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Want to hear from a college student who did a study abroad program in Hungary? We recently caught up with AIFS Abroad participant Caitlin from Northern Illinois University who spent her fall semester studying abroad in the city of Budapest.
Hungary to learn more about Caitlin’s experience as a study abroad student in Budapest with AIFS Abroad? Read on!
Choosing a Study Abroad Program Destination & Term
Deciding when and where to study abroad isn’t easy for many students (our team can help with that!). Keep in mind that no matter which program you choose, you’re in for unforgettable experiences that will benefit your personal life and help you achieve your academic goals.
The fall semester is an excellent time to study abroad. Hear Caitlin explain why she made this choice and why she’s happy she did:
“The seasons of Budapest are very similar to my hometown, which was nice as I didn’t have to adjust to an entirely different climate. I think fall was the perfect time [because] when I got to Budapest, I got to [enjoy] the heat of the summer while exploring the beautiful flowers all around. By the end of my time, the cold had set in, and I [could experience] all the winter activities that Budapest puts on. Highlights of the winter season were the first snowfall, ice skating rinks, and best of all… the Christmas markets!”
Additionally, she was happy her program was as long as it was:
“Whenever I spoke with anybody who had studied abroad, they always told me they wished they would’ve gone for longer or could go again. I took this as a sign that I needed to try and go for as long as I could. Being able to spend 4 months in a country across the world allows you to settle into the culture and truly get to explore and get familiar with where you’re studying abroad.”
Here’s why she chose Budapest for her study abroad destination:
“I chose Budapest for my study abroad semester due to the classes that were offered and the fact that it was a more affordable program. I was specifically looking for an AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business)-accredited school due to [academic requirements], and Corvinus University of Budapest was exactly that. I wasn’t too strict on what country or region I wanted to go to as I was willing to go anywhere to be able to have the study abroad experience. Budapest just happened to be the perfect fit for classes and a cheaper program with a lot of extra benefits. I believe every student should look at Budapest because Corvinus University offers much more than just business classes. I met a ton of other students who were majoring in different areas [of study], which made it a great place to connect and get to know others in separate majors. Budapest is a wonderful city overall, with all types of events and cultural experiences for everyone to enjoy. I never got bored being there as there was always something new to see or do.”
Academics
For many study abroad students like Caitlin, academics are a vital part of the study abroad experience—while travel is a big part, your school plays a major role in your experience abroad! The right academic experience will allow you to expand your knowledge while you gain new skills and develop a wider global perspective. Cornivus University of Budapest was a perfect option for Caitlin because she’s a business management major, and Cornivus University is an AACSB-accredited university that has a major business school. Here’s what Caitlin had to say about her classes in Budapest:
“While in Budapest, I attended Corvinus University and took five different classes: Management Skills, Corporate Finance, Organizational Theory and Behavior, Online and Digital Marketing, and Human Resource Management. It was quite different from an American school as all classes were structured as a lecture with a seminar right after, each class was 3 hours, once a week. There also wasn’t very much homework or strict structure to the classes, but a lot of group work in each.”
Caitlin liked how her classes abroad had students from a wide variety of different countries, not just those with AIFS Abroad or from the U.S.:
“Classes at Corvinus University for me were mixed with students from all over. Only one of my classes was pretty heavily filled with Americans. Classes were a lecture followed by a seminar. I really liked my classes with more international students as I gained more insight into the world and different cultures. A lot of my classrooms were… in smaller classrooms and not big auditoriums.”
In addition, Caitlin was able to design her class schedule to maximize the days she had off, allowing her to easily travel and take trips on the weekend:
“I took 5 classes while studying abroad. Luckily, I was able to schedule my classes so I only had to go in [from] Tuesday [to] Thursday, making for a four-day weekend! My Tuesdays consisted of one class mid-day, Wednesdays had two classes: one in the morning and one in the early afternoon, and Thursdays were one morning class and one later evening class, which was sometimes hard to sit through since it was so late. Overall, I really enjoyed having four-day weekends as it let me travel throughout the weekend!”
One of the benefits of studying abroad is the chance to complete required classes for your home university at your program destination—if your school approves! Have a class you’d rather experience in an incredible international city? Do as Caitlin did and finish those requirements abroad!
