Eager to follow in the footsteps of a college student who studied abroad in Austria? We recently caught up with Austin, an information systems and music double major from the University of Arkansas, who spent his summer studying abroad in Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart!
Read on to learn more about Austin’s experience with AIFS Abroad and what it’s like studying abroad in Salzburg, Austria.
Choosing a Study Abroad Destination & Term
With so many exciting international destinations available with AIFS Abroad, it’s not always easy to pick just one! As Austin explained, he had several reasons for choosing to study abroad in Salzburg:
“Though I have a list of reasons why Salzburg, Austria, was right for me, I felt a strong pull toward the region’s music culture, the opportunity to practice speaking German, and its beautiful mountainous landscape. Salzburg’s strong public transportation and walkability were also major deciding factors for me. Whether I was just commuting to class or heading out with friends to a lake an hour away, the bus was always reliable and made traveling throughout the city a breeze. I would recommend this program to anyone who loves the outdoors, music, and taking mid-day breaks to enjoy a coffee and a pastry in a beautiful baroque city!”
With study abroad programs offered in every season, AIFS Abroad participants can choose to go abroad when it’s convenient for them—whether it’s a full semester or a short-term program like a summer term. Thanks to great weather and plenty of activities during the season, Austin discovered that summer is a great time to study abroad in Austria:
“I chose the four-week summer term to study abroad. The climate in this region is fairly mild, so the weather allowed for plenty of outdoor activities, hikes, and outdoor concerts. Summer tended to bring people from all over, so the city was alive at all times of the day… There were fairs/carnivals, outdoor food markets, and historic car races.”
Academics Abroad
AIFS Abroad Global Education Centers (GECs) are academic hubs located around the world that offer site-oriented curricula with immersive learning experiences and center-based support. Hear Austin describe his experience taking courses at the GEC in Salzburg:
“I studied at the AIFS Global Education Center. All my classes were taught by AIFS faculty, and my classes were only with others in the same program, so it made it easy to do group projects or find someone to reach out to if I needed help… Most of my classes were small, allowing for easier discussion and a better professor/student relationship.”
For someone learning the German language, studying in Austria was an awesome opportunity to practice his speaking skills—in and outside the classroom:
“I really enjoyed the German language course I took, as I was able to use what I was learning in class to practice outside of class. Unlike in Austria, where you can immediately practice German outside of class, in the U.S., it’s not as easy to step out of a German class and use the language in everyday places like a coffee shop. My professor would then encourage us to ask questions about the language at the beginning of each class, where I could clarify something that I heard while talking to a local.”
Language Learning
Although language learning is always encouraged, you’re not required to know another language or take any language classes to study abroad. However, every program is different, so make sure you choose the one that fits your language preferences. While Austin did take German classes in Austria, he explained that you could easily get around the country with just English:
“While it was beneficial to know some (A1 level) of the German language before traveling to Austria, I would say it is by no means necessary to know German in advance. Most of the students in my program had not taken any German language classes, but most signs/menus/important information were also provided in English. Austria’s English proficiency is very high, so many locals know the English language, especially in the younger generation.”
As Austin discovered, locals often appreciate even small efforts to speak their language, which gave him the confidence to practice German without worrying about making mistakes:
“Because I did travel knowing some of the local language, I took advantage of my time there to practice simple interactions at coffee shops and bakeries, where I knew the questions likely to be asked and how to respond. Though I was nervous at first, I realized that the locals appreciated hearing someone from another country even attempt speaking German, so I practiced whenever I could! As I got more comfortable, it started to feel natural to answer questions in German, even if at some point I had to ask for the translation in English.”
Housing
Housing is included in all AIFS Abroad programs—so you can live safely and comfortably abroad, no matter where you go. Austin’s dorm in Salzburg was located near the city center, with plenty to do just outside his door:
“During my time abroad, I stayed in a student housing building near the center of town. In my accommodation, I stayed with two other roommates and had a communal kitchen where we could cook food. We had a private bathroom just for us three, so there was never any issue with needing to wait for the bathroom. I liked the location…as it was very central to the main city and within a short bus ride of the Global Education Center. The dorm building was very close to various grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants, and clothing stores, so everything I needed was always within short walking distance.”
