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"Be ready to embrace new things and make best use of the opportunity you are given by balancing a good academic and social life. "
MCI (Innsbruck, Austria)
Tai (Business Economics)
What made you to decide Double Degree program?
There are several reasons why I was drawn to MCI Management Center Innsbruck. Firstly, I appreciated the diverse academic community, with students from over 60 countries, that MCI fosters. This would allow me to continue to develop a more holistic view of the world as well as my own vision specific to my unique background. Additionally, I believed that studying at MCI would provide me with a more comprehensive understanding of my current major in Business & Economics. I was enthusiastic about what I was doing at TIU and would like to continue studying what I have been passionate about and remain engaged in my academic pursuits. Fortunately, I found MCI’s program specialized for Business-majored students and matched me well. Its courses could build me a solid foundation of both empirical theories and practical skills in my field. Moreover, the work-based class format in MCI has provided an intimate and interactive environment to exchange ideas and build meaningful relationships with other classmates. Hence, considering all these factors, I felt that my time at MCI would be worthwhile. Indeed, my overall impression of the 6-month stay in Innsbruck and MCI has been truly excellent and invaluable for my own personal development.
What are the biggest challenges you faced?
Generally, there were not any significant challenges that I encountered since I have gotten used to living abroad for quite a long time. However, one thing that I can tell is to adapt to the "Sunday culture". Austria is a Catholic country so nothing opens on Sunday! Most shops and supermarkets are closed on Sundays, except for petrol stations, hospitals, and certain restaurants. Therefore, it is quite important to plan and stock up on necessities before Sunday. I did not know this fact until I came to Innsbruck and was not familiar with this new culture at first during the stay.
What was the most challenging class you took?
"Entrepreneurship" was the most challenging course for me when studying at MCI. Throughout the class, the lecturers offered hands-on experiences in the start-up field and provided every student with the necessary tools and knowledge to identify a new business idea and realize it into a compelling concept. However, the process to get to the final stage was long and challenging. Firstly, the subject matter is complex. Entrepreneurship involves a wide range of topics, from marketing and finance to business strategy and innovation. Students need to have a solid understanding of these different areas to succeed in this course. Besides, the course required a significant amount of work. Every session of the class involved group projects, business plans, and presentations, which required a lot of effort. The course was difficult but was still an exciting and rewarding field of study.
Which class was your favorite?
My favorite class was Quantitative Methods of empirical research. During the class, students conducted a small research project based on a self-developed questionnaire. It was a very interesting class and I learned a lot from both the professors and attending students.
What was your favorite activity on weekend?
On weekends, especially if the weather was nice and sunny, I loved strolling around the city or often hiking in the Alps mountain. Another activity that I often did was going on a day trip to other small cities nearby Innsbruck to admire the beauty of nature of the Alpine mountains and the beauty of the ancient history of unique Austrian towns.
What is the best memory?
I have had so many unforgettable moments when studying abroad in Innsbruck. However, I would say that my first time hiking with Erasmus students in the mountain was a game-changing event for me. That was the first time that I could meet a lot of students in my age since school had not started yet. Although the hike was overwhelming for me, I still appreciated that occasion because I could meet new people and make friends from different parts of the world. People were very friendly, supportive, and easy to talk with. Social life in Innsbruck is truly fantastic and it was so easy to make friends and connect with other exchange students and the locals when participating in cultural events or small parties.
What was your housing situation like?
I lived in a student dormitory, similar to the majority of exchange students. I shared a double-bed flat with another exchange student from Peru. He is a great and friendly guy. We often hung out together in the evenings with other students from the same dorm, cooked and had dinners together, and sometimes went on a day excursion during the weekend. From my standpoint, having a roommate, despite having different lifestyles, has been a wonderful chance for me to learn new cultures, customs, and other usual things from the person that I live with, helping me become more culturally aware. It is also a good opportunity to meet and make new friends of each other.
What is one thing you wish you could have done before studying abroad?
I think that I could have prepared financially and planned out my financial budget more thoroughly. Before having decided to spend 6 months studying there, I was aware of the expensive cost of living in Innsbruck. However, it turned out that the living cost was actually more pricey than I had expected. Due to the high inflation in Europe, the price has kept getting higher. Besides, counting the travel expenses, occasional meals at restaurants, and all miscellaneous expenses would add up to the total expenses quickly. Therefore, I was always careful when buying things and budgeted accordingly. By preparing financially before studying abroad in Innsbruck, students can still ensure that they have enough funds to cover their expenses, avoid financial stress, and fully enjoy their study abroad experience.
How does studying abroad affect your personal development?
The study abroad experience has allowed me to grow a lot as a person. Half a year in Europe was not a sufficient time to allow me to absorb the truly European culture but did offer me the opportunity to push myself outside my comfort zone quickly to face new challenges, meet new people, and learn about new cultures. Through time, I have become more comfortable navigating these new experiences, and have developed a sense of independence and self-assurance. I can truly say that 6 months in Austria as an exchange student has helped change my life, to become a better person.
Do you have any advice for those who are going to study abroad?
Innsbruck is one of the most expensive cities in Europe so planning a budget for the whole stay is important. Moreover, as Innsbruck is an attractive and popular tourist destination and international students, the number of reasonably-priced flats is quite limited and fully booked quickly. Searching for a private apartment in Innsbruck is not easy either, despite the high rent (around 800-1000 Euro per month). Hence, I would highly recommend that you should start looking for accommodation as soon as possible and plan sufficient time, around 3 months for an accomodation search. All in all, I still enjoyed and do appreciate my stay abroad in Austria. These six months were a great experience for me and I can only recommend everyone to do the same.
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