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Home , Graz

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN EAU CLAIRE

CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION

Study Abroad

GRAZ,

2021

Program Guide TABLE OF CONTENTS Packing Tips ...... 11 Weather ...... 11 Academics ...... 5 Clothing...... 11 Pre-departure Planning ...... 5 Getting to Austria ...... 11 Pre-Semester Intensive German Course ...... 5 Travel Arrangements ...... 11 Registration in Graz ...... 5 Buying a Changeable Ticket ...... 12 Reporting Your Registration ...... 5 Getting to Uni Graz ...... 12 Syllabi and Academic Work ...... 5 Settling In ...... 12 UG & UWEC Transcripts ...... 6 Orientation ...... 12 Language Immersion Requirement ...... 6 On-Site Support ...... 13 Austrian Academic System ...... 6 Local Transportation ...... 13 Money Matters ...... 8 Getting Involved ...... 13 Cost Estimate ...... 8 Buddies ...... 13 Exchange Explanation ...... 8 Roommates ...... 13 Housing Costs ...... 8 Tandem Partner ...... 13 Housing Deposit ...... 8 Erasmus Student Network ...... 14 Rent Payment/Money on Arrival ...... 8 University Sport Institute ...... 14 Common Payment Methods ...... 8 Musical Options ...... 14 Currency Exchange ...... 9 Activities/Events ...... 14 Cost of Living ...... 9 Past Participant Tips: Getting Involved ...... 14 Scholarships ...... 9 Housing...... 14 Health & Safety ...... 9 Living Situation ...... 14 Centers for Disease Control ...... 9 What's Provided? ...... 15 Austrian Student Health Insurance ...... 9 Meals: Cooking at Home ...... 15 Tick-Borne Encephalitis ...... 9 Meals: Eating out ...... 15 Medical & Counseling Services ...... 9 Communication ...... 16 Services for Students with Disabilities ...... 10 Time Difference ...... 16 Safety in Austria ...... 10 Computer Access on Campus ...... 16 Emergency Contacts ...... 10 Printing on Campus ...... 16 911 Equivalent in Austria ...... 10 Telephone Information ...... 16 Required Documents...... 10 Calling from the U.S ...... 16 Visa/Residence Permit ...... 10 Snail Mail ...... 17 Immigration Process After Arrival ...... 11 Communicating in German ...... 17 Visas for Travel to Other Countries ...... 11

Past Participant Tips: Communication ...... 17 Travel While Abroad ...... 18 Air Travel ...... 18 Train Travel ...... 18 Past Participant Tips: Travel ...... 18 WEB RESOURCES: AUSTRIA ...... 19 Graz ...... 19 Contact Information ...... 20 What Past Participants Have Said ...... 21

Congratulations on being accepted to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (UWEC) exchange program with Universität Graz (UG) in Austria. Living and studying in a new culture is both an exciting and a challenging experience. Past participants of study abroad report that the many advantages of international study include: Gaining new perspectives on a chosen academic field Increasing understanding of different cultures Enhancing personal development Developing different perspectives on U.S. culture Gaining self-confidence and independence Learning skills for the future international job market

It is up to you to determine how you can best benefit from these possible advantages. This is your adventure!

Use this program-specific guide with the more general resources in your BlugoldsAbroad account. While this guide contains the information available at the time of publication, it is impossible for any single resource to answer all of your questions. Your peer advisor will email information throughout the semester, and we encourage you to do your own research, also, using the web resources listed towards the end of this guide, as well as others that you find. Contact the Center for International Education (CIE) staff or your peer advisor with your specific questions.

Questions only you can answer include: 1) What are YOUR goals for this experience? Advancement in a future profession, desire to expand personal and academic horizons, need for a change, and wish to challenge yourself in a new environment?

2) How can you best prepare to meet your goals within the context of this program? For example, if one of your goals is truly being immersed in Austrian culture, yet you will go through orientation with other international students, how can you insure that you do not spend all of your time with other new arrivals?

The information in this guide was current at the time of publication, though changes may occur at any time.

be able to meet with academic advisors at that ACADEMICS time. Be sure to know how to access your The Academics section of the Study Abroad degree audit, possible equivalencies, and a list Handbook has more information on: of all classes you hope to take while in Graz.

• registration at UW-Eau Claire and Past students recommend that you find seven abroad or eight classes that you are interested in and • class attendance • credits & course-load attend all of them for the first two to three • integrative learning weeks of the semester. Then you can decide • transcripts which classes you like the most, which are at • service learning an appropriate level, and which professors are most understanding of exchange students. Pre-departure Planning Please see the UWEC-Graz Academics page. Reporting Your Registration for details on how to plan your courses at UG, When you confirm your final registration at UG, including information on finding courses, credits log in to your BlugoldsAbroad account and and course load, and grade conversions. complete the Course Descriptions

