“Studying abroad has been my dream for many years, but I could have never imagined how incredible it would be! I have grown so much in confidence, independence, openness and empathy. Living in a new country pushed me out my comfort zone and made me realize I was capable of so much more than I thought. I am so immensely grateful to have had the opportunity to study in Austria and I would highly recommend to anyone considering it.”
Studying in Austria
My experience studying in Austria was enriching, eye opening, and a time of great growth. It was so exciting to come to a new country and learn about the culture while continuing my studies. I had the incredible opportunity to meet other Austrian students but also other international students and form such great connections. I didn’t know much about Austria before coming to study but by the end of my semester I had gained such a deep appreciation for the country.
Broadening one’s horizon
I studied Innovation and Management in Tourism at FH Salzburg which was a great way for me to broaden my perspective and learn about how tourism is conducted in different places around the world. My time abroad will be a huge asset to my future career as I will have better understanding of different cultures and experience working in multicultural environments. The international coordinators at FH Salzburg made me feel so welcome and helped my transition to Austria go very smoothly. In my first week of arrival, we had a welcome week where they gave us all the important information we would need about our semester and also organized a bunch of fun activities to learn about Austria and meet other students. My favorite activity was when we went on a group hike to Gollinger Wasserfall and got to spend some time exploring around the beautiful countryside and mountains.
From teaching line dancing to yodelling
I enjoyed many fun activities throughout my semester including hikes in the beautiful alps, ice skating, a city tour, international dinners, and a yodelling workshop! Each activity taught me a new aspect of Austrian culture and helped me meet so many new people. I also had the unique opportunity to teach line dancing workshops during my semester thanks to my incredible international coordinator. She saw me teaching my friends some dances and invited me to teach workshops for the rest of the school. I had never done anything like that before, but it was such a positive experience and I loved getting to share an aspect of my culture with the Austrian students. I gained so much confidence in teaching and public speaking and had a lot of fun with it too.
Gaining independence
There were many things that made my stay in Austria unforgettable. Exploring the incredible nature in Salzburg was one of the biggest highlights for me. I was in constant awe of my surroundings and felt so grateful to get to be surrounded by such beautiful nature. Additionally, the independence I gained through my semester is something I will always appreciate. I felt so safe in Austria, and this gave me the confidence to go out and do things on my own that I might not otherwise. Lastly, I would have to say the opportunities I had during my semester were truly what made my stay unforgettable. Having the opportunity to travel to so many countries, meet so many people from around the world, and teach dance to others were so incredible and added so much to my experience in Austria.
Have an open mind!
My tips for others planning on studying in Austria are 1) Have an open mind – things are going to be very different from your home university but try your best to be curious about the new culture rather than comparing it to your back home. 2) Get involved in as many activities as you can – take advantage of all that is offered to you and try out as many activities as you can even if it is outside of your comfort zone. 3) Talk to many different people – the people you meet during your semester are truly what makes it so memorable. Take the opportunity to talk to people from different countries and learn firsthand about their culture!
The Ernst Mach Grant for studying at an Austrian university of applied sciences
OeAD was a huge support throughout my semester, particularly in providing accommodation and the financial support through the Ernst Mach scholarship. The scholarship allowed me really be present to my semester in Austria because I was not worried about working or providing for myself financially. Because of the scholarship, I was also able to travel to many different countries throughout my semester and see so much more of Europe. All the OeAD staff were so helpful and made me feel very supported during my stay. Studying in Austria was the most incredible experience of my life, and I am so grateful to OeAD for making it possible!
CV
Rachel Ziebart has won an Ernst Mach Grant for studying at an Austrian university of applied sciences and has done her exchange semester at the University of Applied Sciences Salzburg (FH Salzburg) in the summer term 2024. She has completed a Business Management Diploma and is now working on a degree in tourism at the Thompson Rivers University in British Columbia.
Find Rachel's profile on the OeAD map here
