Exchange Report

The application process strongly differs depending on the professor with which you have the interview with. I was lucky and just had a 10 minute online call where I got asked general questions on why I want to do an Erasmus semester, which factors I considered choosing the country or if I have already experience in living abroad. So no direct questions on why this University or which courses I want to take - but this depends strongly on which prof you talk to! - a friend of mine applied for the same university and had a group interview with questions on why this university, why this country etc. So do a bit of research of the country and uni beforehand to be prepared.

I rented an apartment through spotahome and lived there with 2 other girls from Vienna. The process was easy and we had no problems with the platform. Rent was around 450 without electricity and internet. We lived pretty close to the metro station Amistat which was perfect for the uni (just a 15 min walk) and just 15 min with the metro to the city center - can strongly recommend because it's also really save. Valencia in general is really save and the people are out late. I would look for apartments early to get a good one for a good price! Would recommend getting a heating with your apartment, cause it gets really cold in the apartments compared to the outside temperature!

The teaching style in valencia differs from the one in Vienna - each course you have is split up between theory and practice. At practice you need to be present and theory not - but this depends strongly on the professor which is teaching the course! You get a lot of points in the practice classes, which get added to your exam points, so I would recommend saying something/working in the class. The Campus is good, 2 cafeterias and the prices are not expensive. Some professor don't speak English that good and it can be hard in the beginning to concentrate on what they say and what they want to explain to you. Assignments are graded late, and you won't find out what grade you got until the end, unless you make an appointment with the professor. Personally I like the teaching style in Vienna more

Public transport can be unreliable (the buses!), for the metro you often wait 10-15 minutes for the next one to come. I would recommend buying the valenbisi (app with which you can bike around the city for just 30 euros for one year. I got the suma card which I need to recharge every 10 rides but there is also the mobiles card which is cheaper, but you need to make an appointment somewhere to get it (I haven't done it so I don't know how the exact process is). Valencia is really save and I have never felt unsafe. Malvarossa should be more unsafe with "bad people" but the center and the barrios like Amistat and Aragon are really save. You can do a lot in your free time! From surfing and sport classes to coffees and parties. I can recommend getting class pass for doing pilates, yoga etc. for cheap money! Also the sport courses from uni are cheap (but wouldn't recommend pilates) There are a lot of cute coffees with cheap drinks and good food! Ruzafa has cool bars and smaller clubs (a lot of young people). Happy Erasmus, Erasmus Valencia, ESN and Valencia Language Exchange organize a lot of different activities where you meet other international people and go on cool trips - look for them on instagram! In general you find a lot of tips and hidden gems on instagram and TikTok.

Valencia is definitely one of the best cities you could live in - cozy, warm, chill and (almost) always sunny! The citizens of Valencia are friendly and open and I'm so grateful for the people I met there. You can do so much activities in the city it still feels not overwhelming. Can definitely recommend doing Erasmus there, fell in love with the city!