Details

• United States of America
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• SoSe 2026
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months
• Contact: Login to see contact information

1. Preparation

The preparation for my semester abroad at UF was quite time-consuming. First, I had to “apply” directly to the university again by uploading documents and filling out various forms and questionnaires. It took a really long time for these documents to be processed, and only then did I receive the paperwork needed to apply for my visa. The U.S. visa process was also quite time-consuming and involved a lot of questionaires and paperwork. I arranged my flights and accommodation before I had my visa in order to save money, and I would definitely recommend doing the same. Another tip from me: book flights directly to Gainesville. I flew to and from Orlando, but the public transportation between the two cities is very poor, and I even had to stay overnight in a hostel in Orlando. In my opinion, it makes much more sense to pay a bit extra for flights directly to Gainesville and save yourself both money and stress in the long run.

2. Accommodation

I lived at University Commons, which I booked in advance by contacting the leasing managers over the website. Information about whether you will receive student housing is usually provided quite late (around three weeks before the semester starts). That was too risky for me to wait for, which is why I decided to go with University Commons instead. At University Commons, I lived in an apartment with three other girls, and they were all very nice. I had my own bedroom, while we shared the kitchen and bathroom. I paid around 650 USD per month, which is considered a good price for Gainesville. The only downside was the distance to the business school (it took about 20 minutes by bus) as well as the distance to Midtown and Downtown. Getting home after spending the evening at the bars there could take quite a while. Despite that, I would still choose to live there again. The complex is very green and pleasant, and there is also a pool where I spent (more or less) studying. ;)

3. Academic life at host university

The UF campus is huge and offers countless facilities. There are at least five libraries (my favorite was Library West) as well as many restaurants and cafés on campus. There are also two large gyms where students can attend sports classes for free. In addition, UF offers many sports facilities and clubs for almost every sport imaginable. I did not see many of the university buildings, but the business school is especially beautiful inside and has bright, modern classrooms. The teaching style is quite different compared to WU. Professors expect much more participation and genuinely want students to learn and engage with the material. There are also office hours where you can talk privately with professors, not only about university-related topics but also about career advice and similar subjects. If you still prefer courses with less mandatory attendance and participation, I would recommend Principles of Marketing and Principles of Management. They are structured similarly to the LVP courses at WU. All lectures can be watched online, and the exams are also held online.

5. Every day life in the host country

Public transportation in Gainesville is very poor. The buses are often unreliable and do not run late in the evening. I used the app Navigator to track the buses, which helped me a lot since I depended on them because I lived farther away from campus. In general, public transportation in the U.S. is not very good, and for longer trips it definitely makes sense to rent a car. Overall, I always felt relatively safe in Gainesville and in the U.S., but of course there are certain areas that should be avoided, and especially as a girl you should be a bit more careful at night. One really great service offered by UF was the free night taxi service called UF SNAP for students. It operated around the campus area after 8 p.m., so there was always a safe way to get home. The sports opportunities at UF are huge. UF is one of the biggest sports schools in the U.S., so you should definitely take advantage of everything they offer. I especially enjoyed the free fitness classes at the gyms, such as yogalates, pilates, and cycling. I also played a lot of tennis. Students could use the tennis courts for free and even borrow rackets at no cost.

6. Testimonial

My time in Florida was one of the best experiences of my life. Of course, the beginning wasn’t always easy, but once you settle in and fully embrace the American lifestyle, you’ll have an unforgettable time. I learned so many new things, went on amazing trips, and met incredible people along the way. Overall, I can highly recommend it, and if you ever get the chance to study at the University of Florida, absolutely go for it!!