Erasmus experience in Vienna, Austria

Why did you choose to go to Austria?

I only had two other options than Vienna. One of them was Florence and the other one was a small town in Germany. I wanted to go to a big city for my Erasmus. Because of that I did not choose Germany. Since I was learning German already in Turkey, I wanted to improve my language skills, thus I chose Vienna.

How long does the grant last? How much money do you receive for help?

I stayed in Vienna for 5 months and I received 2500 euro in total. 500 euros monthly was not enough so I had to add 200-300 euro myself.

How is the student life like in Vienna?

To be honest, most of my friends were students coming from other cities of Austria and they were also getting used living in Vienna, because, as they say, it is a big city. Thus, they were struggling to cover basic needs. Other than that, people coming from other countries were living there like on holiday, of course, it depends on a person. There are benefits of going abroad as a student.

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

Of course I would. I have never met anyone who would not like it. Being the capital of culture and music and a central spot in Europe, makes Vienna very attractive. Also the proximity of Bratislava and Budapest where Ryanair and Wizzair fly to, makes it an appealing choice.

What is the food like?

I can't really say that I got into Vienna's cuisine. I usually spend less on food and keep the money for travelling. I preferred eating Turkish food as there is a large Turkish population present there; and frozen food.

Was it difficult to find accommodation in Vienna?

There was a document within my acceptance documents related to accommodation in Vienna. I booked a room for 600 euros deposit from www.housing.oead.at beforehand. My room was ready as I arrived there. I took my deposit back when I left.

How much does it cost to live in Vienna?

Dormitory prices vary between 200-400 euros. Room for two that I stayed in costed 215 euros monthly. About daily expenses, you will not be cooking at home during your first month of stay, so the first month may cost you a little more. Of course, alcohol is not included. As alcoholo is not that expensive, you may spend around 50-60 euros on alcohol monthly.

Is the language easy to get to grips with? Are there language courses available at the University?

There were two separate courses throughout the semester. It costed 250 euros. I haven't participated in the courses as I was able to communicate in German. You don't need to speak the language perfectly, it is enough if you know enough that you can improve it further from there.

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Vienna from your city?

There are flights from Istanbul and Izmir. Also you can use connected flights through Condor or Germanwings. It makes more sense to use direct flights at first. Otherwise you can use Wizzair to Budapest and then a bus to Vienna. From Europe you can find cheaper flights from Bratislava with Ryanair.

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Vienna?

Praterdome, Flex, TravelShack, Derwisch Cafe, Tunnel.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Karlsplatz, Schloss Schönbrunn, Stephansplatz, Hundertwasserhaus, any museum and historical sites around Innere Stadt.