Exchange Report

Try to be very specific about why you chose the specific universities and in general, just show that you thought a lot about your exchange semester and that you are well-prepared (especially for your the universities you placed at the top). Try to prepare for your semester as soon as possible (e.g. housing, booking the travel to the host country, ...). Reach out to students who went to the university before for tips.

I lived in a shared flat with three other students in the district Retiro, in the neighborhood Ibiza. I really liked the area, especially the Parque de Retiro, and felt really safe there. The only downside was that it took a bit more than one hour by metro and train to reach the university, as uc3m is a bit south of downtown Madrid. A lot of exchange students also chose to live near to the city centre, but be prepared to commute daily to the university. From the ones staying in the university-owned dormitories near the campus in Getafe I heard mixed things, mainly that they are quite expensive. I think in the end it comes down to personal preference on what is best to choose.

The uc3m campus is a bit older and not as nice compared to WU, but e.g. I still liked the two university libraries in Getafe. I would say that the academic culture and teaching style are quite similar to WU, the main difference is that in each subject you have two classes per week, one lecture and one practice part, although in reality, there wasn't really that much of a difference between them. If you choose courses that are offerend in English, be aware that the majority of your colleagues will also be exchange students, especially if you choose ones that are classified as electives.

The public transport in Madrid is amazing and only costs 10 euros/month for young people. As Madrid is directly in the centre of Spain, it is really easy to travel to every major Spanish city by high-speed train (e.g. Madrid-Barcelona in 3 hours). If you buy an Interrail pass or travel with some of the cheaper train providers like Ouigo or Iryo it is very affordable. As Madrid is a very big city like Vienna, it offers something for everyone, from partying to arts, ...

I really enjoyed my stay in Madrid and can totally recommend the city for an exchange semester. I made great memories and friends and was able to grow a lot as a person. Just remember that it is completely normal that there will be times during your exchange where you feel a bit down or homesick, but, in my opinion, almost every exchange student deals with these problems. Especially in the beginning it can be a bit hard to adjust to the life in a new city without family/friends, but every exchange student around you will feel the same way, so just really try to connect with a lot of them.