Study Abroad and Domestic Study Away

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.