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Living in Austria

Actually living in Austria can be one of the most exciting aspects of your study abroad experience. It allows you to observe, understand and appreciate cultures and values that are different from your own.

 

• Dorm Living
• Family accommodation
• Helping students make the right choice
• What about my independence?
• Other options
• Commuting to the College
• Most meals included

Dorm Living

The dorm facility available to you is cozy in size and situated in its own large park within 10 minutes walking distance from the Salzburg College study center. Community and environmentally conscious living are emphasized at this dorm facility. Students are encouraged to join social groups or maybe even the wind orchestra or choir.

You will be sharing a double room with another student, most likely with an Austrian. Living in this dorm will give you the unique opportunity to gain a hands-on experience of Austrian student life. Amenities include: your own bath, lounge, library, music rehearsal rooms, fitness room, a completely fitted kitchen on each floor, laundry facilities as well as a volleyball and a soccer field in the park. Single rooms are available on request and at extra charge.

 Family accommodation

While the families provide a "home away from home", they also recognize your need for privacy and independence. The Austrian families taking in Salzburg College students represent many different ways of life, in terms of social background and family structure.

A family may consist of parents and several children, or the children may already have left the house giving space to the Salzburg College sons and daughters. Sometimes two generations live in one house. Some students share a home with a single lady.

Families demonstrate different levels of language proficiency. This corresponds roughly to the needs of students in the program, some of whom want "German only" situations to improve their language proficiency and others who feel safer if they can initially communicate in English.

Helping students make the right choice

The process of matching you with the right kind of living situation is something we take very seriously because we realize that this will constitute a major aspect of your European experience. For this reason we ask to you tell us as much as you can about yourself on our housing form and in your biographical sketch. The fall and spring semester assignments are not based on the housing forms alone, but also on personal interviews conducted during the initial one-week field trip. We will meet in small groups or individually to discuss your needs, preferences, and concerns. Upon arrival in Salzburg you will either be met by your Austrian host family or your roommate and/or director of the dorm facility.

What about my independence?

Both the dorm facility and the Austrian host families recognize that Salzburg College students are young adults. There are no curfews or similar rules (other than your usual family or dorm house rules such as being considerate towards others, preserving energy, locking certain doors, etc.). You are expected to exercise common courtesy such as coming in quietly after a late night out.

Ultimately, it is up to you to decide to what extent you want to be involved in a family life or with your peers at the dorm. You choose and determine your level of involvement and independence.

Other options

Students who do not feel comfortable with the homestay option, especially non-traditional students or married couples, are encouraged to request an alternate option, which the Salzburg College staff will be happy to arrange.

Commuting to the College

Students live all over town. While some will live in walking distance to the College, others may be a fifteen minutes to half an hour commute away. Depending on where you are located you can choose to either walk, bike or ride the bus to school.

Public transportation and biking are common and very efficient in Salzburg. The Salzburg College study center is located down the street from the main intersecting point of the bus system. Students pay a weekly or monthly pass which allows them to use the bus at all times, not just to commute between home and school.

Bus schedule (Salzburg AG)

One of the main biking paths of Salzburg runs along the river by the Salzburg College study center and connects to a large net of these paths and biking lanes. Bikes can be rented or sometimes even families provide them. Bikes are not recommended in heavy snow, which may be typical for January / February, or if you are not used to riding bicycles in traffic.

Biking paths in Salzburg

Most meals included

Unlike most study abroad programs, Salzburg College includes housing and most meals in the one-time program fee. Breakfast, dinner, and most weekend meals are provided by the host families. Weekday breakfasts and dinners are included in the dorm living option. Lunch is provided for almost every weekday.

Students are responsible for some meals during the Bavaria and Vienna field trips and when they travel independently.

 

Student Voices

"My host family was really great and would always have fun stuff we could do whenever I wasn't busy. They went out of their way to make sure my time here was great!"

K. R., Montana State University