Details

• Poland
• MACEMS-17
• Graduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 3 months

1. Preparation

Since I am a third-country national, I began my visa application process early in June. The process itself was straightforward, and everything went smoothly. Due to the visa requirements, I also started searching for accommodation early on, beginning in June as well. I ended up taking over the apartment of a Polish student who was going on exchange during the same semester, which turned out to be a great decision. I traveled to Warsaw by FlixBus, as it was both an affordable option and aligned with green travel considerations.

2. Accommodation

As mentioned earlier, I started looking for accommodation quite early. Initially, I explored various housing platforms, but since the CEMS semester is shorter than a typical semester, it was difficult to find options available only until December. Therefore, I reached out in the CEMS group chat and arranged to take over the apartment of a Polish CEMS student who was going on exchange during the same period. I lived in Praga-Południe, which is a bit far from the university (around one hour by bus). However, the area was modern, safe, and well connected to different parts of Warsaw.

3. Academic life at host university

The SGH campus consists of several buildings; however, most of my courses were held in Building S, which is modern and features a nice cafeteria. I can highly recommend two courses: FinTech and Commerce Startups with Mastercard and Commercial Due Diligence for Private Equity in collaboration with Bain & Company. Both courses were highly practice-oriented and engaging. The corporate partners as well as the instructors were motivated and contributed significantly to the learning experience. Overall, I would say that the teaching style is similar to that at WU Vienna.

5. Every day life in the host country

Public transport in Warsaw is very well connected and reliable, making it easy to get around the city. I would also recommend using the Veturilo app to rent bikes. They are very affordable, and the city’s infrastructure allows for safe and convenient cycling. Overall, I would say that Warsaw is one of the safest cities I have experienced so far. In terms of social life, Warsaw has plenty to offer. The city is known for its excellent food scene, a beautiful city center and great museums, nice coffee shops, and vibrant nightlife. Overall, it’s a very dynamic and enjoyable city to live in.

6. Testimonial

My exchange was an incredibly rewarding experience, especially because of the practice-oriented courses with CEMS corporate partners. I also really enjoyed discovering Warsaw’s food scene - I tried so many great places and cafés. Moreover, one of my favorite parts was biking through the city with Veturilo, which made everyday life both easy and fun. Overall, it was a perfect balance between learning and exploring the city.