Semester Abroad in Slovenia

Leonhard Schmidt reports on his semester abroad at the University of Ljubljana

Why did you choose this particular partner university?

I chose the university in Ljubljana because I preferred to stay in a smaller city like Innsbruck. Ljubljana is the smallest capital city in Europe, so it was a good choice for me. A friend of mine had already done his Erasmus there, so I was able to benefit from his positive experiences. It was also not too far away, which made it easier for me to stay in touch with my friends and family and enabled me to visit home a few times.

How do you like the university city? How do you experience the culture of the host country?

The center of Ljubljana is really beautiful with the castle towering over the city. There are lots of little shops, good restaurants, and nice cafés. However, the city center is geared towards tourism and the outer districts of the city are less inviting.

I found the people in Slovenia to be very nice, helpful, and hospitable. I have been there twice in recent years and have always had the same positive experiences. I would say that the culture is a mixture of the neighboring countries such as Austria, Italy, and Croatia. You can always notice different influences, whether in the architecture, the food, or the mentality. Above all, the Yugoslavian influence cannot be ignored.

Where do you see the biggest differences between your host university and the MCI?

The Faculty of Social Work offered its own courses for Erasmus students, so I had little contact with local students. The courses were consistently less demanding and time-consuming. The MCI is a university of applied sciences, whereas the Faculty of Social Work is part of the University of Ljubljana. This is particularly noticeable in the less strict attendance requirements and the proportion of theoretical courses offered.

What has been the biggest challenge so far during your semester abroad?

The language barrier was very difficult for me during my internship. The faculty offers a 60-hour internship, which is assigned to you according to your stated preferences. Since I don't speak Slovenian and many of the people I was working with don't speak English, building relationships during the internship was challenging at first.

Is there anything else you would like to tell us?

My favorite places in the city were definitely several restaurants that participate in the “stundentski boni” program. Here, you can get a meal, soup, salad, and an apple for three to five euros at many participating restaurants.

I also decided to cycle to Ljubljana, partly to get the Green Travel Bonus and partly to get a better idea of the distance between Innsbruck and Ljubljana and see more of Austria and Slovenia. I was on the road for five days and stayed in hostels and hotels. The best moment was when I crossed the border. It felt like absolute freedom to me.