questionnaire. Choose LOGIN from the top Pre-Semester Intensive German toolbar and login with your UWEC username Course and password. All UW-Eau Claire students are required to take the pre-semester German Intensive If a course you are taking is not already in Course offered through the UG language the UW-Eau Claire Transfer Wizard, you will institute, Treffpunkt Sprachen. This course need to provide the following information: runs in September for fall and February for • course title spring and doubles as an orientation program. • course number • course description Cost for the course in Spring-2021 is €180. • number of credits This cost is NOT included in fees you pay to • name of the department you would like UW-Eau Claire; you will pay it directly to UG. credit in Once equivalencies have been established by You will register online. Registration opens all department chairs involved, the courses will December 7, 2020 and closes January 8 2021 be posted to the Transfer Credit Wizard, and for Spring 21. The course sometimes fills before you will be able to see them there. the final registration date, so register early. Details, including updates regarding Fall 2021, Equivalency timeline: The process of will be posted on this website: determining an equivalency can take four to six weeks or more. In other words, you will most Registration in Graz likely not be able to ask to have equivalencies established for three or four courses so that you You will list courses you are potentially can choose which one you wish to take. interested in taking on your UG online application form, but actual registration takes place after arrival. Syllabi and Academic Work Because you will register for your classes after The registration process will be explained arrival in Austria, keep your syllabi and the during the orientation class in Graz, and you will work that you do abroad for review by

5 relevant UW - Eau Claire department chairs, the transcript through the following link: in case you want to petition to have a https://www.signatur.rtr.at/en/vd/Pruefun course substituted for a specific g requirement. The German faculty are 3) Download a copy for your own sometimes reluctant to assign course records, also. This can be very equivalencies until they see examples of work important if you decide to go to graduate you have done in the class. school, because graduate schools often require original copies of transcripts UG & UWEC Transcripts from each university you have attended, See the Academics section of the Study Abroad and your access to Uni Graz online will Handbook for important information if you are expire. graduating, transferring or applying for a If you take classes through the arrangement competitive major such as Nursing or Education at the end of your term abroad. Uni Graz has with other universities in Graz, you must request those transcripts separately. It can take several months to get them. You must report which courses you took to Christa Grassauer, your coordinator at the UG Office of International Relations, including any Language Immersion Requirement courses you failed. If the UWEC Admissions If you are a German teaching major or minor, Office suspects that failed courses have been this program fulfills the requirement. off a transcript (e.g., not enough courses reported on the transcript to be considered full- Austrian Academic System time) you will be required to order another In traditional higher education in Austria, transcript or explain in writing the lower number Professors lecture on topics of expertise. of credits reported. Students learn independently and often work together outside of class to understand or A UG transcript with Austrian grades will be expand upon the materials presented. Short electronically available roughly two months after quizzes and daily or weekly assignments are the end of the UG semester. Because this is uncommon. Grades are based on class later than the end of the UW-Eau Claire participation, along with one major exam, semester, your MyBlugold CampS account will paper, or oral report (Referat) at the end. initially indicate “NR” (not reported). This will be changed once the transcript arrives. Types of Classes: The type of classes you take determines the type of assessment that Transcripts are electronically signed via will be used. Here's a list of the possibilities: UNIGRAZonline. Thus, according to Austrian • Treffpunksprachen: "Deutsch als law, a printed transcript is no longer necessary, Fremdsprache" courses designed and UG does not provide them. Instead, specifically with the exchange student in mind. You attend with visiting students from Once your UG grades are available, you must around the world, and the course language 1) access and download the electronically is German. There is an additional charge for signed transcript through your these courses. UNIGRAZonline account 2) forward it to Cheryl Lochner-Wright, • VO: Vorlesung. The professor lectures and your UWEC study abroad coordinator. you take notes; there is very little discussion The Admissions Office will then verify or Q&A. You will have reading to do

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throughout the semester, but most likely Workload: The overall work has been judged little to no assigned, graded homework. to be similar to what is expected at UWEC, but Your grade is typically based on one final students have noted that work is left to student exam or paper. Early exams are not initiative. If you do not keep up with class allowed for Vorlesungen. reading and regularly review class notes, • VU: Vorlesung mit Uebung. Another exam periods will be very difficult. lecture class but with a corresponding a group discussion or a group project section. Professors: Most courses at UG are taught by Austrian professors. Former UWEC students • PS: Proseminar. PS’s require class have found most professors happy to have participation. Class discussion, group work, them in class and understanding of their weekly readings/short assignments, and a occasional struggles with the German final exam or paper will all be the basis for language, but you need to make the effort to your grade. contact them with questions. In general, the professors are there to teach and do • S: Seminar. A step above the PS. This is research, not to advise students. If you do similar to upper level coursework at UWEC. have a question/problem, contact the professor UG students usually take these in the to set up an appointment since many second half of their university studies, so professors don’t hold office hours. the course is more challenging. Some S’s have prerequisites that you may or may not Class Materials: Many classes require the have to take. You will have to spend more purchase of a “copy card” in order to make time out of class studying for an S. copies of all class materials, handouts, and readings. Textbooks are not commonly used in • KO: These usually require hands-on the classrooms. learning during class. They are less common at UG than the other types. Student Services: The Office of International Relations is there to help. Apart from that, A past student commented: "I mostly took student services are a relatively unknown VO’s and VU’s. I wasn’t very comfortable with concept. The university is there to provide the lecture format at first, but I got used to it and access to academic resources. It does not the content was definitely fascinating. I also have the mission, common to most U.S. took some K’s and an S. Both are similar to our institutions, of "student development." classes, but they demand more of you. Exams University students are considered adults who are not fill-in-the-blank or multiple choice, no will work their way through the system, asking scantron bubbles there! They are generally questions when necessary. As a newcomer to essay format. For a couple courses I also had the system and the culture, you may need to to write papers in lieu of a final exam. ask questions often!

