Field of study in Wageningen: Landscape Architecture and Spatial Planning
Study period exchange: 21/09/2019 until 04/02/2019
Country (exchange): Austra
City (exchange): Vienna
University (exchange): Boku Wien
Faculty (exchange): Landscape Planning
2. Motivation for exchange
Why did you choose to go on study exchange?
- Improve my language
- Another environment around me
- Meeting new people
- Time for myself
What is the reason you chose for this country/university?
- Improving of my German language
- Living in an city with 1500000+ million people
- The history and design of the city
3. Accessibility to reach destination
Do you have any tips to reach your exchange destination?
The metro system is very good in Vienna. To reach Vienna, the train is very nice and if booked on time a cheaper, more sustainable alternative for flying.
4. University and studying
Could you provide some general information about the followed courses?
How is the study formalized?
The academic level was lower than I was used to have at the Wageningen University. The workload of some courses is defiantly lower. The examination has more flexibility then in Wageningen with the possibility to choose for more moments for an exam. Articles and papers are mostly printed and given to the students.
What is the culture of the university?
In comparison with what i heard from the ‘German culture’ were the teachers very approachable and open for discussions and extra questions. The possibility to play American Football for the university was very nice. I learned to know 40 local students pure on that alone and really became part of the team. I still have contact with them, and am planning to visit them in a couple of months. The culture around team sports is way less in the universities in the Netherlands.
What does the university offer the student additionally?
The university offers almost everything you would expect from an university. Only the long distance urgency for a room like we have in Wageningen was something which was difficult (although I came in an very good place) for me, and also for a lot of other exchange students.
5.Housing-travelling-living
What are the possibilities for housing?
BOKU does not give any rooms for students from outside the country. There are a lot of rooms available on the private market, but there are scammers active, so really look up if the offer looks realistic and never transfer money before you can have an look at it.
What is the culture of the country like?
- All supermarkets are closed on Sunday.
- People are more closed then in the Netherlands.
- Political differences are more extreme, but more accepting for each other, and open for debate.
- It could be really cold in the winter.
Could you give a general price indication of the place of residence compared to living in Wageningen?
- Living is more expansive, especially fruits, vegetables and vegetarian food. Meat is not cheaper, but much more available. For an flexitarian I accepted that eating more meat made my life easier.
- Accommodation is also more expensive, but relatively cheap if you compare it to an metropole city.
Could you give some information about public transport infrastructure?
Very good! Semester ticket for 75 euro and an student can use all the systems for an half year. Especially the metros are good. In the weekends is everything 24 hours available’.
6. Free time
What are must-sees in the area?
- I stayed in Vienna most of the time due to I’ve been a lot in Austria.
- Skiing is absolutely something someone should do in Austria.
What does not appear in the travel guide, but is worth a visit?
- Ice hockey games
- Concerts in Gasometer
7. Challenges & best moment abroad
What was a challenge you have experienced?
Leaving everything behind that you have in your home country. I have an busy social life at home and missed sometimes those activities and the people a lot. I had more spare time and less social responsibilities. Although I made some good friends in Austria and got to learn a lot of people, but I missed home sometimes.
What was your best memory abroad?
Volunteering with the American football team from the university running an bar for an sports event, and watching the game in a full stadium. Going out in Vienna for the whole night. All was achieved in German!
8. Contact details
Would you like to ask Robin more questions about his exchange?
Send him a mail: Robin.oe@wur.nl