Motivation
My motivation for joining the University of Vienna's short-term January law program was to explore the European legal system and Austrian culture, and to learn more about international law issues. I was excited to study under the law professors at the University of Vienna, due to their experience in European international law and to engage in discussions with students from other countries. This experience has deepened my understanding of international law.
I also wanted to travel in Europe, and I thought Vienna would be a beautiful place to visit (and to see snow!). The short-term nature of the course appealed to me because it provided a university exchange experience with less commitment than a full semester abroad required, allowing me to use the course as a law elective without delaying my graduation.
Personal Development
I learned a bit of German and had the chance to explore so many incredible places with new friends! I visited the UN office in Vienna, went road tripping on weekends to Budapest and the mountainous regions in Austria, and went skating. I attended ballets and operas, took a day trip to the capital of Slovakia, and enjoyed hikes, museums, and of course, the amazing food (I really recommend trying Kaiserschmarrn!!). I also went shopping, took tours, celebrated with new friends, and visited different architectural buildings.
This experience really broadened my perspective, and I gained so much from it. It gave me a deeper appreciation for different cultures and languages. It gave me the opportunity to explore new places, and to deal with any difficulties that arose.
Professional Development
During my short-term experience, I developed several skills and attributes that I believe will benefit my professional growth and future employability. The program's intensive course structure and diverse participants helped me become more adaptable. I also improved my communication and public speaking skills through class discussions, committee simulations, practice moots, and presentations.
One of the challenges I faced was adjusting to a different academic system and managing the intensive course workload. I overcame these by staying organised, focusing on the content, and asking for help from other students whenever I was confused or needed guidance. These experiences have strengthened my ability to handle complex tasks and work effectively in different environments, which I believe will be valuable in my future career.
Funding
I can't say I used any specific budgeting techniques, but I did set myself a mental spending limit. Overall, not including flights, I definitely spent less than $5,000. See a quick breakdown of my expense categories:
Accommodation: I shared a furnished apartment with another UQ student, which helped lower costs. It was around $800-1000 for the month, including sheets, cooking utensils, and laundry. I know other students used student accommodation, hostels, or even luxury apartments.
Transport/travel: I bought a monthly transport pass on the Wien Mobil/Wiener Linien app in Vienna (around 30 euros) and mostly relied on public transportation. I ordered taxi/uber services a few times later in the night. Traveling to other cities was quite affordable, like 11 euros to Bratislava, though some trips (for example, 80 euros to Zurich) were more expensive.
Food: I bought groceries and cooked a lot of meals at the apartment to save money. And while I definitely still went out to restaurants and other amazing food places, this allowed me to allocate more funds for fun activities and travel.
Fun activities: A lot of places I wanted to visit—like museums, galleries and palaces—had entry fees (visiting these locations was definitely worth it to me, but keep in mind that not all may be open during the winter period)! I also recommend going skating at the Vienna Ice World/Wiener Eistraum and exploring different markets. The free walking tour was also incredibly valuable to me, and it only cost me a tip of 5-10. It deepened my understanding of Vienna's culture and history, making the city more memorable and impactful for me. For more cost-effective options, consider booking a free tour of the Austrian Parliament Building (aka Hohes Haus, it’s beautiful!), and I recommend taking advantage of the fact that multiple museums and exhibition venues are free on the first Sunday of every month!
In conclusion, my advice to future students is to research accommodation options early, check out shared apartments, use public transportation, cook your own meals, and (most importantly) make sure to leave room in your budget for fun activities. Enjoy yourself!
Advice/Top Tips
This experience was incredibly enjoyable. My advice is simple: just do it. I had so much fun, and the program was very flexible, allowing me to be in control and do what I wanted. I would recommend it to everyone I know. If you're considering this experience, maybe even think about traveling around Europe after you finish your exams at the University of Vienna.
I've shared many tips in my previous answers, but one mistake I made that you should avoid is not planning ahead for groceries. Shops sometimes close earlier than you'd expect, and some (for example, grocery stores) are closed on public holidays and Sundays. So, don’t wait until you have nothing left in your fridge and find yourself stuck with nowhere cheap to buy food. Plan your shopping accordingly, and you'll have a much smoother experience than I did!
Have fun!