In most classes, the final exam is the only grade you will get all semester – so study for it! Also, if you have to write papers, have a native speaker--or two or three-- read over it. Some professors may take into consideration that you are a non-native speaker, but my Germanistik professors did not."

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MONEY MATTERS Housing Costs UWEC information about As soon as you are accepted by UG, you must • making payments apply for student housing, either via the housing • when they are due office of the Austrian Exchange Service (OeAD) • withdrawal, cancellation and refund or at the different dorms directly. Rent (at the deadlines time of printing): was between € 300 and € • financial aid, 600/month.

• general scholarships • budgeting Housing Deposit • ways to bring money abroad Once you receive a housing offer, you must pay a room deposit (€ 380 – € 750, depending on is found on the following websites: the dorm). Other fees, such as a cleaning or Fund Your Experience admin fee may also apply. If you do not Study Abroad Handbook: Money Matters confirm your housing offer by making the deposit by the deadline indicated in the Cost Estimate offer, your room will be assigned to another The most current Cost Estimate for your student. The deposit is usually due in July program and term, in printable format, is on the for fall semester and November for spring. CIE Graz website. The cost estimate includes what you pay to UW-Eau Claire, what you pay The deposit will be refunded when you move UG, and what you pay directly to other vendors. out if the room is in the same condition as when you moved in, minus the end-cleaning fee. Exchange Explanation UWEC students go to UG as exchange Rent Payment/Money on Arrival students. On a tuition-only exchange program, Your full semester's rent is due at the each participant pays the costs they would beginning of the semester. It must be paid normally pay at their home school – so UWEC in CASH. Please plan in advance how you will students pay UWEC tuition costs, and UG make this payment. In addition, you will need students cover tuition costs at UG—and then money for food and personal expenses. Be they switch places. Students pay the host sure you know the daily withdrawal limit on institution directly for their housing. your debit card so that you can plan to make withdrawals accordingly! No money is exchanged between the schools, and there is no direct monetary Common Payment Methods correlation between what you pay in Eau Cash is the best way to pay for things in Claire and what you receive in Graz. Graz. Although some shops do accept credit cards, many do not! You can withdraw cash What is exchanged is not payment, but rather (Euros) from Bankautomaten (ATMs) located benefits. You receive the same benefits a throughout the city. At the ATM, the screen will typical UG student receives, and the UG allow you to choose English if the German student receives the benefits a typical UWEC vocabulary is a bit confusing at first. student receives. This arrangement allows students to participate in programs abroad at a tuition cost similar to what they would pay to attend their home university.

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Currency Exchange Due to an increasing measles and mumps The currency of Austria is the Euro. One Euro cases in , we strongly encourage all has 100 cents. There are 8-euro coins, ranging students to check their vaccine history to see if in amount from 1 cent to 2 euros. Coins have they have had the MMR vaccine. different designs in the various countries that use the Euro. Bills range from €5 to €500 and Austrian Student Health Insurance have a standard design across countries. You In addition to the CISI insurance required by the can find current exchange rates at UW-System, UG requires that year-long http://www.oanda.com/currency/converter/. exchange students purchase Austrian Student Health Insurance. If you are going for one semester, proof of your CISI coverage is Cost of Living sufficient. You do not need to buy the Austrian For an idea of what everyday costs you may Student Health Insurance. encounter, check out this website: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Graz The cost for the Austrian insurance was €60/month (2019.) It does not include the Scholarships medical evacuation and repatriation insurance In addition to the scholarships listed in your included with the CISI coverage. However, Study Abroad Handbook, students accepted to while in Austria, you do not need to worry about the Graz exchange receive a Viennese Ball paying for medical services upfront, and the Scholarship of up to $1500/semester. No Austrian coverage includes vision, dental, and separate application is required. prescription coverage with a small co-pay.

EALTH AFETY Tick-Borne Encephalitis H & S If you will be in Austria for the Summer term, General information about: UG strongly advises that you get a tick • CISI Insurance vaccination upon arrival, since tick bites can • Preparing to Go cause encephalitis, among other things. For • Staying Healthy effective protection, you need two shots: the • Traveling Safety first one in early February and a booster 3–4 • Emergency Protocols weeks later. These shots are not available in and links to additional health and safety the U.S. resources are found on the following websites: Medical & Counseling Services Health + Safety Campus Medical Services: UG has a Study Abroad Handbook: Health & Insurance university hospital and clinic, or you can go to and Safety Abroad sections. any other physician of your choice.

