Details

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

1. Preparation

The first thing I did after being accepted to the Universidad de los Andes was to get in contact with the other students who had also been accepted. WU provides the contact information of students who have previously studied at your partner university, those who will be going there with you, and students from the partner university who are currently completing their exchange at WU in Vienna. We arranged to meet and get to know each other. Talking to local students was especially helpful, as they know a lot about life in Santiago, particularly when it comes to housing areas and transportation. It also gave me valuable insight into everyday life in the city and helped me better understand what to expect, especially regarding safety and crime, which is an important topic in Santiago. Furthermore, I researched which vaccinations might be necessary for traveling within South America. It is helpful to think in advance about the places you would like to visit so you know what to pack. In addition, you should make sure that your credit cards and other banking services work in Latin America. In many cases, you need to adjust certain settings with your bank in order to enable payments in foreign currencies or international transactions. You should also be aware that you are stepping out of your comfort zone and that during the first few days everything may feel very different and unfamiliar. However, I can assure you that after a few weeks you will develop a routine and gradually adjust to your new life.

2. Accommodation

During my exchange semester, I lived in a house with seven other exchange students. Our landlord owned around ten different houses that were exclusively rented to exchange students. This was a great setup, as he regularly organized events where students from the different houses could meet and get to know each other. It was a great opportunity to connect with people from various universities and countries. Housing conditions in Santiago are generally not comparable to what we are used to in Austria. The houses are much more basic and often lack proper isolation or central heating. In our house, the heating consisted of a gas oven, which provided some warmth but was not very efficient, especially during colder days. The house was located in Providencia, a beautiful district of Santiago. However, it was quite far from the university, and it usually took me about one hour to get to campus. Although the long commute could be a bit inconvenient, Providencia offers many bars, cafés, and restaurants, and many other exchange students lived nearby. For me, it was more important to live close to my friends than to have a shorter commute to university. In addition, the university (UANDES) provides a shuttle bus that picks students up at the metro station Hernando de Magallanes, which made the commute easier. Overall, I felt safe living in Providencia. However, it is important to always stay aware of your surroundings and keep an eye on your belongings. When it gets dark, it is recommended to take an Uber rather than walking. You should also activate the safety verification code in the Uber app to make sure you are entering the correct car. Many incidents occur when people accidentally get into the wrong Uber, so taking this precaution is highly recommended.

3. Academic life at host university

In general, the lectures at the Universidad de los Andes (UANDES) can be compared to the courses (UEs) at WU. Most classes consist of around 20–30 students, which creates a more interactive learning environment. Throughout the semester, students are required to complete various assignments and group projects. In addition, there are typically three exam periods during the semester. Each course takes place continuously throughout the entire semester. The professors are very supportive and considerate of the students’ different academic backgrounds. At the beginning, I found it a bit difficult to understand exactly what the professors expected from us, but over time it became much clearer what aspects were most important. I can highly recommend the course Latin American Business and Politics, as it provides valuable insights into the history of the country you will be living in for the next six months. Furthermore, the course offers a broader overview of the political and economic situation in South America, which is especially helpful if you plan to travel around the region. Another one of my favorite courses was Dynamic Global Forces. In this class, students work on many real-life cases, which makes the learning experience very practical. The course often felt more like a group discussion than a traditional lecture. Professor André Bergoeing was an inspiring lecturer who had an impressive depth of knowledge about the subject. PS: the campus is amazing. You should take a look at the fotos online!

5. Every day life in the host country

Everyday life in Santiago is generally much more relaxed than in Vienna. I usually started my day at around 6 a.m. in order to get to the university, where classes began at 8:30 a.m. Most of the time, I had lectures until around 2 p.m. In the afternoons, I would either meet up with friends or work on university projects. I also signed up for ClassPass, which allowed me to try out many different kinds of sports and fitness classes. This was a great way to stay active and explore different studios around the city. During the weekends, we often went on trips or did hikes around Santiago. There is so much to see and do both within the city and in the surrounding areas that it is almost impossible to get bored. Every Wednesday there was an event called Miércoles Po, which is organized for international students. The event takes place in a different club every week and is a great opportunity to experience Santiago’s nightlife and meet other exchange students.

6. Testimonial

My exchange semester in Santiago was an unforgettable experience. I met amazing people from all over the world, lived with other exchange students, and experienced a completely new culture. Studying at the Universidad de los Andes gave me great insights into Latin American politics and business, while traveling and exploring the city made the semester even more special. Overall, it was a unique opportunity that I would highly recommend to other students.