Education Abroad in Vienna
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Education Abroad in Vienna, Austria, during June 2026!
This intensive, month-long course takes place during the first summer session, beginning after the spring exam period and concluding prior to the second summer session. Drawing on the perspectives from history, geography, and urban studies, “Memory and the City” investigates the ways in which cultural memory has shaped, and continues to shape, urban life in one specific place: Vienna, Austria. With the city as our laboratory, students examine theoretical discussions of memory and the city in a provocative geographical setting. We will visit museums that house the artifacts and attend the cultural events so important to Vienna’s collective memory.
Students earn three semester credit hours for the course, but will receive much more. According to those who have previously taken the course, it can be a life-enriching experience. In addition to the study of urban history, the course readings, the instructor and guest lectures, the films, the class excursions, and the meetings with Austrian students and teachers, perhaps the most striking feature of the program is the personal development and intellectual growth it fosters.
Program Dates: 3 June to 4 July 2026
Information Sessions:
Wednesday, September 17:
1:00 pm in RLP 2.606
Monday, September 29:
11:00 am in RLP 2.606
Thursday, October 23:
4:00 pm in RLP 2.606
Participants speak about their experiences in Vienna...
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Sofia Shopska (Sociology)
What makes this study abroad program truly exceptional is the way it immerses you in the city itself, transforming Vienna into a living classroom. This approach sets the course apart from others. Instead of spending hours indoors, our learning took place in the heart of the city itself. Whether gathered in a discussion at Karlsplatz, examining exhibits at the Hofburg Palace, or sitting on the lawn at the Karl-Marx-Hof, Dr. Hoelscher effectively designed the course to connect each lesson with the urban environment. He consistently encouraged us to think critically about sites of memory and to capture our reflections in daily journal entries, my most cherished souvenir from the trip.
To visit Vienna is one thing. But to live there is to step into an entirely different world. As a student, you begin to feel why it is called the most livable city in the world. You can wander into museums and historic landmarks with ease, effortlessly connected by a public transportation system that brings you to every corner of the city. That livability is also felt in the quiet joy of spending time in beautiful third spaces: parks, plazas, and cafés that invite you to linger, reflect, and belong. And perhaps most profoundly, it is felt in the comfort of affordable housing within safe, clean neighborhoods that truly feel like home.
While the city was unforgettable, it was the people around me who made the experience truly meaningful. As much as I fell in love with the city of Vienna, I fell even more in love with the group I shared it with. I feel incredibly grateful to have spent such a transformative month alongside some of the kindest, most vibrant, intelligent, and inspiring people I have ever met. It’s amazing how the same people you ride bikes with along the Donauinsel and stay up late playing cards with can become lifelong friends. I cannot emphasize enough how magical Vienna is, so I recommend you go and learn for yourself!
Hear more from the students who have taken the Vienna course: student comments
Sofia Shopska (Sociology)
What makes this study abroad program truly exceptional is the way it immerses you in the city itself, transforming Vienna into a living classroom. This approach sets the course apart from others. Instead of spending hours indoors, our learning took place in the heart of the city itself. Whether gathered in a discussion at Karlsplatz, examining exhibits at the Hofburg Palace, or sitting on the lawn at the Karl-Marx-Hof, Dr. Hoelscher effectively designed the course to connect each lesson with the urban environment. He consistently encouraged us to think critically about sites of memory and to capture our reflections in daily journal entries, my most cherished souvenir from the trip.
To visit Vienna is one thing. But to live there is to step into an entirely different world. As a student, you begin to feel why it is called the most livable city in the world. You can wander into museums and historic landmarks with ease, effortlessly connected by a public transportation system that brings you to every corner of the city. That livability is also felt in the quiet joy of spending time in beautiful third spaces: parks, plazas, and cafés that invite you to linger, reflect, and belong. And perhaps most profoundly, it is felt in the comfort of affordable housing within safe, clean neighborhoods that truly feel like home.
While the city was unforgettable, it was the people around me who made the experience truly meaningful. As much as I fell in love with the city of Vienna, I fell even more in love with the group I shared it with. I feel incredibly grateful to have spent such a transformative month alongside some of the kindest, most vibrant, intelligent, and inspiring people I have ever met. It’s amazing how the same people you ride bikes with along the Donauinsel and stay up late playing cards with can become lifelong friends. I cannot emphasize enough how magical Vienna is, so I recommend you go and learn for yourself!
Hear more from the students who have taken the Vienna course: student comments
