lot of time in the city, which has a great atmosphere and offers so much to explore. Boston is also the perfect starting point for trips along the East Coast, for example to New York City, or even farther inland to places like Chicago. At the same time, Bentley University gives you the classic American campus experience. Even though it may not be as large or flashy as some big state universities in the South, the location more than makes up for it. If you are looking for a mix of big-city opportunities, academic prestige, and a more relaxed American college campus experience, Bentley is the perfect place.