In February 2020, we received notification from the FHDW International Office that we could now apply for a theory semester abroad. Depending on the degree program, students could choose from various locations and countries and I opted for the cities of Budapest and Riga. The application process was very easy and with the help of the International Office, the last questions were quickly clarified. Since everyone involved did not know whether a semester abroad was even possible in times of Corona, the decision was somewhat delayed.

At the end of May, I received a conditional acceptance for a theory semester in Budapest. In cooperation with the International Office, the Examinations Office and other students who have also received conditional acceptance, we have drawn up a contingency plan on how we can complete our studies within the standard period of study despite the pandemic and a possible cancellation of our stay abroad. I would therefore like to thank you once again for your excellent support. Fortunately, this scenario did not occur and my stay abroad was able to start (almost) without a hitch.

I had already booked a flight for September 6, but on August 28 I was informed that Hungary would no longer allow foreigners to enter the country from September 1. At that time, nobody knew exactly what this meant, so I decided to change my flight and arrive a week earlier. In hindsight, I can say that the stress was worth it and I had an extra week to get to know the city and new people.

Finding accommodation was also very easy. You had the option of choosing one of three different halls of residence at Budapest Metropolitan University or looking for a shared flat or apartment on your own. Both have advantages and disadvantages. For example, the halls of residence are a little cheaper, but also a little further out. You often live in a room with another person and there are shared kitchens and showers. That’s why I looked for a shared flat on the internet. You can actually find a flat share at wg-gesucht.de and I quickly found what I was looking for. I shared a very nice apartment in the middle of Budapest with two other German students. Apart from that, you can also find lots of apartments on offer in various Facebook groups. The average monthly rent is between 300 and 400 euros if you opt for districts 5 – 8, which are recommended in my opinion.

In advance, the International Office took care of comparing the content of all modules of the 4th semester at the FHDW with the modules offered at the Metropolitan University (METU) and then told me which courses I had to register for. METU is easy to reach by public transport. Nevertheless, I wasn’t able to go to the university once because Corona also affected the face-to-face events. At the introductory event, I was told that only online lectures could take place in the first two weeks, but that after that, the course would continue as usual. Unfortunately, nothing came of it and I only had online courses for the whole semester.

This situation was not only new for me, but for all students, lecturers and other staff at the university. In my opinion, however, it worked very well and the lecturers tried to make the courses as creative and interesting as possible. In addition, despite nine lectures a week, I had a lot of free time and was able to discover a lot of Budapest and Hungary.

This city has many facets, offers enormous diversity and is very exciting, whether for young or old. For me, there was nothing better than sitting outside in the sunshine in a café or bar by the Danube and enjoying life in Budapest. There are so many sights, such as the Parliament, the Castle Palace, Heroes’ Square or the thermal baths, which you should definitely visit. The city is also very lively and there is never a quiet moment. For example, when I came home from a birthday party, I witnessed a film shoot in the middle of the night and it was impossible to go into my apartment because everything was cordoned off.

Unfortunately, the well-known Christmas markets could not open due to corona, but the Christmas season in Budapest is still something special because everything is so magnificently decorated and adorned, as you can see in my photos. Fortunately, Hungary was not yet so badly affected by corona at the beginning of my stay and I was able to experience the first two months almost without restrictions. The cost of living in Budapest is roughly comparable to that in Germany. With the financial support of the Erasmus+ scholarship, you can definitely lead a carefree life in this beautiful city.