Centers for Disease Control Medical/Counseling Services in the Community: The UG Office of International The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has Relations will give you a list of English-speaking vaccination suggestions, how to stay healthy doctors and therapists during orientation. Bring when abroad, and health information specific to your insurance cards with you to all Austria. Review the CDC site for Austria. appointments.

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Medical Supplies/Medications: You can find • 133 for the police basic medical supplies or medications in local • 144 for an pharmacies. They are plentiful and are • 122 for a fire identified by a green cross (universal symbol in all of Europe). They even sell personal hygiene However, you can also use the European items that you might not expect, like wide emergency number which is 112. toothbrushes. We suggest you save these numbers in your cell phone for quick access. Services for Students with Disabilities REQUIRED UG can provide accommodations for students with a variety of specific requirements. Contact OCUMENTS information is here: https://www.uni- D graz.at/en/university/interdisciplinary- General passport and visa information is in the affairs/barrier-free-university/ Study Abroad Handbook: Travel Resources section. It is also important to be aware of accessibility in Austria in general. For more information, see If you are not a U.S. citizen, please contact the “Laws and Special Circumstances” section the CIE for more information about the of the U.S. State Department Austria Country following topics. Information page.

If you have questions, contact your UWEC Visa/Residence Permit study abroad coordinator. A visa is official permission to temporarily reside in another country and is granted by the Safety in Austria government of that country. It is your Information on crime, specific safety issues, responsibility to keep up-to-date about student road safety, drug penalties, and terrorist activity visa requirements for the Austria, and if in Austria is included in the U.S. State required, to apply for and receive a visa from an Department’s Austrian consulate or embassy in a timely Austria-Country-Information-Pages manner.

Specific safety in and around Graz will be Semester students: US citizens studying in discussed during orientation in in Graz. Austria for one semester must apply for a student visa either in advance or within 90 days Emergency Contacts of arrival in Austria. As of 2019, there were General emergency procedures are described three options for applying. See details in the in the Safety Abroad section of the Study Visa Information: Austria On Semester Learning Abroad Handbook, and UG Office of Content in your BlugoldsAbroad account. International Relations staff are available for consultation if difficulties arise. See the Contact Academic year students: US citizens may Names & Addresses page of this guide. apply for their residence permit AFTER arrival in Austria. However, you must complete a 911 Equivalent in Austria number of forms/gather a number of documents If you are in an emergency situation in Graz, and bring them with you to Graz. See details in yhe local equivalent to the U.S. 911 emergency the Visa Information: Austria Full Year Learning line in Austria is Content in your BlugoldsAbroad account.

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All students: Please check the websites listed in the materials for any updates before you PACKING TIPS actually apply for your visa or residence permit General packing information is in the Study and also pay careful attention to any Abroad Handbook: Travel Resources section. information that is provided by UG A country-specific packing list will be released through your BlugoldsAbroad account a few Proof of housing: As part of your visa months prior to departure. application, you need proof of housing. Apply for housing as soon as you receive Weather information about it from UG, so that you The climate in Graz is somewhat milder than have the required documentation. the climate in Wisconsin. Average temperatures in September and May are highs in the upper Immigration Process After Arrival 60s and lows in the low 50s. January will see Semester students: if you did not apply for a highs in the upper 30s and lows in the 20s. visa in advance, you will need to complete the process within 90 days of arriving in Graz. UG Clothing organizes a bus trip to , , early Dress at the university is casual, with jeans and in each semester for students to apply there. sweaters the primary clothing of choice. Bring You will need to bring with you to Austria the warm clothes. Austrian buildings and documents listed in the Visa Information residences are often not as warm as U.S. Learning Content referenced previously. Americans are used to. Sweaters, jeans, and warm nightwear are recommended. You will Academic year students: your will apply for your also want a warm winter coat, gloves, and hat. residence in Graz after arrival. UG will assist with the process. You will need to bring with you to Austria the documents listed in the Visa GETTING TO AUSTRIA Information Learning Content referenced There is information on booking flights in the previously. Study Abroad Handbook: Travel Resources section. Visas for Travel to Other Countries

If you plan to travel outside of Austria while abroad, verify visa requirements for each Travel Arrangements country you will visit by contacting the nearest It is your responsibility to make travel consulate for that country, or your travel arrangements to Graz. See the “Arriving in agency. Most Western European nations do not Austria/Graz” section of the UG Welcome require US citizens to have a visa for tourist Guide for Incoming Students for details. travel of less than three months; many Eastern European countries do. You should always Important: verify the requirement as entry requirements • Do not book your flight until UG has can change with little notice. confirmed your acceptance and the exact arrival date for the pre- semester orientation class has been confirmed. However, this does not

mean that you cannot begin price

comparisons.

