Details

• Argentina
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

Application was via a motivation metter and an interview in my case with someone from the language institute. I didn't really prepare for the interview, but I think it is good to think about different questions the interviewer may ask beforehand so you are confident while speaking. In terms of preparation, I advise to start early with the visa process (UTDT gives you a lot of guidelines for that & has a good international office where you can always ask if you ade unsure). I booked a one way plane ticket well beforehand which I was very glad with, since flight prices increased rapidly and like this I was flexible with bow long I wanted to stay in Latin America.

2. Accommodation

UTDT doesn´t offer student housing, but there is a lot of appartments available in the city. I connected to my roommates via the UTDT exchange Whatsapp channel, and we looked over AirBnB. We did that around two month in advance, but I also know people who did it later or even once they were there (though I wouldn`t recommend that since it can get very stressful). I lived in Palermo Soho, which is an amazing neighbourhood and the with Palermo Hollywood the choice most students make. The area is safe, there are a lot of bars, cafés,... and well connected (it takes around 30-45 min from Palermo to get to university by bus). Apart from that the areas Recoleta, Belgrano, Villa Crespo are also good, though Belgrano (where the university is) is more quiet than the others. Tips: Since there are not as many appartments listed on AirBnB it can also be good to find a realtor - I have fiends who did that, and they were happy with their accommodation. There also is the BA housing plan with big houses for 10-12 students. If you are very social and don´t mind a bit of chaos - this may be interesting, but I think you really have to be the type of person for it. If you do find an appartment over AirBnB I would recommend you to make a contract without AirBnB once you are in Buenos Aires and are happy with the appartment. Like that you have the advantages from AirBnB when you book it, but it will be less expensive once you are settled in.

3. Academic life at host university

UTDT is a very pretty university with a lot of amenities. There is a big rooftop terrace, sport classes, a shuttle service to the metro, and multiple affordable lunch spots. Regarding the classes, there is compulsory attandence in the classes (80%), but most teachers are very relaxed with that. The teaching style is less formal and more personal compared to WU. Depending on the class of course the teachers really value debating with students and no lecture styled class. But the course load is very doable, and I didn´t spend a lot of time studying. Course recommendations: - Foundations of Happiness - super easy class, the teacher is the sweetest person ever - you do have to participate during class - Political economy in Latin America - more challenging class - but if you are interested in the political history of Latin America this class is very interesting & the teacher & tutor are very nice as well.

5. Every day life in the host country

Buenos Aires is a huge city that’s well connected through public transport, though the bus system especially is more chaotic than in Vienna and I needed some time to get used to it. Safety especially in areas like Palermo, Recoleta,… is very good. Of course in crowded places or while going out I would still be careful with valuables, but in general I felt safe. Buenos Aires had a lot to offer leisure wise, from run clubs (I can recommend Midnight Runners), over parties and clubs, to house races and polo games - it never gets boring!

6. Testimonial

I loved my exchange and would encourage everyone who wants to gain new experiences in an exiting city to do it! Buenos Aires is the perfect starting point to travel Latin America, and the city itself has so much to offer. I also only had good experiences with UTDT and the courses are easy enough that you can make the most out of the time there (that passes way too quickly regardless). If you are debating on doing it: DO IT!