Erasmus Student Network: Getting started for international students
Almost half of the people studying in Innsbruck are international students. Around 800 of them are in Innsbruck through the Erasmus program. They stay in Innsbruck preferably for one, but at most two semesters and then return to their home universities in other EU countries. The Erasmus Student Network helps them to find a connection quickly.
INNSBRUCK. When you first come to a new city, you are faced with the challenge of being all alone in a strange city and not knowing anyone. The local offices are also often unfamiliar to you. As a rule, it takes a little time until you have found friends and can orientate yourself. In particular, students who come to Innsbruck via the Erasmus program do not have this time, as many of them already start their journey home after a semester, which normally lasts no longer than five months. For this reason, the “Erasmus Student Network” ESN was founded in 1990, which is also active in Innsbruck.
support from the start
Right at the beginning of the semester, the network organizes various events to bring exchange students into contact with each other and to give them an overview of the city and what the city has to offer for students. The offer ranges from city trips and hikes to film evenings and not to forget parties. As Sophie Modert from ESN Innsbruck explains, many of the Erasmus students often attend ESN events, especially at the beginning. Many students would get to know each other at the ESN events, from which friendships and groups would form, which then also meet outside of the ESN events. ESN Innsbruck is organized by a large number of voluntary students who have already studied abroad themselves, which is why the European student network and their work are also completely unknown to many domestic students. However, those planning to study abroad via the European Union’s Erasmus program need not worry about catching up, thanks to ESN and its dedicated teams.
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