5 THINGS TO ENJOY ABOUT STUDENT LIFE IN VILLACH

Being a student can be challenging, with the long hours of studying and the challenges of living away from home. But it can also be one of the most memorable and life-changing stages of life, so it’s important to be able to get the most out of it!

This guide covers five things to enjoy about attending university in Villach - from fascinating landscapes and great outdoor leisure activities to the low cost of living, opportunities for a stimulating social life, and the rest of Europe on your doorstep.

Nestled among stunning landscapes, Villach is a city with plenty of things to do and it’s a great place to attend university. Besides offering affordable tuition fees (especially when compared to other cities in Europe), the quality of life is high - in fact, in a 2019 global study Austria came in second place for its quality of life. Also, according to the World Economic Forum and the Global Institute for Peace, Austria ranks 5th out of 128 countries in terms of safety. Read more about Austria in Global rankings here.

1. REASONABLE LIVING EXPENSES

Living expenses for students can be broken down into university fees, accommodation, food, and personal expenses (such as books, transportation, recreation, and so on). Fortunately, the cost of living for students in Villach is lower than in many other places in Europe. 

To start with, university fees are amazingly low compared to many other Western countries: tuition costs at most Austrian universities are approximately €385 per semester and health insurance through ÖGK (the Austrian public health insurance provider) costs around €60 per month.

Students in Austria usually live either in a student dormitory or in private accommodations, and you can expect to pay somewhere between €250 and €450 per month for housing. STUWO student housing, located right next to the Villach campus of the Carinthia University of Applied Sciences (CUAS), offers well-furnished small apartments from €387/month. Another option is STUHO Villach, which is quickly accessible from campus by bus or bike (or car). Here there are mostly single rooms, which can be rented by students, interns, or employed people. Other types of accommodation can be found on platforms such as willhaben.at, through the CUAS Study Info Center (sic@fh-kaernten.at), or the FH Kärnten – find room/roommate in Carinthia Facebook group.

Food and other personal costs are much more difficult to estimate, as everyone makes different choices based on lifestyle and preferences. As a very general estimate, students can expect to pay €250 (or more) per month for food, depending on what you eat, how often you eat out, and so on. Personal costs are also highly variable, but CUAS estimates that students in Villach need around €300 per month for things like books, recreation, and so on.

Find more about estimated monthly living expenses in the CUAS International Student Guide.

2. GET AROUND EASILY WITH VILLACH’S BIKE PATH NETWORK

Cycling is one of the most enjoyable and fastest ways to get around on campus, as well as to explore more of Carinthia. Moreover, the bike path system is being constantly expanded by the city and already consists of around 120 km of well-kept bike paths within Villach and two bike pump stations in case your tires need more air (at the Drauterassen and Moritschstraße). It takes around 13 minutes to get by bike from Villach’s city center to CUAS. The most preferable route to reach the campus is via the Drau cycling path where you can also enjoy the beautiful riverside. 

Do you want to know more about cycling routes in and around Villach? Find the most picturesque biking routes here.

3. STUDENT DISCOUNTS

As a student of CUAS you are entitled to receive numerous discounts in many areas, including recreational activities, restaurants and cafés, cultural events and sites, transportation, and more. Take advantage of the latest discounts for students in Villach here and save money while discovering the region and its beautiful sites.

Banks also offer discounts for student accounts and often give out welcome vouchers, and you can often apply online within minutes. Find a comparison of various student bank account options here.

4. LEISURE TIME IN VILLACH

Studying in Villach is fun, especially for those who enjoy cultural events or being outdoors. Located among magnificent mountains and idyllic lakes, there are a huge variety of recreational and sporting opportunities in every season. A few examples include hiking through forests and fields, mountain climbing, skating on icy lakes, or relaxing in natural thermal pools.

For sports and exercise, there are not only the many sports facilities and clubs in Villach, but students can also take advantage of the Carinthia University of Applied Sciences Sports Club. On their website you can find the dates and times for sports events for the current academic year, available fitness courses, and other athletic pursuits such as ball games, climbing, and more. Through that link you can also check out which discounts FH Kärnten Sport Club members enjoy, including at gym and crossfit facilities, the Alpen Arena, and sports clothing stores.

Apart from numerous opportunities for outdoor and sports activities, quite a few festivals happen in Villach each year. They are among the most popular in Austria, attracting many thousands of visitors! One of these is the “Kirchtag”, which is Austria's largest folk festival and usually takes place during the week around the first Saturday in August. Another great celebration is Villacher Fasching (Carnival) at the end of winter, where people dress up in different costumes, eat delicious food, have lots of fun, and celebrate the time before Roman Catholic Lent begins.

5. THE REST OF EUROPE ON YOUR DOORSTEP

Thanks to its central location at the crossroads of the Alps-Adriatic region of Austria, Italy, and Slovenia, Villach serves as a great starting point for trips around Europe. Beautiful spots in Slovenia, Italy, and Croatia are quickly accessible from Villach, and weekend trips to Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, Germany, or Switzerland are also easy by car or train. Get inspired here about great places to visit that are less than an hour away from Villach! If you have a bit more time and want to see more of Europe, the Austrian rail system’s night trains or the convenient airports in Klagenfurt, Salzburg, Ljubljana, and Venice offer trains or flights to all points on the continent and beyond.

WHAT INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS SAY ABOUT STUDYING IN CARINTHIA

If you are interested in knowing more about how other students experienced their university time in Carinthia, read more on this CUAS blog post.