“The class that really stood out for me was corporate finance. At my home university, corporate finance is known as an extremely hard class that not everybody passes the first time around. I was excited to be able to take it abroad with a different instructor. Although the content was still challenging, I thoroughly enjoyed my professor as she was understanding and very relatable. I passed the class and will be forever grateful that I took it abroad.”
Sustainability: Green Ambassador Scholarship
AIFS Abroad offers a variety of scholarship opportunities for study abroad and international internship students. Caitlin was the recipient of the Green Ambassador Scholarship, which is awarded to applicants who demonstrate a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.
“Being a scholarship recipient of the AIFS Abroad Green Ambassador Program taught me a lot about sustainability in Hungary. I think Europe does an amazing job of practicing sustainability, and we have a lot to learn from them. From reusable personal grocery bags, attached bottle caps, and public transportation to 2–3-day grocery supplies, they do so much for the environment. I especially loved how my apartment and university encouraged sustainability practices like using refillable water bottles throughout campus and at home. I have used a lot of what I learned and carried it back here with me to teach others about [sustainability].”
Friendships and Social Life
Whether you choose to study abroad with friends from home or set out by yourself, you’re in for an amazing experience. The idea of going to a new country where you don’t know anyone can be daunting, but remember that no matter where you study abroad, there will be other AIFS Abroad students who want to make friends—just like you!
“Building personal and professional connections while abroad is very important as when your time is up, keeping relationships can lead to future visits! I built personal relationships with friends I met through class by going out to get a bite to eat or a drink or inviting them on little excursions. It was important to me to find a friend group that had similar values and vision for what they wanted to achieve while abroad. It took me a little while to find those people, but when I did, it was so amazing. I am still in contact with them today and will be seeing one soon as she is visiting me here in the US. My advice for future students: take the first step and say hello! A lot of the time, it’ll pay off [because] others are also hoping to make new friends but might be too shy to say hello even if they want to.”
AIFS Abroad Cultural & Social Activities and Trips
Every AIFS Abroad program offers several cultural and social activities, as well as day trips and excursions—and they’re included in our program fees. Cultural and social activities are designed to help you learn more about the local culture and connect with other AIFS Abroad program participants. Day trips and excursions will take you to a range of sites throughout your host country to deepen your knowledge of the program destination and enrich your experience overall. Caitlin participated in the following AIFS Abroad activities and trips:
“I attended all the AIFS-sponsored events besides one (Opera House), which means I did a food tour, cooking class, Lake Balaton trip, Szentendre trip, and a few dinners! These excursions [and activities] made it really engaging to be in Budapest and let me learn a lot more about the culture. My favorite one has to be the cooking class, as we made one of my favorite dishes there, chicken paprikash. It was so great to learn how to cook a traditional meal as I was able to bring that home with me and make it for my family!”
Some programs may include additional trips coordinated by AIFS Abroad that you can participate in for an extra fee, like the following:
“One of the extra trips that we could [participate in] was to Vienna, Austria. I absolutely loved that AIFS Abroad offered a guided trip here because I had visited Vienna a few weeks before the program but got to do and learn a lot more when I went with my program. I think it is extremely beneficial to go on these trips as it gives you access to a lot more knowledge about where you’re visiting, and you’ll have a solid group to rely on.”
Adjusting to the Culture
Although some people experience culture shock as they adjust to their host city, it’s not always a negative experience, and it can happen in varying degrees. At first, the change can be jarring, but as you immerse yourself in the local culture, you’ll likely grow to love it and appreciate it, allowing it to expand your perspective.
One of Caitlin’s favorite things about the culture in Hungary was how they lived a slower pace of life, not feeling the need to rush through everyday moments:
“Something I really admired about Hungarian culture (and most of Europe’s culture) is the amount of time they take when dining out or getting a drink. In America, we are all about getting in and out of restaurants or coffee shops; (for businesses) more people equals more money. However, in Hungary, there were several times I spent hours at one restaurant with my friends just enjoying our time and our meal. I thoroughly loved this as I never felt rushed and was present in the moment, enjoying every second. I’ve been trying to apply this at home as well, but there is a sense of pressure here that once you finish your meal or drink and pay, you’re expected to leave.”
