Details

• Great Britain & N.Ireland
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• SoSe 2026
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

I’d recommend looking for accommodation well in advance, since the UK is currently facing a housing crisis. I booked my student dorm through Unite Students because the University of Strathclyde on-campus residences were already full. I flew from Vienna to Glasgow via Amsterdam.

2. Accommodation

I had difficulties finding accommodation because most student dorms were either too expensive or only offered contracts for six months, while I only needed a place for four months. After a long search, I finally found a student residence run by Unite Students, located about 10 minutes away from the University of Strathclyde campus. I lived in a shared flat with three other roommates, with whom I shared a kitchen and living room, while having my own bathroom. You could tell that the building was somewhat run-down, but my room and the kitchen were completely fine, and I always felt safe there. One thing to keep in mind is that you have to buy everything yourself, from bedding to kitchen equipment, and you are not allowed to leave these items behind after your stay. Therefore, I would recommend buying such things second-hand, as there are many charity shops in Glasgow

3. Academic life at host university

The campus of the University of Strathclyde is located about 10 minutes away from the city centre of Glasgow. It is quite large and consists of many different buildings. Most of them are modern and newly renovated, although a few are somewhat run-down. There is also a large modern gym on campus, which I used frequently during my stay. I took the courses “Introduction to Marketing and Entrepreneurship” and “Managing Services and Experiences,” each worth 10 ECTS credits. Even though both courses were relatively large, the workload was lower compared to WU. I did not have any final exams; instead, the assessment consisted of assignments throughout the semester, such as presentations and essays. Because there were no final exams, I was able to finish all my university work before spring break in early April. The courses were divided into lectures and tutorials. Lectures did not require attendance, while tutorials did, but they were only one to two hours long and generally very relaxed. Overall, the communication with the university staff was informal and uncomplicated.

5. Every day life in the host country

I really loved Glasgow. It is a lively and open-minded city with some of the friendliest people I have ever met. I felt safe at all times during my stay. Glasgow is also a very walkable city, although from time to time I used the subway or the bus, with which I only had good experiences. I also had a gym membership at the University of Strathclyde gym, which cost around 130 euros per semester and which I used frequently. I especially enjoyed the included sports classes, which ranged from yoga to Hyrox. Another highlight was the weekly pub quiz organized by the university every Monday, which was a great way to meet new people and spend time with friends.

6. Testimonial

Before my semester abroad, I had some doubts because Glasgow was not one of my top preferences and I did not know much about Scotland beforehand. In the end, my expectations were completely exceeded. I fell in love with the city and its people and made many good friends during my stay. Even though I was aware of the weather conditions in Scotland, I did not expect them to be quite so challenging. The constant rain and the lack of sunshine were things I sometimes struggled with. However, from April onwards the weather improved, and we had some really beautiful sunny days.