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• If you plan to apply for your visa in you can depart early until after you arrive, Slovenia after arrival, Austria MUST be register and talk with your professors. your first entry point into the Schengen area. The Schengen area Early exams are not allowed by: includes Austria, , Czech • the College of Business and Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Economics , , Greece, , • the Department of American Studies. Iceland, , Latvia, Liechtenstein, • Also, early exams are not allowed for Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the lecture courses (Vorlesungen), which Netherlands, Norway, , Portugal, encompasses most introductory level , Slovenia, , and courses. . Therefore, we strongly recommend that you buy So, for example, you can fly from the US a roundtrip ticket with a low change fee. to to , because the UK Trip insurance does not cover flight changes if does not belong to the Schengen you buy a non-changeable, non-refundable countries. But you cannot fly from the ticket US to to Vienna, or the US to to Vienna, because you will have Getting to Uni Graz to go through customs at your first point The Buddy Program: Past students, UG and of entry to the Schengen countries. the CIE strongly recommend that you sign up for the buddy program: • UG recommends that you arrive in http://unigraz.esnaustria.org/ Registration for Graz during the week and during the fall generally opens in June, for spring in workday, in order to get your keys and November. This program matches you with a move into your room. If you arrive on the volunteer Austrian student interested in weekend or after hours, you will need to supporting international exchange students. stay in a hotel overnight. If you register for the program and have Past students have often flown to Vienna and provided UG with your travel plans at least taken a train to Graz. This involves transferring three weeks in advance, your Austrian buddy from airport to bus to train station with all of meet you at the train station or airport in Graz. your luggage. A simpler option is to get a (Most likely NOT in a car, but to help you figure connecting flight from Vienna to Graz at the out public transportation to your student same time you buy your main ticket residence.) If your arrival time is uncertain, you will also have your address and can take a taxi Buying a Changeable Ticket to your new home. UG exam schedules are published midway through the semester, so you will not know exactly when you can return home. SETTLING IN In addition, fall semester runs from early Orientation September to the end of January, but some If you sign up for the buddy program, your professors will allow exchange students to take buddy will assist you in finding your way around exams early to return home for the holidays. early in your stay, give you information about Students need to arrange this individually with banking, food shopping, and generally answer their professors so again, you will not know if your questions. In the words of a past

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participant, "The most beneficial aspect of the will take you to the palace, and will program when dealing with the understanding take you to a huge yellow cathedral!" of host culture came from our buddies. They welcomed us into their homes for true immersion in Austrian culture, whether eating a Getting Involved traditional dinner together with the family or A key to a good study abroad experience is venturing out onto the famed slopes of the connecting with people in your host country. Austrian mountains." Because you will go through an orientation just for international students, it is easy to hang out During the pre-semester intensive German just with them, or even just with the other class, the UG Office of International Relations Americans you meet. Try to meet and do holds “Welcome Week” seminars about things with Austrian students. choosing classes, registration, health Keep in mind while doing this that the Austrian insurance, student life, getting your residence students already have established groups of permit, and more. You will receive help with friends. You will have to take the first step, and registration and all of the official paperwork often the second and third, to become part of necessary for enrollment at UG. the group. But it is worth the effort.

On-Site Support Buddies Christa Grassauer, the incoming exchange How to begin? Get to know your Austrian coordinator in the Office of International mentor. Austrians volunteer to be mentors Relations will be your main contact while at UG. because they like to get to know international Her contact information is on the Contact students. Ask your mentor to have coffee or go Names & Addresses page of this guide. to an event with you. Take the first step so that they know you are interested in more than just Local Transportation a formal "advising" relationship. Walk or Bike: in Graz, it's often fastest to travel on foot or by bicycle. If you plan to buy a bike, Roommates one option is Rebikel, a used bike shop located You will most likely have Austrian roommates, at Keplerstraße 38. This is not too far from the or at the very least, there will be Austrians on Hauptbahnhof (main train station). At the end your floor. TALK with your floormates; get to of your time, you can return the bike and get know them as people, not just as someone you about 50% back of what you paid for it, if it is in share space with. Invite them out with you. Do good condition. this more than once!

Bus or : You can also use the bus and Tandem Partner Tram/Straßenbahn. You can buy single tickets, The Sprach Institut offers a 24-hour, week-long, or month-long passes. "Tandemspracher/in" program that pairs native Just make sure you stamp the pass on the German speakers with native English speakers bus/tram and never ride without a ticket. Fines for language exchange. You meet weekly (or are very high if you do. more) to practice your language skills and get

to know each other. Past participant tip: "One fun thing to note is

that if you take Linie 1 all the way to the end in either direction ( or Mariatrost) you will end up at a tourist site in Graz. Eggenberg