Language Immersion
Many prospective study and intern abroad students wonder, “Do I need to learn a second language to study abroad?” No! You don’t need to be fluent in another language to study or intern abroad, and many programs, like Caitlin’s, don’t require any language classes whatsoever.
“Going to Budapest did not require you to be fluent in Hungarian, luckily, as it is the 5th hardest language to learn! When I arrived, I had already looked up some common words to know, just in case, such as ‘please,’ ‘thank you,’ ‘hello,’ and ‘goodbye.’ I learned a couple of other random words or phrases, but ultimately, I didn’t need to use them regularly. When it comes to language immersion, I think that as an American, we should be grateful all these other countries are learning English. I had lots of Hungarians and others apologize for their ‘bad’ English (even though I could perfectly understand them), but I always told them that I was sorry I didn’t know anything else!”
Housing
All AIFS Abroad study abroad programs include housing, which usually include a homestay, student residence, and a shared apartment. Caitlin was very satisfied with her new on-campus dorm:
“I was in a new modern dormitory [building] on the Buda side. I liked that even though it was a dorm room, there was enough room to still feel like I had some personal space from my roommate. My room was on a corner unit, which made for an amazing window view!”
Watch Caitlin’s Instagram takeover video on YouTube to learn more about her housing and other experiences studying abroad in Budapest. (Go to 3:19 in the video to hear her discuss housing and see pictures of her room—the dorm is truly beautiful!)
Why AIFS Abroad?
Here’s why Caitlin chose an AIFS Abroad program:
“My situation was a little more difficult in terms of what my home university was going to accept and not accept. When I found AIFS Abroad and their Budapest program, I was instantly drawn in by the amount of information they provided. When looking for specific classes, I was easily able to find what majors their programs fit into and could see what classes they offered, with descriptions [for each]. I had a lot of questions as well, which meant a lot of emails, but [the] AIFS Abroad [team] always responded in a timely manner and [provided] a lot of extra resources. I genuinely appreciated the support they offered before I had even committed to their program as I was very lost in the process and wasn’t even sure where to begin.”
Caitlin also found AIFS Abroad’s pre-departure and on-site support beneficial:
“Before my trip, I really appreciated all the support and pre-departure meetings to make sure everybody felt prepared and ready to leave. I also liked that we had an AIFS Abroad [Program Director] in Budapest to connect with and rely on [for local] tips or help. It made me feel a lot more comfortable knowing I could call a responsible adult who was nearby if I needed something. (It also made my parents feel better!) I am lucky enough to be a student ambassador now for AIFS Abroad, which is great—I get to stay connected to the study abroad programs and teach others all about the resources and help AIFS Abroad offered me.”
Final Thoughts & Advice
If you’re a student looking to study abroad in the future, Caitlin offers the following advice:
“Get ready for one of the greatest and most challenging experiences of your life. The journey you are about to embark on is going to teach you so many things about yourself that you didn’t know you were capable of. Make sure you push yourself to try new things, say yes to student groups, and explore who you are as a person. [The person] you depart as will not be quite the same as [the one who] returns. Your ability to rely on yourself, your independence, your adaptability, and your curiosity are going to bloom during this time.
Don’t forget to take care of yourself and reach out to those who you miss—they miss you even more. It is okay to feel homesick; in fact, it is very normal; make sure you bring things with you that remind you of home during these moments.
Make sure you give yourself credit for all the amazing things you’re accomplishing. There aren’t many of us who study abroad, so be proud of yourself! Lastly, do not forget to take as many photos and videos as possible because time flies by when you’re having fun, and you want to make sure you can look back on all the great things you’ve done. I am so excited for you to be able to take this opportunity and make it into something grand—enjoy every little moment!”
Are you a student who’s interested in doing a study abroad program in Budapest with AIFS Abroad? We’d love to help you start your journey!
Here at AIFS Abroad, we know a thing or two about helping college students study abroad. Our programs come with many valuable inclusions, which takes a lot of the stress out of planning. From coordinating your housing to providing things like cultural and social activities, excursions, comprehensive insurance, 24/7 emergency support, on-site staff, and more, you’ll take comfort in knowing you’ll have support throughout your entire experience abroad.