EXCHANGE REPORT. Vienna University of Economics and Business

Transcription

1 EXCHANGE REPORT Vienna University of Economics and Business Kit Ying LEE Fall 2017

2 Table of Contents Part I Monthly Activity Log Part II General Exchange Information Part III Items to Bring Part IV Useful Links and Contacts... 11

3 Monthly Activity Log September 2017 I arrived Vienna on 4th September as I joined the Orientation and Cultural Program. There are few things to be done at the very beginning of my exchange journey. All students are required to register with one of the Registration Offices within 3 days of arrival in Austria. Students have to bring passport and registration form (Meldezettel), which will be given by OeaD when you are residence of one of their residence hall. October 2017 The semester started in October. I had three regular courses. This month was all about going to school and travelling. I went to Berlin, Rome and Venice by Flixbus. Flixbus is a cheap bus agency to go around different European countries. For Central Europe, StudentAgency bus is recommended. It offers hot drinks and video entertainment. (Usually more available seats than Flixbus)

4 November 2017 The only one block course started in November. It was quite tough for me to concentrate on a 4-hour night class but nice to have long break time. It took only 3-4 weeks for the whole course. I recommend exchange students may choose 1-2 block courses to have more spare time.

5 December 2017 All I have to do was doing revision and preparing for the presentation. The examination was usually held in the last session of the lecture. Basically, you will know the date of finishing all exams when you first register for the course. I went to Sweden right after my last presentation on 21/12, then started my half-month Northern Europe trip. J January 2018 After going to Budapest, Hallstatt and Prague, I went back to Vienna on 15/1. I spent the last few days to pack everything and visiting Vienna again before returning to Hong Kong on 20/1.

6 General Exchange Information Visa Procedure Students have to apply for Visa D for study duration of 3 up to 6 months, which is FREE of charge. J All documents mentioned have to be submitted in original and photocopy. Remember to submit the application IN PERSON at least 3 weeks prior to your planned departure. 1. Application form must be duly completed, signed and submitted in person 2. Two passport-photos 3. Valid passport 4. Hong Kong ID-Card 5. Hong Kong Student ID-Card 6. Birth certificate 7. Proof of sufficient financial means (living expenses in Austria around HKD 8000 per month) (Authorization letter is needed if the bank account belongs to your parent) 8. Proof of an existing scholarship program (if any) 9. Supporting letter from your university in Hong Kong 10. Letter of acceptance from the Austrian University or Austrian Students Exchange Program 11. Proof of proper accommodation during your time in Austria (e.g. rental contract) 12. Flight ticket (confirmed round trip) 13. Travel / medical insurance (minimum coverage is EUR 30000)

7 Orientation Activities There would be introducing the Orientation and Cultural Program in May. It took around 3 weeks, starting from the beginning of September. There would be day trips to city in Austria or sightseeing tours or barbecue. Participants would be assigned into different groups, so it is easy for you to meet other exchange students. It costed 250 which may not be a good deal for all. International Services & Activities The Erasmus Buddy Network (EBN) is a group of volunteering WU students who are trying to help incoming exchange students settling in their new home. At the EBN office we can get helpful information about Vienna, WU and the social life in Austria. Accommodations WU does not have on-campus housing, students can rent residence halls run by OeAD, the main housing provider for students in Austria. I lived in Gasgasse near Westbahnhof station. The monthly rent is 540 for my dorm. It is located near the city centre, and so there are a lot of shops such as supermarkets, restaurants and boutiques. It takes around 35 minutes from Gasgasse to the school by metro. Courses Registration WU students use LPIS for course registration. It takes place on a first come, first serve basis which is similar with UST, so it isn t a big deal for UST students J. Before the registration, you will receive for course sections. You can then check the syllabus and section for courses. Exchange students are allowed to register for courses worth maximum 36 ECTS plus one German Business Communication course. If you face any problems, you may simply contact Anna Roesch, the course coordinator, who is really nice and helpful.

8 Teaching & Assessment Methods At WU, most courses are taught in a seminar-like format, include several types of assessment and require active participation. Attendance is mandatory in all classes. Some course instructors may allow students to miss a small fraction of a course, but attendance of the first session of a course is absolutely mandatory. Make sure you can attend the first session before you register for it. There are also some block courses for exchange students. It would be only few sessions but each session would take longer, like 4 hours. Exchange students can take block courses to make your timetable better for travelling. Remember that the examination is usually held in last session. Professors in WU are super nice. J Sports & Recreation Facilities WU offers numerous sports activities on the campus, for example, fitness room, basketball court, ping pong table and aerobic room. Finance & Banking HKD (approximately) Flight ticket 7914 Accommodation (EUR 540*5= EUR ) Travelling expenses Living expenses Total Social Clubs and Networking Opportunities There are no student societies at WU. Exchange students may join EBN to meet new friends. Health and Safety

9 For non-emergency medical issues, students might see a general practitioner. In Austria, it is customary to see one before seeking specialist or hospital care. To search for a doctor in your area, you may use this website: Generally speaking, Vienna is one of the safest cities in the Europe. I recommend travelling in groups at night though. Food Dining out is way more expensive than cooking in dorm. I prefer buying ingredients from supermarkets nearby, like PennyMarket, Hofer and Billa. You can simply find cheap food ingredients in these stores. Transportation Students can buy student semester ticket in order to use the metro. Busses and tramways of the Wiener Linien (Vienna public transportation company). It costs 75 with main residence registration under age 26. You should bring completed application form, Valid WU student ID card/ Letter of Acceptance at Praterstern station and Confirmation of residence registration. Climate It was on average 20 degree Celsius in September but dropped to 0 degree Celsius in December. It was really dry and windy in winter. Be careful that the wind could be stronger than you expect, especially when it was raining too. Communication Austrians use German in daily lives but communication is not a problem for me in Vienna. Almost everyone can speak simple English. If you want to learn German, WU offers credit-bearing German business communication courses for exchange students.

10 Items to Bring - Passport - Adaptor - Power strip - WiFi router - LAN cable - Nomination letter - Letter of Acceptance - Accommodation proof - Umbrella/ Water-proof jacket - Slippers - Clothes

11 Useful Links and Contacts 1) WU's learning and communication platform 2) ÖBB 3) Austrian Consulate General