My Exchange Semester in Graz: The Best Experience of My Life

Hi, I'm Mattia Fenoglio, I'm from Turin, Italy, and I'm a management engineering student in the final year of the master's program at the Politecnico di Torino. I spent the winter semester of the academic year 2024/2025 in Graz, attending classes at TU Graz and a German course at Uni Graz, and I can confidently say that it was the best experience of my life.

Let's start from the beginning: Why Graz?

It may sound strange, but I hadn't done much research: one evening in December 2023 when I was scrolling through possible destinations and I saw Graz, I was immediately intrigued, especially since it was not a capital city and none of my friends had heard of it. I googled it and looked at some photos of the old town and the imposing clock tower and I was immediately impressed and perhaps my parents more than me! Seeing their enthusiasm, despite their initial wariness about the Erasmus experience, I instantly decided to choose it without even knowing where it was or whether all the courses for my degree were available.

Now I can say for sure: it was the best choice of my life and now, thanks to my frequent social media posts, all my friends know every single corner of it.

Graz - The City for Students

I think Graz is perfect for us university students. The city is young, and it is easy to get around on foot. There are so many students from all over the world, which allows you to constantly meet different cultures.

One thing that impressed me was the great attention given to international students: Just think, we were even invited by the mayor to a welcome buffet in the city! It was a beautiful and unforgettable experience.

Another interesting aspect is the opportunity to participate in cultural and leisure activities at reduced prices: Opera performances, ice hockey games (the discount is small, but the atmosphere is worth the full price), museums and more. In addition, since Graz is in a central location in Europe, I have been to cities such as Prague, Budapest, Zagreb, Ljubljana, Maribor, Bratislava, and Vienna. All of them are easily accessible by public transportation that works excellently.

Graz – Cares About the Environment

One aspect that surprised me was the strong focus on sustainability and waste reduction. In Graz, some restaurants at the end of the day, instead of throwing away leftover food, allow you to buy generous portions at a very affordable price, and for Erasmus students like us, having access to cheap and abundant food at a very affordable price is something that comes in very handy.

One tip from me: download apps like Too Good To Go. Even here you can find meals and more at a very affordable price as these are items that would otherwise be thrown away at the end of the day.

Another thing that struck me is that at both the soccer stadium and the Merkur Ice Arena, drinks are served in plastic cups with a deposit system: You buy your drink by paying a small deposit that is refunded when you return the cup. The same system applies to glass juice bottles at farmers' markets or mugs of hot wine at Christmas markets. These may seem like small things, but unfortunately this system is not common in Italy, so I was positively impressed by them.

My Dormitory: A Dream Come True

For my six-month stay I chose to live in the ÖJAB dormitory, located in the city center, right across from the city park. I had a single room, a shared bathroom with one other person, and a communal kitchen shared with more than 25 other students. I know it can be scary to share space with so many people, but if you have the opportunity, choose a dormitory with a communal kitchen: The more people share it, the more it becomes an incredible experience!

For me, it was one of the best parts of my Erasmus experience. I was lucky enough to meet special people who welcomed me and gradually included me in their daily lives. In that kitchen, I met people from all over the world, discovered their traditional dishes and cultural traditions. I tasted Pakistani, Korean, Indian, Brazilian, Mexican and many other foods. I never said no because I always thought: “When will I ever get the chance to try this again?”

Here’s one piece of advice, if you can, never say no. Try everything, do not preclude yourself from anything, because by doing so, you will experience moments you will never forget and most importantly you will achieve an elasticity of mind that you will surely treasure.

I fondly remember evenings spent chatting about serious (for instance at the table with Ukrainians and Russians) and fun topics, playing cards or board games, trying to learn languages that were strange and distant to me, and, of course, having drinks together.

We organised unforgettable parties: In the picture below is my last Saturday in Graz, when the other Italian guy and me on the floor organised the final pizza party. The evening's outfits were elegant, and it was so much fun to see us coming out of our rooms in suits and ties, shirts, or fancy dresses for the girls, just to head to the floor kitchen.

