Conor Mannering

Why did you choose your host university?

Liechtenstein stood out to be due to its central location in Europe and unique history and size. The university appealed to me because of the student to staff ratio of 12 to 1. Meaning I would be a lot more integrated with my lecturers and tutors compared to nearly any other university.

What was the university like?

The university isn’t the largest but it is very well equipped. Classes were intimate with my largest having only 20 students. UniLi arranges its subjects into shorter intensive blocks that are spread throughout the semester which is very different from my experience but it was nice to focus nearly solely on one subject at a time.

What did you gain from your exchange experience and has it changed the way you think or altered your approach to life?

While not fundamentally changing my approach to things. The cultures I was exposed to overseas will certainly give me new and exciting perspectives in my study and future career.

What accommodation options were available to you?  How affordable was accommodation and would you recommend the same option to others?

Living in the on-campus dormitories was fun and affordable. You can opt to share a room to save a little money or rent in houses nearby if you want to find something a little cheaper still. That being said, sharing the dorms with your peers is super fun and I would highly recommend it. Easily the  best aspect of studying there.

Describe your travel experiences; did you travel locally or to neighbouring countries?

Being located in the alps between Switzerland and Austria means travelling to other counties is quick and easy. And Liechtenstein is a tiny place so you’ll certainly want to before the semester is over. Aside from its neighbours, Germany, Italy and Czech Republic are reachable within a day by train or bus.

Describe how you adjusted to life in a different country and how you met new people.

Adjusting to Liechtenstein was easy as its tiny size made it feel like home in a lot of ways. Everybody knew everybody over there. Meeting people isn’t even an issue when you share common spaces or even rooms with them and everyone became friends so quickly.

Can you see any benefits from this exchange to your future career?

Absolutely. Not only did the university offer me opportunities and experiences I would never had otherwise. The travel I did in my spare time will be equally as important to my learning and how I approach my work in the future.

What advice would you give to a student who was hesitant or considering joining the exchange program?

Unironically just do it.