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Erasmus Student Network an introduction; follow it up with an invitation to Join the Erasmus Student Network (ESN). do something." Although you are NOT an Erasmus student (Erasmus is an inter-European exchange "Go to the weekly Stammtisch for international program), they welcome the participation of students and invite Austrians to come with you." other exchange students, also. They sponsor "Take a USI class at the sport center; great way hikes, plan trips to nearby countries and to meet people." neighboring towns and attractions and host a meeting every other week where international "Get involved early on in as many social students and their Austrian buddies can get to gatherings and events as possible. You may be know one another. surprised how many really interesting people you will meet. " "For soccer enthusiasts, Graz has two University Sport Institute professional soccer teams. They play at a You can take all sorts of extracurricular courses stadium in Graz that was partially funded by (sports, dance) and weekend trips (hiking, (he was born in a small climbing) through the Universitaet Sport town near Graz) and is conveniently called Institute (USI). The USI office is in the Arnold Schwarzenegger Stadium. Tickets are basement of the Hauptgebaude on campus. relatively inexpensive depending on where you Check out their offerings at choose to sit." http://sportinstitut.uni-graz.at/de/. Note that you do not get credit for these courses. "There is a beautiful opera house in Graz. If you want to go, the cheapest way to do it is to go to Musical Options the Opera House ticket counter one-two hours Are you musical? Some past students have before showtime. Any tickets that haven’t been played with the Grazer BlaserVielHarmonie sold yet are sold at huge discounts. It was (http://www.blaeservielharmonie.at/). In cheaper than going to the movie theater! And addition to rehearsing, the group has a regular the seats were really great, too.” Stammtisch after practice, which is a great way to get to know Austrians. “The same goes for the Schauspielhaus (theater) where you can watch plays performed Activities/Events in German, Italian, French, and English. Past students reported that community events Unsold tickets can be purchased cheap right were posted clearly around the dorm and in before the start of the show." Graz, making cultural experiences easily accessible. They took advantage of the experience by attending operas, sporting HOUSING events, plays, and concerts. The Office of International Relations is another good location Living Situation for finding local information. Once you are officially accepted to UG, you must apply directly for housing either via the housing office of the Austrian Exchange Service Past Participant Tips: Getting (OeAD) or at the dorms directly. Involved "Once classes start, be the first to introduce OeAD: yourself. Do it the first day; it becomes harder https://housing.oead.at/en/accommodation/graz as the semester goes on. And don't stop with -en

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Ghegagasse were well maintained, newer The minimum period of rent in student facilities. Located a short distance from the dormitories is one full semester (mid-Sept-mid- main train station, we were always able to find Feb for Winter; mid-February-mid-July for transportation around Graz as well to other Summer). See the Money Matters section of destinations. My roommates consisted of a this guide for details on paying for housing. very nice group of Americans, Bosnians, and Austrians. Since we did most of our own What's Provided? cooking, sharing a kitchen with five other You will usually have a double room and share people made for some interesting meal times, kitchen and bathroom facilities with several but everything went smoothly for the majority of other students on the floor. All dorms have the time." laundry facilities, though dryers are rare, as Austrian students generally hang dry their Meals: Cooking at Home clothes. You will have use of a kitchen, either in your apartment or shared with those on your floor in If you are in an apartment, it is likely that you the dorm. A great money saver is to cook for will have a single room and share common yourself and prepare sack lunches. Head to the space only with your apartment-mates. Costs corner Spar (grocery store chain), Hofer (like will be correspondingly higher. Aldi-inexpensive), or a Bauernmarkt (farmer’s market) to get groceries. Remember to bring Bedding: In some living situations, bedding is your own bags, or you’ll have to buy one at the provided; in others, you will need to provide grocery store. your own. Read the information about each housing option carefully. It is generally not You can also choose to eat some meals quite recommended to bring sheets from home, as inexpensively in the campus cafeterias. bed sizes are often different. Meals: Eating out Internet: Internet access varies; see the You’ll also want to eat out, at least occasionally. specific dorm descriptions for details and follow Keep in mind: up with them for additional information. Water: Austrians love their sparkling water. It takes a little while before you can set up your When you go to a restaurant and ask for water, Internet account in student housing, since you that's what you'll get, and it is not free. If you first will receive a password for it during want tap water, ask for "Leitungswasser." orientation week. If you bring an Ethernet cord, you won’t need to buy one there. Silverware: Fork in the left hand, knife in the right, and try to not put them down between Most housing has a printer available. In order bites! You'll get used to it. to use it, you must purchase a printer card from the housing office. This gives you a code to Special Diets: If you're vegetarian, or have diet punch in each time you use it and deducts restrictions, Austrian restaurants have money from your printer account. The printer vegetarian and sometimes gluten free dishes card is priced reasonably. and will often accommodate you by making a dish without meat or with a wheat alternative. A description of housing from a past participant: "Our accommodations in the Wistheim on

