Exchange Report

When applying for an exchange semester it is important to choose a university that you will genuinly enjoy. Factors such as location, language and the activities availible should be essential to your decision. I would advise to look not only at the courses offered, but also at sports clubs, student life and otehr extraczrricular opportunities. This preperation is not only good for you but will also help you in the interview process,a s it allows you to show your motivation and show that your choices are well thought through. Knowing specific details also helps demonstrate genuine interest and will make your application more convincing and stronger overall.

I stayed on campus in a shared house with 4 other students. Overall, this was a good choice, as it allowed me to fully experience campus life, which is quite different from what many students are used to at WU. One thing I didn't know befoer is taht typically, local students only live on campus in first year and then get shared accomodation with friends in the city. So I ended up living with 3 Freshers and 1 other exchange student, whcih was fun because we got along, however the age difference was a bit of a struggle sometimes. I do however definitly recomment living on campus becasue it is much easier to meet people and you never feel alone because you have your housemates. It was also very practival becasue i didnt have to go far for my lectures and there was a small supermarkt, pharmany, restaurants and a bar on campus. Travelling into the city took a little longer than expected, whcih was a little inconvenient when going out in the evenign but it always worked out.

Academic life was well organised and I received a lot of guidance from them. Courses are typically structured in modules consisting of a lecture and a corresponding seminar and the students there normally take 4 modules a term, I was allowed to take 5 with a letter from WU. I was given some time at the start of term to also change my modules and the staff were very helpful and understanding and the business school. The lectures cover theoretical content, similar to our LV structure, while seminars focus on practice questions and discussions related to the lecture material. Assessment was generally a mix of exams, group work and essays. Compared to WU, there are necessary pre-readings to the seminars and lectures and therefore the overall structure of learning and assessment is a little different, but on similar difficulty levels.

Everyday life at University of Sussex was generally well organised, though somewhat different from what many students may be used to in Vienna. The campus is located slightly outside the city of Brighton, which created a more secluded environment with a lovely countryside. On the one hand, this was pleasant, as it gave the campus a strong community feel. On the other hand, it sometimes felt a bit disconnected from the city. Public transport connections were mostly reliable, however it happened to me a couple of times that trains were cancelled short notice . A bus connects the campus to the city centre in around 30 minutes, while the train takes approximately 10 minutes. As the campus is relatively large, reaching the train station could take some time depending on one’s accommodation, although certain bus lines also run through campus. I felt safe both on campus and in the city throughout my stay. Since I lived on campus, I spent less time in the city despite Brighton offering a wide range of cafés, restaurants, bars, shops, and a beach. One limitation of campus life was the availability of shopping options, as there is only a small supermarket on campus, which is more expensive. For larger grocery shops, travelling by bus was necessary, although delivery services were also widely used. Make sure to carry your ID, beacuse the often ask to seem them even to just enter a pub. Social life at Sussex is largely centred around student societies, which are an important part of university life in England and very unique. Joining societies is one of the main ways to socialise, as they regularly organise weekly activities and themed evenings. I joined the swim team and business society, but there are societies covering a wide range of interests. However, I must warn of possible dares associated with entering societies, but no one is forced to do anything. The university also organises an extensive Freshers’ Week, which provides an accessible way to meet people. In addition, the train connection to London is efficient, making day trips possible.

My exchange experience was very special, as it allowed me to immerse myself in a completely different academic and social environment. Experiencing campus life and student societies was particularly memorable and very different from what I was used to. The semester went by incredibly fast, and I already miss the English coast, with its cliffs, wild sea, and a classic Sunday roast.