My Erasmus Experience in Graz, Austria - by Irene

Why did you choose to go to Graz, Austria?

It was pure destiny, because initially I wanted to go to an English-speaking destination. Since places in these destinations were limited, I did look at alternatives such as places in Germany, but of course it was difficult when I didn’t know any German. I then started finding the idea of Austria very attractive, and the truth is that I don’t regret my decision in the slightest. Even though Graz isn’t the capital, it combines medium-sized city activities with high standard of living perfectly.

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How long did your scholarship last? How much were you paid?

My exchange lasted for nine months (from September to July), but at the end you always feel like you haven’t had enough time and that you would have loved to stay longer. The amount of money you receive depends on the autonomous community you come from. As always, the students from the southern communities receive more money than those from the north. I received money from the EU and from the University of Zaragoza, which totalled 230 euros per month. I’ll be honest here: if you don’t have savings of your own or financial support from your parents, you won’t be able to come here, since the grant money is nowhere near enough to live on every month.

What’s the student life like in Graz?

Graz is an excellent city for students. The atmosphere is great, and there are loads of halls of residences and university campuses, meaning that you can find lots of varied cheap places to eat, grab a coffee, go out for drinks with friends or, of course, go partying.

Would you recommend the city and the University of Graz to other students?

Definitely. The city’s very welcoming and beautiful. The architecture of the streets and churches envelops you in the Austrian air of riches, and there are lots of corners of the city to discover. In terms of the university, there are lots of campuses and they organise lots of events. Student organisations organise some really fun trips. The professors and teachers at the university are understanding, and almost all of them speak perfect English and make allowances for you as an Erasmus student.

What’s the food like in Graz?

All the food is very German: all served on one plate and with rice, potatoes or pasta. The food is filling, but tasty, and always always served with some kind of sauce.

Did you find it hard to find somewhere to live in Graz?

No. There’s an organisation called Öeadd which allocates rooms in the halls of residences to Erasmus students (since the other halls have places only for Austrians). The only downside is that you have to pay a 700 euro deposit to reserve a space there, though you do get it back at the end of your stay if you haven’t damaged the room.

How expensive is living in Graz?

In my case, the residence I lived in was new (built two years ago) and I paid 320 euros a month for a large 20m square individual room in a flat shared with three other people. We shared the kitchen and the bathroom. Everything was very new, and there was a common room area too.

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How are you finding the language? Have you signed up to a language course at the university?

The language is a bit hard. I didn’t know any German before I came, but the Austrian accent is very different. Almost all the young people about speak English, but in supermarkets, banks and places of administration, they’re a bit more unwilling to.

I signed up for a class at the university language centre (called Treffpunktsprache, and you have to be really on the ball to get a place on the course since they sell like hot cakes) and it was really good. I did an intensive course in February and later went to German oral classes amongst others. In the end, after a lot of effort, I reach level B2.

What’s the cheapest way of getting to Graz from your home city?

I’m from Zaragoza, so I could use the Boarding Pass Erasmus student discount with Iberia airlines and get cheap tickets. Two years ago when I did my Erasmus, a return flight from Madrid to Vienna with two 23kg suitcases on both trips cost me 120 euros. I had to get to Madrid on the bus from Zaragoza, fly to Vienna from there and then get the train from Vienna to Graz, which cost around 25 euros.

What are the best places for partying in Graz?

I’m not sure how much has changed in the last two years, but the Elisabethstrasse area (or the Univiertel - the uni district) were the best places to go out to. Kottulinsky is great (a club famous for its dance, chart and house music, but they play cheese party music on Wednesdays, which is fantastic). In the same street, there’s the Three Monkeys, SheinBar, and in the middle the Office Pub (where they host Stammtisch on Wednesdays, basically a bar meet-up where all the Erasmus students meet to drink beers and have fun).

Further away, there are two clubs where they throw lots of ESN (Erasmus organisation) parties. There are called Postgarage and PPC.

What about eating out in Graz? What are your favourite places?

There are loads of pizza, pasta and hamburgers chains…which are all very cheap. Bierbaron is a great chain. There’s also an Italian restaurant on a small square (Don Camilo) where the food is delicious, and the Glockspiele area is full of traditional Austrian restaurants which are all very welcoming.

What does Graz have to offer in terms of culture?

There are lots of churches you can visit, and the opera is worth an evening out. The shopping centre was named a cultural heritage site, and you should climb the Schlossberg and visit the Kunsthaus. The city has an Old Town which was named a historial heritage site. The city’s outskirts are also lovely, as are the ski zones which surround it.

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Do you have any advice for future students coming to Graz?

Don’t hesitate - get yourself and your suitcase to Graz, because it’s a very charming city with loads to discover, and you’ll love it here. I’d go back there again for sure.