Semester Abroad in Malaysia

Bachelor's student Lynn Mark on her unique semester at the University Teknologi Petronas in Teronoh

My experience at UTP, the friends made, and trips taken all complimented the introduction to new cultures and groups of people and are memories I will never forget. I could not have wished for a better exchange experience.

The campus of UTP spans around 1,000 acres and takes some time getting used to. The main places to highlight are the Oval Park, Chancellor Hall, NADI Student Centre, and CU Mart. Understanding the layout of campus is crucial, especially if you take different courses from various degrees, as each major is spread and separated into different blocks. The campus itself is full of and surrounded by nature.

Communication and support by the partner university was very good. Muzaffar from the university’s student mobility office was extremely helpful in answering any questions I had regarding visa, dormitories, and other organizational matters. As soon as the selection process concluded, I received documents explaining the step-by-step process of applying, registering, and selecting courses.

The range and variety of courses is vast, and you can choose from different departments regardless of your degree. Courses are subcategorized into lectures, tutorials, and labs, and grades are made up of different weightings including assignments, quizzes, tests, and exams. The workload varied depending on subject and professor but was overall similar to MCI. Exams were scheduled within a two-week period at the end of the semester.

Seri Iskandar is a very small university town and not comparable to Innsbruck, but it provides everything needed for daily life. Day-to-day costs are low, especially if you eat at campus canteens. Traveling around Malaysia was convenient and affordable, and participating in university-organized trips and private travels to nearby cities and islands were highlights of my exchange.

My exchange experience was made enjoyable not only by being in a different country, but by the people I met who were inviting, diverse, and on similar paths. The friendships fostered through these experiences are ones I am very grateful for.