Want to learn what it’s like to study abroad in Hungary? We recently caught up with Leah from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, a business administration and finance double major who studied abroad in Budapest during her spring semester.
Discover how Leah’s study abroad experience with AIFS Abroad allowed her to advance her degree and become more open-minded.
Deciding Where & When to Study Abroad
With all of AIFS Abroad’s amazing program destinations around the world, choosing just one can be a challenge. For Leah, being able to travel easily and having access to a world-class business curriculum made Budapest an excellent choice:
“I knew I wanted to go to Europe, and after discussing programs with my advisor at school, I landed on Budapest right away. It is a much cheaper city to live in than most European capitals, and knowing I wanted to do a lot of traveling on the weekends, it was important that my day-to-day life was not going to break the bank. I also loved how central it is in Europe… It is very easy to get to so many different countries via plane, train, and bus. Lastly, being a junior, I finished most of my elective courses already and knew I needed to take some of my business and finance classes abroad. After seeing Corvinus University’s syllabi, I knew it would be the right fit for me, so I wouldn’t get behind in my academics.”
When to study abroad is another important decision—and whether you choose a semester or a short-term program as an underclassman or upperclassman (or both!) will depend largely on your personal and academic preferences. It was academic and climate considerations that led Leah to study abroad in Budapest during the spring semester:
“I mainly chose to study abroad in the spring semester because it lined up well with my academics back home. I also do not like winter that much, and I knew that the weather would only get warmer as the semester went on, and I would be able to travel to beachy places. Being in Budapest during the spring is [truly] special. There are a lot of parks here that I go to and study at, tons of outdoor cafes and restaurants to enjoy, and beautiful flowers that bloom all throughout the city, which I love. As the weather got warmer, the city filled up more, and I was able to be more social.”
Train Travel with the Eurail Pass
Some AIFS Abroad programs in Europe have offered a free Eurail Pass to students who apply early. The Eurail Pass provides unlimited train travel during a set period—offering easy access to an international rail network spanning over 30 European countries. For students studying abroad in Europe who want to travel, it’s a hugely valuable perk, as Leah explains:
“I got the Eurail Pass through AIFS, and it definitely had a huge impact on my study abroad experience. It is very easy to use and made travel very accessible in many countries. I was able to travel every weekend while abroad, and having the Eurail Pass made me commit to more trips because of how spontaneous you can be with it and because of the price. Traveling by train also made me more aware of sustainable travel… I also enjoyed soaking in all the amazing views that you cannot get on a plane. Going through Tuscany and the Swiss Alps are some sights I will never forget from my train window.”
University Experience
Studying abroad offers access to unique academic experiences that often complement your learning from your home university. Students immerse themselves in a completely new campus and academic environment, get to learn from professors with fresh perspectives and diverse knowledge on subject matter, and interact with other students from across the U.S. and around the world. At Corvinus University of Budapest—which is both AACSB and AMBA-accredited—Leah was able to enroll in a number of courses related directly to her finance and business administration majors:
“I attended Corvinus University of Budapest and had a great experience with it. I mainly appreciated the strong finance and economics focus because that is what I am majoring in, so the courses felt really relevant to my studies. Furthermore, most of my classes included students from all over, not just Europe, but parts of Asia and the Americas as well. To add to this point, most of my classes had more group projects than exams throughout the semester, so they gave me a chance to meet people from all different cultures and backgrounds and share ideas with them.”
In addition to her collaborative coursework, Leah was able to make new friends during extracurricular activities held by her host university:
“Outside of academics, the school has an amazing student network that hosts events and career-building workshops weekly. There was a career fair and thesis workshop one week, and during the first week, I attended student-led tours around campus and historical parts of the city, where I met some of my really good friends.”
Language Learning
While you don’t need to be fluent in a second language to study abroad, many students choose to take foreign language courses to immerse themselves more deeply in the local culture and community. Hear Leah describe her experience adjusting to the Hungarian language in Budapest:
“Before coming to Hungary, I did a little research on basic terms (yes, no, please, thank you, hello, goodbye), but being in a big touristy city, most places you go (stores, coffee shops, restaurants) speak English. I also knew that I would be taking a [Hungarian language] class while abroad, so I was relying on that for the most part, and it has helped a lot. After being in a place for a little while, you pick up all the basic phrases, and you can start using them more confidently. Do not let language hold you back—especially if you are going to a big European city.”
Cultural Appreciation
Adjusting to life in a new country comes with its surprises, but like many students, the culture shock was manageable and passed quickly for Leah:
“I did experience some culture shock when I first got here, but it was mainly in the small, everyday differences… but I was able to adapt fast… Some of the things that I struggled with when I first got here, like reading signs in Hungarian and navigating public transportation, seem so natural to me now.”
