Life in Vienna (gap year) : discover Auriane's experience

On my side, everything is going very well!

As for the classes, they are very interesting. 

The approach is different from TSE; economics and econometrics are less quantitative, which is a good complement to what I learned during the Eco-MIASHS bachelor's degree. You can choose your classes and schedules, allowing for a personalized timetable. Moreover, there are significantly fewer class hours (about 2 hours per subject per week), giving me plenty of free time to work independently. The platform providing access to all documents (Vienna's Moodle) is very practical, and the professors are attentive and available. Expectations for each subject are clearly stated. In summary, everything is going very well in terms of education at WU.

The campus is truly impressive, brand new, and very modern. There are plenty of places to study, eat, or just chat with friends. The campus is right next to a huge park, which is really pleasant, and also very close to the city center. In summary, the setting is really great (perhaps just missing Place Saint Pierre). University life is very active; there is an association on campus specifically for Erasmus students (EBN: Erasmus Buddy Network). They organize various activities such as hikes, trips to nearby major cities, and of course, parties! The association is very responsive via messages and genuinely helps with any problems that may arise, even if they don't directly relate to the university. Additionally, all exchange students have a buddy. Mine is really great; she helped me with all the administrative tasks upon my arrival and even picked me up at the airport on the first day.

If I had to mention a negative point, perhaps the fact that there is no sports association in the university. You have to manage on your own if you want to participate, which I find unfortunate. There is a specific department, but it is common to all universities in Vienna. Depending on the activities, you may have to go to a different campus. Vienna being a quite large city, it's not always ideal.

Regarding housing, it is true that I spent a lot of time finding it. I would say you have to start early because it's not easy. Rents are higher than in Toulouse but still reasonable. Personally, I share an apartment with two girls also on Erasmus, and it's going great. Shared living is a very good way to meet new people and pay less for accommodation.

In conclusion, I would say that Vienna is a very pleasant city to live in. Public transportation is incredible; you can quickly cross the entire city. It's a city rich in culture, with many fantastic places to visit. Vienna is also very close to many other major cities (Prague, Bratislava, Krakow...), allowing for affordable travel throughout Europe.

That's it for the beginning of my experience!

Auriane ROBERT

M1 Gap Year - L3 ECONOMIE DD E-MIASHS in 22/23

auriane.robert@ut-capitole.fr