Life in the University Prep Course

MU introduced the University Preparatory Course this past fall to prepare potential students to enter the bachelor degree programs. The aim is for students to achieve the level of proficiency in mathematics and English to qualify for the Bachelor programs, as well as Basic German, European Culture and Introduction to IT, as well as Food & Beverage Training. We caught up with Joakim Jönsson to get a student's perspective on life in the prep course.

''My name is Joakim and I come from Sweden. I was born in Gothenburg, one of the larger cities in Sweden (which means it’s not that big, let’s be honest), but I am, however, half Argentinean. I moved to Switzerland in 1999 and studied at the International School of Basel, where I completed the IB in 2012.

I first heard about MODUL when Andreas and Leopold (the cool blonde guys) came and spoke to people in my grade (then grade 11, one year before I graduated) and they asked who was interested in management and tourism. I answered in affirmative to that question, so we went into my college counselor’s room, and the rest is history, really! 

I was very worried about the mathematical aspect of the course (BBA in Tourism and Hospitality). I graduated from high school and did not really know where I was going to study, and Vienna seemed a bit far-fetched for many reasons such as homesickness and of course that the university might be a bit too hard for me at the time. After my long vacation in Argentina my sister asked me why I didn’t just go to Vienna, and so she researched the university and found out about the preparatory course on the website.

What happened after went by really quickly - emails to Admissions and the Student Service Center, and getting all my transcripts together from old college counselors, etc. I was told it would be just students from China, which worried me a bit because I could not speak Chinese. However, I also learned that I could take classes from ICHM (International Course in Hotel Management) at the Tourism College MODUL. This sounded amazing, plus accommodation in student housing was included along with many other things, so I did not hesitate to apply.

A typical week for me is somewhat different to the other students in the prep course, as I am in many classes at the MODUL College. On Monday I have intercultural communication at 12:50 with ICHM, and then I have either service class or cooking class, which normally run until 7 o’clock. On Tuesdays I have Financial Accounting with ICHM and then German class (still in ICHM). Wednesdays I have Hotel management and Operations, Thursdays are Marketing and Human Resources, Fridays are for the nice trips up to K-Berg as I call it [Kahlenberg hill, where the MODUL University campus is located] and have many hours of Mathematics. Fridays really take it out of you!

Living on my own for the first time was like ripping off a band aid, it had to happen, sooner or later, I chose sooner. It helps that Vienna has the highest quality of life in the world (although this can be found anywhere, just depends how your mind is set). My dad works in Berlin which makes his proximity a great asset for me, he visits me a lot and we stay in Grinzing [in the 19th district of Vienna]. This helps me to not feel so far away. My mom and sister have also visited, which means sightseeing, and you realize how nice the city really is! I have made great friends (many from the uni) in the dorm and in ICHM. The public transport is great and getting places is facilitated.

I really hope to be on Kahlenberg doing my BBA next year; I have worked very hard and sacrificed a lot to reach the university. It is a great location as well, everyone keeps saying, and when up there it truly is. I have made great friends with many students from the university and the prep course and ICHM have really helped me.

In middle and high school my teachers were very mediocre at teaching me math which led me to lose interest and doubt myself in the subject. Already since October, my knowledge has increased more than all those years in school. I am on a good path!''