My Erasmus Experience in Vienna, Austria - by Alba

Why did you choose to go to Vienna, Austria?

I wanted to go somewhere German-speaking and the University of Veterinary Science in Vienna is considered the best in Europe.

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

The exchange lasted for nine months and I received around 150 to 200 euros per month (clearly insufficient for living in a city like Vienna, and with the recent cutbacks I suspect that like everything else this scholarship has been reduced).

What's the student life like in Vienna?

The student life is really good, there are lots of universities there and therefore a lot of Erasmus exchange students. The students there are very well-educated, but also a bit distanced and it's hard to really make friends with any of them. The most friendly ones are those who did their Erasmus in Spain.

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

The city is fantastic, offering lots of leisure and culture activities every day. There's always something you haven't visited yet and new things to discover.

In terms of the university, they weren't that organised with me and I had some problems because of this. Also, the person in charge of Erasmus students there was very strict. There weren't that many internships available, probably because of their lack of organisation, but I really enjoyed them. The groups were smaller than they are in my faculty at home and you really notice this.

What's the food like in Vienna?

Food isn't Austria's strong point. There are no fish or butchers shops, apart from Turkish butchers, instead there are just supermarkets. The fish is always frozen and costs a bomb, as does fruit. They don't have a very varied diet here.

Their desserts like Sachertorte or Apfelstrudel are among others the best Austrian dishes. The coffee is very tasty, but also very expensive.

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

I didn't, but I recommend you search yourself and avoid companies like OeAD, since the accommodation they offer is more expensive than when you just get in contact with the student residences by yourself. If you're looking for a flat, the location isn't very important since the public transport system is very good, although personally I would say that the Florsidorf district isn't the best.

How expensive is life in Vienna?

It always depends on the type of life you want to lead, but I think spending less than 700 euros per month is difficult.

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

The language is a huge barrier since the people here don't speak so-called 'High' standard German, but instead the Austrian dialect. It makes you question what the use was in going to all those German classes, but you pick some things up bit by bit.

Unfortunately my university didn't offer any German courses for Erasmus students, since they presumed we could already speak the language perfectly.

What's the cheapest way of getting to Vienna from your home city?

By plane. There are no budget airlines which fly to Vienna from Madrid, although Iberia used to offer discounts to Erasmus students, though I'm not sure whether they still do. You can fly directly from Barcelona with Vueling, who offer cheap flights. It's never cheap travelling to Vienna, though. Sometimes it's even better to fly to Budapest or Bratislava and get a bus to Vienna from there.

What are the best places for partying in Vienna?

The places the Erasmus students usually go to tend to be the cheapest and where you'll find a good atmosphere every day. I was there two years ago though, and things may have changed since then.

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

Eating out in Vienna?! Better do it at home! Hehehe. My favourite place of all was a Japanese restaurant on Karlsplatz, but I don't remember the name of it.

What does Vienna have to offer in terms of culture?

Everything you could possibly want. Museums, monuments, parks, mountains, lakes, the opera, the Musikverein and a very large 'etcetera'. It's all worth seeing, and I think the cultural sights are the very best thing about the city.

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

Travel a lot, since Austria is in the centre of Europe and in living there you have a unique opportunity to visit eastern countries, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and Italy.

Drink a few beers at the Museums Quartier on a warm evening, visit the enormous Prater park, the Danube, which is wonderful when the nice weather arrives, and all the places of interest which they advertise at the tourist information centre, since I can tell you that they're definitely worth seeing.

You won't miss out on partying by sight-seeing, either, as there's time for everything and although the Austrians are a bit closed-off, they're actually nice people.

Good luck on your Erasmus adventure, you won't regret a second of it!