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When you're done: put your fork and knife https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/austri parallel across your plate to signal the a waiter/waitress that you're done eating. Computer Access on Campus Europeans enjoy sitting for long Etiquette: If you don't bring a laptop with you, there are periods of time to enjoy a meal or drink, and the computers and computer labs on campus you staff in their restaurants typically won't be in a can use. However, the wait can be long, so rush to get you out (unless they're closing for make sure to calculate a little extra time. And the night). note that your UG email account/login, which you will need to use the computers on campus, Getting the bill: You’ll need to ask for your will not be set up until approximately two weeks check (“Zahlen, bitte”) and you normally pay the after registration in Graz. In the meantime, you waiter directly at your table. People often split can use an Internet café. the bill, so be able to tell the waiter what you ordered. Printing on Campus Tips: In Austria and Germany, waiters and Your other option for printing is to use a printer waitresses don't depend on tips to complete on campus in one of the computer labs. In their salary, but it's still important! It should order to print, you must set up an account from reflect the quality of the service. A good general which money is also deducted per sheet of rule is to round up to the nearest Euro or two paper you print. Do this at the main computer with good service, and maybe a few more if the lab. You can only use a credit card to set up service was excellent. For example: if you your account; cash is not accepted. have a bill of 11,30€ - just give the waitress 12€ and say "Stimmt so," which means you don't Telephone Information want change. Past students recommend buying an inexpensive, pay-as-you-go cell phone (Handy) BUT: if you have a bill of say, 15,80€ and want once in Austria to text friends in country. There to give 17€ but only have a 20€ note, give the are plans that receive free incoming texts/calls, waiter/waitress 20€ and say "Drei zurück, bitte." and within Austria rates are cheap, but calling They will then keep the 1,20€ tip. or texting internationally is expensive. The recommendation is to use an app like TextPlus or WhatsApp for international communication. COMMUNICATION See details in the Study Abroad Handbook. See the Study Abroad Handbook: Travel Another alternative is to buy prepaid SIM cards Resources section for information on: valid in Austria for your smart phone. • Communication with UWEC • Calling, Texting & Other Communication Calling from the U.S From the U.S. to Austria: First dial 011, the Time Difference international dialing code from the US. Next, Graz is in the Central (CET) and can dial 34, the country code for Austria, and then be either six or seven hours ahead of Eau the rest of the number to reach a specific city Claire, depending upon when Daylight Saving and location. If there is a "0" listed before the Time begins and ends in each country. To see main number, drop it when dialing the current time in Austria, visit: internationally.

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Snail Mail time abroad frustrated with yourself. Take International airmail takes 7-10 days to cross things one day at a time and you will be so the Atlantic in either direction. Be sure to tell impressed with yourself. There were days family and friends to write Austria/Europe in where I would all of a sudden realize that I was your address. This will prevent their letters from participating in classes that were only in being sent to Australia first! See the UG German! It's definitely a great feeling to see website for more information. how much your German speaking is improving." Speaking: Communicating in German Speak as much as possible. You have SO You've studied German for years; they speak MANY OPPORTUNITIES to speak German German in Austria. Right? Well, actually, they (since you're living in Austria). And there are so speak . Your ears will have a many people willing to help you get better: little adjusting to do at first, but you'll soon catch on. Professors: For Treffpunkt Sprachen teachers, their job to help you improve, so they Here are a few Austrian words to get you will correct you in class and will require you to started: speak often. They are always willing to help • der Erdapfel = der Kartoffel explain things or sit down and talk with you • Heuer = dieses Jahr about things you don't understand. • das Mädchen = das Mädel Other People You Meet: Austrians KNOW • der Palatschinken = der Pfannkuchen that you are not a native speaker even before • die Paradeiser = die Tomaten you open your mouth. In most cases, if you are • der Rahm = der Schlag making an effort to communicate with them, • Restaurants/Kniepe = Lokale they will be very kind and patient with you. In • das Sackerl = die Tüte addition to this, get to know local students. • die Semmel = das Brötchen Many of them are studying English and would LOVE to get together and talk. One thing to • Before You Go: Start listening to Austrian remember: you need to make the effort to get to music, movies, TV in German. Get your ear know them. accustomed to it before you get there! Tagesschau is a great site for current Past Participant Tips: events in Europe: http://www.tagesschau.de Communication "Austrians are often a bit reserved around Also, start reading in German, beyond what is foreigners at first. When beginning a required for class. Consider changing your conversation, try your best to speak in German phone language to German, reading websites even if you’ve heard the person speaking from Austria and finding online newspapers. English. They’ll probably realize quickly it’s not your first language, but they’ll appreciate your Fluency: In the words of a past language effort. After I realized that, I made some great student, "I am going to warn you right now: you friends. No one expects you to be perfect, but WILL NOT be fluent after only three-five months just to try your best. Relax and have fun with in another country. I definitely improved in my your German and with learning Austrian reading, writing, listening and speaking, but I dialects and accents!" did not sound like a native. Don't expect to come home fluent, or you will spend your whole

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"With Ryanair the only connection from Graz is TRAVEL WHILE to London-Stansted, which is the Ryanair hub. From London-Stansted you can fly nearly ABROAD anywhere in Europe. It's best NOT to check General information on guidebooks, maps, luggage with Ryanair and only bring a backpack. This will save so much money and hostels and more is in the Study Abroad time." Handbook: Travel Resources section.

"Travel by train is much easier than flying in Air Travel Europe, especially if you buy a <26 You can find deals on cheap air travel in Vorteilskarte." Europe with companies such as RyanAir. They have a hub in Graz and you can fly to London "Remember, you are technically required to (Stansted) or (Girona). Prices are have your passport with you at all times, so always changing, so be sure to check often as bring it with you when you are traveling outside you plan. Also, be aware that some budget of Austria." airlines charge for checked luggage, so know how much you’ll be checking before you buy

your tickets.

