Universidad Pablo de Olavide

I was at UPO for one year and I loved it! I was originally only supposed to be there for one semester, but extended it to two semesters because I had such a great time. I met so many people - other internationals through my classes, and spaniards through the activities CUI arranged. The university also offered different trips and activities, such as flamenco shows, the trip to Italica, etc. The "Spanish Tables" made it possible to meet and speak with other people from Spain - free food and great practice! The teachers are awesome, the classes were fun and the school is great! I lived with a fantastic host family, and feel like I really got to know the Spanish culture because of that.

The academic support at UPO is not that great but the location you are in for Sevilla study abroad programs is amazing. The academics are vastly different and do not even offer the ability to view your grades.

The campus of the Universidad Pablo de Olavide is located a little outside the city center, but still easily accessible by metro. In addition to the regular Spanish study program, the International Center of the university was also located here and thus our study place for the four months in Spain. The Universidad Pablo de Olavide (UPO) offers two types of programs for international students. 1. PIU In the PIU you sit in a class with the "normal" Spanish students. Often the language of instruction is Spanish, but there are also PIU courses in English. In general, we were given the impression that the PIU program is a bit more demanding and longer than the alternative - the Hispanic Study Program. 2. Hispanic Study Program We finally decided to go with this study program. In the Hispanic Study Program, only internationals sit in a course. In our case, Americans and German colleagues from other DHBW locations. With a few exceptions, the courses offered here are in English and offer a wide range of possible lectures. In addition, the Hispanic Study is a bit shorter than the PIU- from late January to mid/late May. On our first day of study, along with all the other internationals, we were warmly welcomed by UPO staff and faculty. Afterwards, we were given a tour of the university campus and provided with organizational information such as class schedule, student ID, etc. In addition to the traditional student life, UPO also has two cafeterias, a gym and many sports facilities. Thus, there was always something to do and the time at the university could be spent well. The lecturers in Seville convinced us with their nice and personal manner and (despite this) immense expertise. We were allowed to address all lecturers by their first names and were always welcome to ask questions or clarifications. In addition, each lecturer knew the names of his students and attached great importance to the interpersonal. On the last evening, we were even able to toast with them to the completed semester! In addition to studying, leisure time should not be neglected. Therefore, we would like to conclude with some information, because leisure activities in Seville are like sand on the nearby sea. Let's start with the International Office of the UPO, which tries very hard to integrate international students at the university. In addition to weekly sports events (soccer, volleyball, etc., with internationals and locals), the CUI of the UPO regularly organizes cultural events, which serve to get a deeper insight into Andalusian life. These events include regular meetings to exchange with Spanish students (International Tables), free cinema visits, or cultural excursions (visit to an olive oil farm, trip to the ancient city of Italica, etc.). Outside of UPO, there are of course plenty of opportunities to enjoy your free time. Small getaways into the surroundings and insights into the Andalusian cuisine should not be missed. It is helpful to join the Erasmus Club (C. Pagés del Corro,137) and to interact consciously with locals (insider tips, invitations, etc.). Finally, the nightlife in Seville should not be neglected. In principle, it can be said that the Andalusian as such is usually in a celebratory mood and therefore, no matter what day of the week, you will find at least half-full locations. Especially on the weekends, the bars and clubs of the city are then particularly full and sometimes a bit crowded. If you catch a big party, you have to be content with minimal space, but the atmosphere is of course great. The dominant music genre in any big discotheques (Uhtopia, Occo, Abril), is reggaeton, a mixture of reggae, hip-hop, rap and EDM. If you are used to German clubs, you have to expect a few evenings of acclimatization here. For those who are not at all comfortable with this form of music, international bars, such as the "Bare Nostrum" are probably the place to go. Nightlife in southern Spain usually starts at 10 p.m., in the city's tapas bars, and the clubs don't wake up until around 2 a.m., which turns the German rhythm a little upside down, especially towards the beginning. But once you get used to the Spanish rhythm, you will definitely enjoy the nightlife in Seville.