Exchange Report

University: University of Antwerp
Country: Belgium
Semester: SoSe 2026
Duration of stay: 5 months
Level: Bachelor level (undergraduate)
Degree program: Bachelor's Degree Program in Business, Economics and Social Sciences / BW
Contact: Login to see contact information

1. Preparation

You can reach Antwerp by train or plane (fly to Brussels or Amsterdam airport). I think from Vienna it's best to fly to Brussels as train or car takes very long.

2. Accommodation

I got my student dorm in a student residence via the university. They send out an email where you can apply for a spot in one of the residences. It was one minute away from the city campus where all the business lectures are held. I always felt safe, as a lot of students live in the area. I think student dorms are the most common accommodation type in Antwerp. I would look for housing near the Stadtcampus, because from my experience most exchange students lived there. If you live close you also don't really need public transport.

3. Academic life at host university

The offer in courses in English was very limited and more economics focused than business. The teaching style is similar, but exams often make out at least 70 percent of the grade. All the exams are at the end of the semester. I found the courses harder than in Vienna, but a reason for that is probably that I had to take a lot of advanced economics courses and I was missing foundations. It is from what I have heard also very hard to get the highest points. Every course is 20 points.

4. Cost of living in €

Number of months at the partner university (Count from the orientation session to your last exam.)

Preparation before departure (e.g., insurance, vaccinations, visa, university fees)

Travel to/from the host destination (round trip)

Accommodation (rent, utilities)

Everyday living (groceries, local transport, phone, basic expenses)

Monthly living costs (includes accommodation and everyday life expenses)

Monthly living costs in host country compared to those in Austria

Total cost of living for complete stay in €

Student received a mobility grant administered by WU (e.g. Erasmus+, WU Mobility Grant, CEEPUS)

Yes No

Grant type

Other grants received

5. Everyday life

Antwerp is a small but nice city. It is very walkable and if you live in the center you don't have to use public transport. I always felt save, but I was only in the city center so I can't say something about the other areas. There is not that much to do in Antwerp in terms of sightseeing but it is very nice for cafes, bars, cycling and shopping. Also trips to Paris, Amsterdam, London, Gent and other cities are fast and cheap. The location is great. The university offers sportsticker where you can go to volleyball, pilates, Zumba, swimming, etc. offered from the university to a very fair price. Public transport to other cities in Belgium is very cheap.

6. Exchange semester in a nutshell

I really enjoyed it to live so close to all my friends and experience a different kind of student life where you can just walk to your friends, as in Vienna distances are bigger. My highlights were my trips to Amsterdam for Kings day, Paris and to the sea. I just liked the daily life as well with running, trying out new cafes and bars and going vintage shopping.

Back to list