Train Travel Traveling by train in Europe is economical and efficient. Some past participants recommend buying a VORTEILScard, an under-26 discount card offered by the Österreichische Bundesbahnen. This card costs about €20/year and gets you up to a 50% discount on rail travel within Austria. You may also find other special promotions for tickets outside of the country. You can ask for more information at the Hauptbahnhof in Graz or by checking out https://www.oebb.at/. The website is also very helpful in planning rail travel (even outside of Austria). Trains leave on time in Europe! Be early so you don’t miss your train.

Past Participant Tips: Travel "When traveling, try eating a big lunch and a light dinner. Lunches cost less and will fill you up later into the day."

"When looking for hostels, try to find one that offers a free breakfast. It's faster and cheaper than finding a café."

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WEB RESOURCES: AUSTRIA Graz Travel/Austria Graz Graz Tourism Austrian Rail Homepage http://www.graz.at http://www.oebb.at/ http://www.uni-graz.at http://www.graztourismus.at

Uni Graz Office of Pharmacies & English- International Speaking Doctors in Graz TUIfly Regional Airlines Relations http://www.info- http://www.tuifly.com/en/index. http://international.uni- graz.at/cms/1/7426/ html graz.at https://at.usembassy.gov/u- s-citizen-services/medical- assistance/

Uni Graz: WIST Bus & Tram Lines in Graz Austria Info Student Dormitories http://www.holding- http://www.austria.info/at http://www.wist.vc- graz.at/linien/fahrplaene.ht graz.ac.at/ ml

UG Intramural Graz Events Austria Quick Facts Sports http://www.theater-graz.com http://www.tourmycountry.com/ http://sportinstitut.uni- austria/quickfacts.htm graz.at/de/

UG Student Band Austrian Radio http://www.blaeserviel http://www.listenlive.eu/austria. harmonie.at/ html

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CONTACT INFORMATION University of Graz UW-EAU CLAIRE Mag. Christa Grassauer Cheryl Lochner-Wright Exchange Coordinator Senior Study Abroad Coordinator Office of International Relations Center for International Education Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz 3 Schofield Hall A-8010 Universitätsplaz 3 University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire AUSTRIA Eau Claire, WI 54702 PH: 011-43-316-380-1254 Phone: (715) 836-4411 [email protected] Fax: (715) 836-4948 http://international.uni-graz.at Email: [email protected]

* If calling from inside Austria, drop the "011-43", After Hours Emergency add a "0", and dial the rest of the number. (715)577-9045

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Remember that in most cases, local contacts Austrian Consulate General are best in local emergency situations. 31 East 69th Street New York, NY 10021 If you have an after-hours emergency that can Phone: (212) 737 6400 [email protected] be helped on the U.S. side, please call http://www.bmeia.gv.at/en/embassy/consulate- University Police at the number above. Calls general-new-york.html can be made to this number 24 hours a day. You may get an answering machine; however, Consulate General, United States an officer is alerted as soon as you have left Parkring 12a your message. Be sure to give the officer the 1010 Vienna Tel.: (+43-1) 31339-7535 phone number you can be reached at, as well [email protected] as what type of assistance you require. Opening hours: 8:00 - 11:30 am Emergency Services: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm (after hours the duty officer should be called: (+43 1) 313 39 https://at.usembassy.gov/

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WHAT PAST PARTICIPANTS HAVE SAID "You just can’t pass up an experience like this. Graz is a vibrant and multicultural city that will never cease to amaze you." Nessa S.

"I’m very proud of the way this year has increased my horizons. Experiencing the culture of my international and Austrian friends has been unforgettable. I realized how much more I am capable of than I once thought - I’ve learned a language very well, traveled to countries I couldn’t have placed on a map last year, and realized how adaptable I am. This year has helped me become interested in the international aspect of things. After this year, I know what is important to me, I know what I am capable of, and there are few challenges that I don’t think I could handle." Bethany N.

"In my opinion, the Graz program is UWEC’s best way to improve your knowledge of and culture. You get to meet so many new people and actually use the language because you do not go with many other Eau Claire students or a lot of Americans. Austria has a great location for traveling Europe, and the people are wonderful. This program will really get you out of your bubble and into the Austrian language and culture!" Jackie S.

"Graz is definitely worth experiencing as a year-long study abroad program. Nestled in the mountains and surrounded by interesting travel opportunities, Austria provides a unique option to learn the German language and experience a different culture. While there, take advantage of every new and exciting activity available, whether traveling around the neighbor countries or skiing down the mountains of . The more time spent trying new things, the more enriching the experience." Craig M.

"For me this program was perfect. It gave me a balance of responsibility and freedom that allowed me to choose what my experience was. Also, I personally think a year is much better when traveling to a foreign country to learn the language. I felt that after 4 or 5 months I was finally fitting in and Graz was now my home. I couldn’t have imagined going home at that time. It was a great program for me and I would recommend it to anyone." Andrew S.

"Graz is a great city with tons to offer! There are three different universities in Graz alone so there is always plenty for your average college student to do and great people to meet. Austria has a central location, which makes travelling to most countries easy. So, whether you are looking to improve your German or just go and experience life in another country, Graz is a great choice!" Kristi D.

6/20, clw