One of the biggest adjustments for Leah was learning to slow down. Coming from a fast-paced environment back home, Budapest’s unhurried culture took some getting used to:
“At home, there is such a ‘go, go, go’ mentality and everything seems so fast-paced compared to Europe… I consider myself a workaholic, and after having a slower change of pace for four months, I hope that I can implement this in my life back home… I want to continue to be more intentional with my thoughts and actions once I come back home.”
Leah found so much to love about the culture in Budapest, but her favorite thing was the city’s cafe culture, which perfectly embodied its unrushed rhythm:
“My favorite cultural experience while abroad was the cafe culture. I was able to visit many different and cute cafes across Budapest and try all kinds of drinks and pastries while studying, chatting with friends, or reading a book. I loved how no one is ever in a rush and how they are true social spaces for collaboration to happen. This helped me understand how culture can be expressed through everyday habits, and I will always remember to slow down and appreciate little things after learning about the cafe culture here.”
Housing
Housing is included in all AIFS Abroad programs. Leah lived in a student dorm, which was conveniently located and fully equipped with everything she needed:
“I live in a student dorm that is a 20-minute walk or two easy stops on the tram from class. The layout is a direct roommate (mine is also an AIFS student), but we have a private bathroom, mini fridge, and tons of storage. There is a shared kitchen on each floor stocked with all the dishes you could need and free washers and dryers for laundry as well. There are plenty of common study rooms in my building, including outdoor tables, which I love. Every week, our sheets get changed for us, so that is one less thing to think about, too!”
Making Friends Abroad
Are you interested in studying abroad, but feel worried about going alone? Don’t let that be the reason you miss out! Tons of AIFS Abroad students go on one of our programs without knowing anyone in advance—and with all of our included activities and excursions, there are countless opportunities to make friends during your time abroad, as Leah did:
“Before coming here, I did not know anyone else who was going to be here… This was intimidating at first, but… making friends came naturally. For the most part, I hang out with other AIFS students because our schedules are similar, and we have group activities where we have grown close. I have also grabbed coffee with other students in my classes and met students studying in other cities while traveling… All study abroad students are in the same boat, and you will find more commonalities than you think if you just branch out a little.”
AIFS Abroad Activities & Excursions
Not only are AIFS Abroad trips and excursions excellent opportunities to make friends, but they also offer unique cultural experiences that make your time abroad truly special. Hear Leah describe some of her favorite AIFS Abroad social and cultural activities in Budapest:
“Before classes started, AIFS hosted a Hungarian language workshop and a food tour. These were very helpful in learning a lot about the culture in Hungary. The language course gave us simple terms that were helpful, and the food tour guide was very informative, even beyond the food that we tried. We were able to try Hungarian meats and cheeses and traditional Lángos. He also gave us a lot of activities to do throughout the city and just some norms to be aware of.”
In addition to exploring Budapest through the included events and activities, Leah attended trips and excursions that allowed her to travel to other parts of Hungary and beyond:
“Halfway through the semester, we did a program trip to Vienna, Austria. We had dinner at a traditional restaurant the first night we got there and then had a tour of the city the next day. After the tour, we had some more free time to explore before the final day, where we did a tour of one of the famous palaces. It was very nice that this was set up for me because I was able to learn about Vienna and get close with the other AIFS students in my group.
We also had a trip to Lake Balaton in Hungary, which I particularly enjoyed because I was able to learn about a different part of Hungary and enjoy the lake activities with my program at the end of the semester abroad. It was such a different vibe than Budapest, and it was very cool to see how different the country can be when you are outside of the major city.”
Growth Abroad
Like Leah, students who study abroad with AIFS Abroad consistently emphasize how much they grew during their program—not only academically, but personally and professionally, too:
“Personally, I became much more independent and adaptable while abroad. Having to figure out day-to-day life in another country was hard at first, but it became natural by the end of it. I grew more confident in myself and my knowledge as the semester went on, and after visiting over 20 countries, I was able to be more open-minded about the way people live in different places in the world.
Academically, I got a more global perspective in the business field. Being with students and professors from all different backgrounds and hearing their opinions and ideas made my education feel more relevant in the real world. I was also able to learn how cultures and global markets intersect.
Professionally, my goals of potentially working in an international business were solidified.There is a whole world out there with tons of people, and if we just keep to ourselves all the time, we will never learn anything. I hope that I can have opportunities that involve cross-cultural collaboration in my future career, and this experience gave me a great foundation to do so.”
Are you ready to take the leap and study abroad like Leah did in Budapest with AIFS Abroad? 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 come packed with valuable inclusions (which really take the stress out of planning!), such as housing, trips and excursions, comprehensive insurance, social and cultural activities, 24/7 emergency support, on-site staff, and more. With AIFS Abroad, you can go abroad with confidence—knowing you’ll have trusted support no matter what.
