Tyler’s Fall Semester Abroad in Budapest

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Eager to step into the footsteps of a college student who studied abroad in Hungary? We recently caught up with Tyler from the University of Alabama, a marketing major and international business minor who studied abroad in Budapest during the fall semester. 

Discover how Tyler’s study abroad experience with AIFS Abroad shaped his future and helped him advance his marketing and international business degree. 

Deciding Where & When to Study Abroad 

Choosing where and when to study abroad can be difficult for some people, especially when you get to decide between dozens of amazing destinations with AIFS Abroad! Hear Tyler list some of the reasons why he decided to study abroad in Budapest: 

“Budapest is a very unique city [with] so much history behind it. The architecture, food, and activities are all amazing. Budapest is also significantly cheaper than many other options in Europe.” 

When you study abroad is totally up to you. Whether you’re weighing academic requirements or seasonal preferences, you should choose a term that’s best for you. Tyler opted for the fall semester in Budapest so he could experience the city during a quieter, less touristy season: 

“I chose to study in the fall because I assumed the city and surrounding countries would [have fewer] tourists (especially Americans). Budapest in the late summer and fall is still very pleasant and active.” 

Academics Abroad 

Studying abroad is an excellent opportunity to advance your degree and expand your academic horizons, all while you gain hands-on learning experiences from professors with fresh cultural perspectives. As Tyler explains, Corvinus University in Budapest was an ideal place for someone studying marketing and international business, like himself: 

“Corvinus University is a great place for… business-related studies. The student body is also very diverse, with students from around the globe.” 

Below, Tyler lists all of the classes he took during his study abroad program in Budapest: 

“I took Intro to Hungarian, International Marketing, Corporate Finance, and Budapest: Exploration of the Urban Space. Some of these classes applied to my major and minor, and some were electives.” 

The class structure was also a bit different than what Tyler was used to at his home university, as he describes: 

“My classes are quite similar to classes back home, but there are some minor differences, like taking both a lecture and a practical course for the same class, and most of my classes being only once a week.” 

Language Learning 

AIFS Abroad participants are not required to speak or learn a second language to study abroad. Below, Tyler explains what it was like navigating the language in Hungary: 

“In Budapest, almost all younger people speak English, so the city is very accessible; however, I would recommend… studying the basics of Hungarian a few months prior to the program, as it is a highly complex language, and knowing the basics will be helpful, and the locals will appreciate it. All the classes in the Corvinus program are in English, so language in class was not an issue.” 

Cultural Appreciation 

Studying abroad allows you to immerse yourself in a new international environment, often inspiring cultural learning and appreciation. As Tyler explains, he valued how respectful the Hungarian people are: 

“Hungarians are generally very quiet and reserved and have respect for others in public, which makes Budapest a very calm and clean city, which I greatly admired.” 

While some people experience culture shock when they study abroad, many others don’t. It can sound intimidating, but culture shock is really just the experience of adjusting to a new environment—one that can lead to greater cultural appreciation and significant personal growth. Hear Tyler explain his experience with culture shock (or lack thereof) in Hungary: 

“I did not experience culture shock (at least negatively). Hungary, to me, did not feel very different from the U.S. Most things that surprised me did so because they were better than I had expected.” 

Many AIFS Abroad programs offer volunteering and service learning opportunities, which are great ways to give back to the community and connect on a more meaningful level with locals. As Tyler explains, volunteering in Budapest was one of his favorite moments during his time abroad: 

“My favorite cultural experience was getting to volunteer at a high school in Budapest and present about college life in the USA to a class of Hungarian students who were very surprised [by] some of our traditions and practices.” 

Housing 

Housing is included in all AIFS Abroad programs. Tyler stayed in a dorm, which, he explains, provided many opportunities to make friends: 

“I lived in a student dorm, which is very modern and in an excellent location. There are also Hungarians and other European Erasmus Students living in the dorm, so it is very convenient socially as well.” 

Making Friends Abroad 

In addition to housing, AIFS Abroad study abroad programs provide plenty of other opportunities to make friends—from a welcome orientation where you can meet other students early on to included trips and social activities that help you bond throughout your program. As someone who went abroad by himself, Tyler shares what it’s like to study abroad on your own with AIFS Abroad: 

“I knew nobody [from my program beforehand]. However, it is quite easy to make friends with other American and European Erasmus students as they are likely in the same boat. Budapest also has an incredible social [and nightlife] scene.”