Study Abroad and Domestic Study Away

Notes from Abroad: Rijad in Austria

Green tram in Graz
June 27, 2025
Rijad Calkic '26

Rijad Calkic '26, a computer science and economics double major, studied abroad this past semester at

Greetings from Graz! I’ve now been here for 5 months studying at TU Graz, and it’s been an incredible experience. As I am approaching the end of the study abroad program, I start to remember all the amazing things I got to do and see in Austria. 

Graz is a beautiful city that has over 60000 students. The Old Town looks like it came straight from a fairy tale, filled with cozy cafes and restaurants. Outside of the Old Town, Graz is a modern city with world-class public transport, dozens of unbelievable parks, virtually unlimited bike lanes, and great architecture. 

Studying at TU Graz has been both challenging and rewarding. The classes are taught in a very hands-on, practical way, and I’ve had the chance to work on projects that are different from what I’m used to. 

Outside of classes, I’ve been traveling around Styria, and I visited the neighboring country, Slovenia. With one of my friends, I embarked on a biking trip to Maribor, a charming city in Slovenia, around 60 miles from Graz. This was one of my favorite experiences during my study abroad. We got to bike for two days for 7+ hours and to enjoy the beautiful nature and amazing biking infrastructure in both Austria and Slovenia.  

Another interesting trip I would like to mention is a ski trip organized by the exchange student organization at TU Graz. There, I got to try out my skiing skills on a beautiful mountain called Kreischberg.  

Other than travelling, I spent countless hours with my friends playing beach volleyball, ping pong, pool, or just going for a hike on one of Graz's slopes. 

I’ve learned how to navigate a new city, deal with language barriers, and make the most of unfamiliar situations. I’m grateful for this opportunity and would recommend studying abroad to anyone considering it. 

Cabin in the Austrian mountains