The atmosphere we experienced that evening I will never forget. For me, seeing all those happy people, guys who maybe because of the war or lack of money hadn’t seen their families for years, gave me tremendous joy. As well as seeing that in the following days they kept talking about that crazy party on the second floor. Well, yes, it really was a dream come true.

Are you still looking for accommodation for your stay in Graz? Have a look at our webpage “Living in Graz” and check out the section on “Housing” for a comprehensive list on accommodation options in Graz!

Erasmus: Yes, All Good, but What About the University?

During the semester, I took classes at both Uni Graz and TU Graz. Coming from a university as large as the Politecnico di Torino, I was positively surprised by the small class sizes. I never had classes with more than 15 students! This allows for more effective learning and a more familiar environment that, for example, lets you all go for coffee together with the professor before starting class.

All the courses I took were in English. The choice is quite wide, yes, maybe a few things change from year to year but once you get the hang of the university website, selecting courses you like is not that complicated. One thing I really appreciated is the availability of information: When you choose a course, you already know the class times, days and exam dates in advance. I think this is very functional for semester organisation.

Personally, given my initial poor level of English (after six months in contact with foreign students, especially in my kitchen, but not only there, I improved a lot in this as well) I preferred to take more theoretical rather than practical courses. This is a choice I regretted, because I actually enjoyed the practical courses and achieved very good results. 

Unfortunately, my initial level of English had intimidated me a lot, therefore my advice: Don’t let it intimidate you—it’s really not a problem!

The courses are structured in a particular way: There are traditional semester long courses and intensive courses that last only a few days, with morning and afternoon classes and the first exam already taking place the following week. At first, I was worried, but I found that this method works really well!

One of the best experiences was taking classes in a Harvard-style classroom, with case study discussions. I still remember my expression of amazement when I saw my seat: I was speechless!

Also, after five years at the Politecnico, I finally had the chance to set foot in a university laboratory in Graz: Getting practical experience of the theory studied was really helpful for learning.

The German course was also a great experience. I took the semester-long one, while many others opted for the intensive one at the beginning of the semester. The classes do not exceed 20-25 students, ensuring special attention from the teachers.

Did You Choose Graz? Well, You Will Certainly Never Feel Alone.

One of the places I enjoyed the most in Graz was the International House: A simple but magical place where you can find support, study, cook, eat together, play foosball or board games. For me it was a landmark: Here I had my first meetings with foreign students over coffee, which then continued around the city or even across Europe, my first lunches and, why hide it, I spoke for the first time with someone who became special to me.

One episode that impressed me was the Christmas Eve dinner organised by the ESN association, completely free: They cooked traditional Austrian food and organised a Secret Santa for all of us. Definitely a Christmas Eve I will never forget.

In the International House you can find help for any need, from university matters to daily bureaucracy, always accompanied by a warm smile. I still remember the initial problems with the Learning Agreement or the story of an Italian girl who, after a hospital visit that was supposed to be free, ended up with a bill of 250 euros. She went to the International House and the problem was solved immediately.

To tell the truth, I had already noticed the quality of the support from the very beginning, from the simple and straightforward registration procedure, the quick email responses and the welcome events to get to know each other better: Icebreaker games, Intercultural Awareness Sessions, welcome buffet...

Looking for a place to meet, connect, and feel at home in Graz? The International House of TU Graz is more than just a support center – it’s a vibrant meeting space for the whole TU Graz community. Whether you want to network, study, join an event, or simply relax in the common rooms, the International House is open to everyone!

Graz – My Second Home

In a nutshell, Graz has been my home. As I said at the beginning, I personally did not know it but now I think it will remain in my heart forever and I hope these few lines have inspired you to have an experience like mine. If you are thinking about it: Yes, do it! But don’t think too much – throw yourself at it because it will be one of the craziest and most incredible experiences of your life where smiles will be the undisputed protagonists.