Erasmus Experience in Vienna, Austria

Why did you choose to go to Vienna, Austria?

There were several reasons for my decision. First of all, the fact that I wanted to develop my knowledge of the German language, which naturally led me to choose between Vienna and a German city. Then there were great references from people who had already done an Erasmus exchange there, who told me (which came to be confirmed) that it is a spectacular city, which combines tradition with the modernity of a big city. On the other hand, the college where I studied (WU Wien) is internationally renowned, has an enriched curriculum, has many English language courses, good teachers, but does not demand too much studying (I have always had time to enjoy myself and travel, as you would want in an exchange semester). Finally, Vienna’s location is excellent, one hour from Bratislava and 3 or 4 from Prague and Budapest, Munich is also not far...

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

The amount in the grant was dependent on the duration of the semester (4 months), in a single payment instead of monthly ones. I think it was €1, 250 or €1, 500.

What is the student environment like in Vienna?

It is very good on all levels. For those who are used to a university that is considered small by international standards (New University), having 400 Erasmus students each year in Vienna is in fact a completely different experience, which engenders a truly international experience. The Student Association is very dynamic and is constantly organising activities, from parties to trips (I went with them to Prague, Budapest, Venice, and I could have gone to Krakow... ). There could maybe have been a better link between Erasmus and Austrian students, but this problem occurs in any university. One of the things I found most curious was that the largest foreign student community was, at least that semester, the Americans.

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

Without doubt. There are other good alternatives in Europe, but I think Vienna is one of the best choices: apart from the reasons I mentioned in the first question, the city (and country in general) is really beautiful, with lots of museums and concerts; the public transport is frequent and punctual, the people are really nice, etc. Of course, it also has, in my opinion, some weaknesses: the food, mentioned in the following question; the language is difficult for those who do not have a knowledge of German (but as the Erasmus community is great, you can get away with speaking only English, and many Austrians speak it well too); There is a lot of bureaucracy in everything, and at the university in particular (inscriptions on courses are sometimes complicated, there are no vacancies, etc. ).

How about the country's food?

Honestly, it is not the strongest point in the country... for those who come from Mediterranean countries, you will find the gastronomy poor. It's all based around sausages, apple pie, pancakes ("Wiener Schnitzel"), some food of Turkish or Hungarian influence ("goulash"), and little else.

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How did you find accommodation?

The WU Wien University, through its International Office, sends you a list of residences and you make your choice, naturally subject to the vacancies of each one.

How are the prices of accommodation? And the prices in general?

I would say that the prices are generally a bit higher than those in Lisbon. I paid €380 for the room in the residence (Haus Döbling) which was bad value for money, there were much better residences in this aspect, like the Haus Erasmus, Panorama, etc. Mine was good only because of the location, because it only took 5 minutes to walk to college.

How is the language? Did you attend a language course at the University?

I already knew some German, which I wanted to improve, but not enough to take Economics (my degree) or Management in that language. So what I did was to attend two German courses, one normal (as in a language school) and the other a "Business German" course, in which we learned German oriented in a way for business.

What is the most economical way to get to Vienna from your city?

I think that the cheapest way is with SkyEurope direct to Vienna, or to make two low cost flights (e. g. to Barcelona or Paris and then to Vienna). To be honest, carrying your bags is a bit tricky if you don’t go direct... at the time (2007) SkyEurope still did not fly direct from Lisbon to Vienna and so I went for TAP, it was around 250 or 300 euros one way (watch out for the costs of overweight bags, which in TAP are very high). There is another alternative, which is to fly from Porto-Bratislava with Ryanair.

Where would you recommend for a night out in Vienna?

In Vienna the Mariahilferstrasser and the Neubaugasse are the most similar places to the Bairro Alto (in Lisbon), regarding the restaurants and bars. Leopold Coffee has music every day, with different styles. In terms of nightclubs I remember Flex, the largest in the city (it's an old subway gallery), and the place we went every Monday night because we got discounts for being WU students (I can’t remember the name).

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And eating out in Vienna? Can you name your favorite sites?

Like any Erasmus exchange, meals were mostly cooked in the residence or in the college canteen (good quality and very varied). However, we really enjoyed going to the Centimeter (where you get huge portions of meat), eating a Sacher Torte (probably the best chocolate cake in the world) at the Sacher Museum, or going to a typical Gasthaus, where you drink good wine, but I no longer remember their names. And then we also often ate kebabs, which are sold on every street corner - it's very good but it’s not very healthy to eat it too often... Finally there is an open-air market (the Naschmarkt) where you can buy anything, it’s definitely worth it for anyone who lives close.

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And in terms of cultural visits?

There are plenty of places to visit, with the great advantage that most of them are concentrated inside the “Ring” (a long, ring-shaped street): the Opera, the Hofburg Palace, Stephansdom (the cathedral), the Stadtpark (city park), the Albertina Art Museum, the Museum of Historical Art and the Museum of Natural History, the National Theatre, the Sissi Museum, the Spanish Riding School; Then outside the Ring there is the Schoenbrunn palace and gardens, the Belvedere galleries a little further, Hundertwasser's house, the Quartier Museums, among others.

Although they aren’t related to culture but to walking, the woods and mountains around Vienna (west of the city, I think) are fantastic.

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Do you have any advice you would like to give to future students in Vienna?

Beyond the obvious - enjoy yourself, have fun and good luck! I would like to give you some practical advice:

For those who are going to WU (I do not know how it is in other colleges), take advantage of the 2 week integration programme that the university organises for foreign students before classes start, it costs no more than 100, 150 Euros and is a great opportunity with trips and activities that allow Erasmus students to get to know each other and to feel adapted from the start.

Now for any student who goes to Vienna - also take advantage of the special pass for Austrian railway network, which allows you to travel on Saturdays, at a low price, all over the country. It is ideal for spending a day in Salzburg, Linz, etc., without even having to stay the night.

If you want to go to the Opera, which is expensive, go 30 minutes before you start - many of the tickets end up being returned or there are last minute tickets (standing), which can be bought at a 50% discount. Another expensive but worthwhile programme is to go by boat to Bratislava (it takes about an hour).

Finally, most museums have a certain day of the week when tickets are free, you can take advantage of that.

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