Making Friends Abroad
Whether you go solo like Austin or study abroad with friends from home, you’ll have tons of opportunities to make friends during your study abroad program. As he explains, Austin became close with a number of people in his program:
“Because I traveled completely alone, it was important for me to be open to meeting new friends. I knew these were the people I would be spending my time with while I was abroad, so I made sure to take time to meet everyone in the program… I grew to be close friends with many people in my program.”
AIFS Abroad Activities & Excursions
AIFS Abroad programs include various trips and activities that deepen your understanding of your host country’s culture; plus, they’re a great opportunity to go on guided tours and weekend trips, all while you connect with fellow participants. Austin made the most of his time abroad by going on all of the AIFS Abroad excursions and activities:
“I pretty much attended every single social event and excursion that was offered by AIFS, which is something I would recommend. Most, if not all, were completely free and gave me access to tours, hikes, and travel outside of the city. Many excursions allowed us to experience the local culture, like pastry tasting and apple strudel making, so those were memorable and allowed us not just to learn about the culture but also to spend time with friends in the program.
During our included excursion to Vienna, a group of friends and I planned a trip to go see the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra perform in the gardens of Schönbrunn Palace, where the orchestra’s once-a-year free summer night concert was being held, which typically attracts over 80,000 people!”
As Austin mentioned, the vast majority of AIFS Abroad trips and activities are included in the price of the program! However, some programs offer other optional excursions for an extra fee, as Austin explains:
“The Salzburg program offered one excursion for an extra fee, which was a day trip to Innsbruck, Austria. I decided to go on this trip since all the travel and tours were included in the cost. This trip was important to me since I was able to see not just a different part of Austria directly in the Alpine mountains but also explore how the culture differs from region to region.”
Weekend Trips
When you’re not in class or enjoying activities or excursions, you’ll still have plenty of free time during your study abroad program to relax, explore the city on your own, or take some weekend trips to travel to other countries. Since Austria is in the heart of Europe, it makes traveling to other countries, like Italy, very convenient:
“One of my most memorable weekend trips was when I took a train to Bolzano, Italy, a northern city in the Alps, for a 2-night solo trip. The trip was so enjoyable because I was able to visit museums, castles, and try the local food on a completely unplanned trip. There was something so liberating about knowing that I could navigate a completely foreign city by myself and have fun doing so.”
Fitness & Wellness Abroad
Gym enthusiasts will be happy to learn that you don’t have to sacrifice your physique to study abroad! Many college campuses offer well-equipped gyms and fitness centers that allow you to maintain (or start!) a healthy fitness regimen. Plus, Austin found that Salzburg, like many European cities, is extremely walkable, allowing him to stay active throughout the day:, allowing him to stay active throughout the day:
“There was a very well-equipped gym on one of the college campuses in Salzburg, so I was usually able to visit the gym two or three times per week. I walked a lot more than I usually do in the U.S., so that helped me stay active as well.”
Why AIFS Abroad?
There are many reasons to choose AIFS Abroad—our on-site support staff and inclusive programs that offer housing, trips, and social and cultural activities (to name just a few!). What really made AIFS Abroad stand out to Austin is our large catalogue of program options that meet a variety of both personal and academic needs:
“I chose AIFS to study abroad because of their wide range of options in academics and travel while abroad. It can be overwhelming to choose a program and location to study abroad since there are so many options. But with AIFS, I was able to choose a location that fit my specific needs for an academic program.”
You can’t mention AIFS Abroad without also talking about our amazing on-site support staff! Who, as Austin explains, were there as soon as he arrived at his new home in Salzburg:
“My most memorable AIFS support moment was when I arrived to start my program, since that was the part I was most nervous about. As soon as I arrived at my housing accommodation, there was an AIFS faculty member standing outside ready to greet me and walk me through my time abroad, so I felt comfortable right from the start… There was a sense of comfort that came with knowing I was in the right place, and I was beginning my time abroad feeling well supported.”
Are you ready to take the leap and study abroad like Austin did in Salzburg? We’d love to help you start your journey!
Here at AIFS Abroad, we know a thing or two about helping college students study abroad. Our programs are incredibly inclusive, which takes a lot of the stress out of planning. From coordinating your housing to providing things like cultural and social activities, excursions, comprehensive insurance, 24/7 emergency support, on-site staff, and more, you’ll take comfort in knowing you’ll have support throughout your entire experience abroad.
