AIFS Abroad Student Spotlight: Hannah’s Spring in Budapest

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Eager to step into the footsteps of a college student who did a study abroad program in Hungary? We recently caught up with Hannah from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, a finance major and legal studies minor who studied abroad in Budapest during spring semester. 

Discover how Hannah’s study abroad experience with AIFS Abroad helped her advance her degree and make friends with students from around the world. 

Deciding Where & When to Study Abroad 

Choosing where and when to study abroad isn’t always easy, especially considering all of AIFS Abroad’s amazing program destinations! Hear Hannah explain why she chose to study abroad in Budapest: 

“I chose Budapest because I was curious about a part of Europe I hadn’t yet experienced. While it’s not as commonly chosen as places like Florence or Barcelona, I was drawn to its safety, affordability, and strong academics. Studying at Corvinus University, a local, AACSB-accredited institution ranked among the top 6% of business schools globally, was a major factor in my decision. I also appreciated that there were fewer American study abroad students, which helped me fully immerse myself in local life and culture. One of the things I value most about my experience is that I attended a local university, rather than an American-style institution abroad. It gave me a truly global academic and cultural perspective.” 

Can’t decide on a term? Whether you study abroad during the fall or spring semesters, or choose a short-term program like summer or May Term, depends largely on your personal and academic preferences. Below, Hannah says why she’s glad she studied abroad in Budapest during spring semester: 

“I chose to study in the spring, and I am very glad I did! As the semester progressed, the days grew longer and the weather became warmer, but never as unbearably hot as in the summer. This made it perfect for sightseeing and spending time outdoors. Traveling in the spring was also more enjoyable, with fewer crowds and better prices compared to the busy summer or winter holiday seasons. Studying abroad in the spring also provided a smooth transition into my summer job and vacation plans, without the pressure of heading straight back into another semester of school.” 

Academic Experience 

Studying abroad is a chance to branch out academically. Not only can you take unique courses, but you can also engage in subject matter in a new way—learning from professors with local insights and speaking with international students from around the world. As Hannah put it, the diversity of the student body at Cornivus University in Budapest was a big advantage: 

“I attended Corvinus University in Budapest. My favorite part of the university was the diversity of the student body. There were students from all over the world, not just from the U.S. I had the opportunity to work with classmates from a wide range of countries, including Germany, Italy, Portugal, Turkey, and many others! … This variety allowed me to expand my social and professional network in many ways, and I truly believe it made a huge difference in my experience compared to studying abroad exclusively with other American students.” 

Interested in what a class schedule can look like for a finance major and legal studies minor studying abroad in Budapest? See Hannah’s schedule below: 

Monday

• 5:20 pm – 6:50 pm: Operations Management (seminar) 

Tuesday

• 8:00 am – 9:30 am: Operations Management (lecture) 

• 9:50 am – 11:20 am: Organizational Theory and Behavior (lecture) 

• 5:20 pm – 6:50 pm: Organizational Theory and Behavior (seminar) 

Wednesday 

• 8:00 am –9:30 am: Marketing (lecture) 

Thursday

• 1:40 pm – 3:20 pm: Marketing (seminar) 

While schedules can vary widely, AIFS Abroad participants can often choose their own schedule, depending on their program and academic requirements. 

Navigating Language Barriers Abroad 

While you are not required to speak or learn a second language to study abroad, many students choose to enroll in language courses. Hear Hannah describe her experience navigating language barriers in Budapest: 

“When I first arrived in Budapest, I was told that Hungarian is not only a difficult language to learn, but also quite different from most other languages. This made me a bit nervous about getting around and communicating. However, I also learned that many young Hungarians around my age speak fairly good English, partly because they are among the first generations to grow up with Western entertainment. That said, I would still recommend that students immerse themselves in the local language as much as possible. It would have been a huge help to me and made the experience even more enriching.” 

As she explains, language barriers can be an opportunity for personal growth: 

“One cultural experience that really helped me grow, though I hadn’t expected it, was often being the only native English speaker in my project groups. I was impressed by how well many of my European classmates spoke English, but there were still moments when they struggled to fully express their thoughts. This included difficulties with shortening text for slides, answering specific questions clearly, or navigating tricky grammar that might come more naturally to a fluent speaker. As a result, I often took on the role of organizing everyone’s ideas and turning them into clear, easy-to-understand slideshows or writing group essays based on the bullet points and input they provided. This experience not only helped me grow as a leader but also taught me the importance of listening closely and incorporating diverse perspectives into collaborative work.” 

Housing 

Housing is included in all AIFS Abroad programs. Hannah stayed in an on-campus student residence, which she details below: 

“While at Corvinus, I stayed in the [dorms] with the rest of my program, as well as students from around the world. I really appreciated the opportunity to engage with people from diverse backgrounds. The dorm setup was also similar to the housing situation at American universities, which definitely helped ease the transition and made the adjustment feel less overwhelming.” 

Making Friends Abroad 

Between student housing, trips and excursions, as well as social and cultural activities, AIFS Abroad study abroad programs offer many opportunities for making friends with other people in your program, as Hannah explains: 

“During my first week in Budapest, we were given a variety of orientations, tours, and info sessions courtesy of AIFS. We also had the opportunity to attend an opera performance early on, and a farewell dinner during our final week. I truly believe these experiences helped me make the most of everything AIFS and Budapest had to offer, while also allowing me to form deeper connections with the other students in my program and with our Program Director.” 

 Below, Hannah offers some advice for making friends abroad: 

“I would recommend that study abroad students connect with peers from a variety of backgrounds, as I often discovered unexpected similarities with students from places I previously knew very little about. I had great conversations with students from other countries about sports, music, movies, and more. Studying abroad truly expanded my social horizons, and I now feel confident that I have connections around the world I could reach out to if I ever visit their home countries.” 

Trips & Excursions