Exchange Report

For a smooth application process it would be very wise to read the Study internationally website very wisely, as you will find all the information and deadlines there. Other than that, its important to keep an open mind on where you want to go. Preparing for the semester abroad is mostly about finding an apartment and preparing the OLA.

The accommodation search for me was very easy. There's a few possible housing websites, if you want to live in a private shared flat, like I did. I chose it through Pepehousing, which offers student housing in all of Poland, it was a very smooth and safe process. My flat was located in the west of the city, it was 20 minutes by public transport to get to the university. I could have lived closer to the university, but I wanted to live in this particular apartment because it's very cozy. A lot of other students from my university lived closer, but Krakow isn't that big of a city, it is very unlikely to have a really long public transport ride.

The campus infrastructure was really nice, all the buildings were quite close and there even was a swimming pool on campus. Also there was a Café at which we would drink a coffee in-between lectures, which was always very lively. The teaching is different, as I am used to smaller, more interactive classes at WU, in Krakow it was more people and participation wasn't really encouraged. Also I would say that the workload for one ECTS is generally less than at WU.

The public transport in the city is very well organized and cheap. Trams and Busses drive quite frequently. Although, I also walked a lot instead of taking public transport, as the city isn't that big. I always felt very safe and I was walking home alone at night a lot of times. Nothing ever happened and I didn't hear so from anyone else. The ESN is very active at UEK there were parties planned multiple times a month and also other trips to other parts of Poland. It is very easy to get in contact with other Erasmus students, both at university and in bars or cafés (the city is full of students). As I said there was a swimming pool on campus and also there was a weekly free sports event for Erasmus students.

What really made my stay special was the people I met during my time in Krakow. I have to say I didn't really connect with the people at UEK but I made a lot of other friends who were also doing Erasmus at other universities in the city. Krakow offers the perfect setting with all of its bars, clubs and short distances and its many universities of course there's always a lot of people around. Something to keep in mind is the cold. I have never experienced a winter like this (and I grew up in Vienna). I think the city has even more to offer in Summer as all the cafés/bars have beautiful outside sitting areas, but it was also very cozy in winter.