Exchange Report

Mexico City was my second choice; for the colleague who came along, it was his fifth—so I think it’s not hard to get in. If there are any concerns about the language: the professors were very accommodating and also allowed us to take the exams in English even in Spanish-taught courses.

We were recommended accommodations by the university, and I chose one of them (Casa Luna). I can highly recommend Casa Luna. Out of our group of friends, my place was by far the nicest, especially in terms of value for money. All of these accommodations were within walking distance of the university, which is very practical because traffic in CDMX is intense and getting around can often take a long time. The San Ángel neighborhood is very nice, but rather quiet. If you know from the start that you don’t plan to spend much time at the university and you’re only taking a few courses, I’d recommend living in Roma instead. But if you have to go to campus often, you’ll spend a lot of time commuting. The “rental agreements” usually state that you have to pay penalties if you break something, throw parties, etc. We were all unsure about that, but in the end all the landlords were very friendly and accommodating (also regarding visitors and having people over, as long as you don’t overdo it).

The university has a very nice campus and offers a range of sports activities (basketball, tennis, salsa, etc.) for free. There are good cafés and restaurants right in front of the university. The professors were all very kind and helpful, and they were very mindful of making sure exchange students could pass the courses as well. However, course registration was quite complicated, and when I had questions, I had to wait a long time for responses.

The metro and Metrobus are great, and—even though Mexicans don’t recommend it—I can only encourage you to use public transport. It’s very cheap and you don’t get stuck in traffic. The fact that people at ITAM rarely use public transport, in my opinion, has nothing to do with safety but rather with social segregation. Until nightfall you can use the metro, Metrobus, and Cablebús (in the common neighborhoods) without any problems. In the evening it’s better to be with someone, and after 9–10 pm it’s always better to take an Uber. In general, after 10 pm don’t walk around alone anymore, order an Uber or Didi (a cheaper Mexican ride-hailing app). Other than that, CDMX has a ton to offer. Especially in Roma and Condesa there are an incredible number of great restaurants, bars, and clubs. You definitely won’t be bored. I also traveled as much as possible. I always felt safe there as well. But of course you should stick to reasonably touristy routes and not take any unnecessary risks.

The exchange has been such an awesome and exciting time. Mexico is an insanely fascinating and beautiful country, culturally and in terms of landscapes and marine life. I have made so many inspiring connections and made friendships for life. Honestly, I can only recommend doing the exchange in CDMX!