BA Politics student Alexander Markusson knew that he wanted to study somewhere that sports were a focus, and University of Texas at Austin was the perfect choice. He not only dove into world of American university sport culture, but relished the opportunity to be taught by industry experts.

Hi, my name is Alex, and last year I studied at the University of Texas at Austin, commonly referred to as UT. Having returned to Queen Mary, I wanted to break down what I believe makes the school so special and why I would encourage anyone to do their Year Abroad at the school. From campus life to the school’s love for its sports teams, UT and Austin as a city is an incredible place to live in and I knew within the first two weeks of being there that I had picked the right place.  

Campus Life 

One of the key reasons why I picked UT was because of the campus. Living in London is unlike any other city in the world, having access to so many opportunities and experiences is amazing. However, I knew that when picking a place to do my year abroad, I would pick something that is still different to London. Somewhere with a bigger, more campus oriented and a place where the university is the pride and joy of the city. This is where I stumbled onto UT and its campus.  

The ‘40 Acres’ is a beautiful stretch of land located in Central Austin. All classes are situated there, and it hosts numerous study spots and green areas where I often find myself relaxing in the sun. It is a super modern campus that is constantly being developed, and it is obvious that the university really wants to invest and keep up with the increased use of technology in education. While Austin is still one of the biggest cities in the United States, the university dominates the downtown and central areas of the city, and it can still be described as a university city. UT is the pride and joy of the entire state of Texas, being the focal point for sports and education while being situated in the state capital of Austin.  

Sports Culture  

A big reason I picked UT is because of its sports programmes. Texas consistently ranks in the top 5 overall athletics programs in the country and has highly competitive sports teams with an immensely passionate fan base. As someone who loves American sports such as basketball and American football, having access to high-quality sports right on campus was a massive draw for me. In particular, American football was a big reason why I picked the school. It has one of the top programmes in the country and has consistently competed for national championships, with this year being no different to usual.  

Game day during the football season was one of my favourite memories from my time in Texas. From the second I woke up; I could hear the crowds of fans getting ready to enter the 100,000-seater stadium and watch the Longhorn takes on the opponents. With tailgates being the norm and everyone wearing the school colour, burnt orange, the entire city of Austin would light up to a different level during football game days. It was the ultimate show of school spirit and community, everyone who goes to UT loves the Longhorns and it is a key part of the city. 

Why UT Austin? 

If anyone were to ask me why to chose UT, I would tell them 3 key things. First, Austin is an incredible city with a wealth of things to do and see. From incredible food to amazing landscapes and nature, there is so much to do and there was never a dull moment for me. It is one of the fastest growing cities and there are so many opportunities, especially with the vast resources UT has and the mass investment that Austin has had over the past half-century. For example, being able to paddleboard on Ladybird Lake right in the heart of Downtown Austin was one of my favourite things to do, especially given the fact the sun was always out.

Secondly, if you’re a lover of sports, UT is the perfect school for you. From American football to basketball to women’s volleyball, there is no shortage of sports year-round to attend. You will have access to every sports game through the student “Big Ticket” which you pay a flat fee for at the beginning of the year, allowing you to access all sports and sit in designated student sections.

Last but certainly not least, the standard of education at UT is second to none. I can say with certainty that every professor I had was a real expert in their field, with most of them holding real-life experience in their field through work. A lot of my professors had their start-ups centred around their fields and used this experience to provide real-life examples in the classroom. This not only helped me learn and apply concepts to the real world but made me think about the possibilities that are available to me. It was a truly remarkable experience listening to people who had reached the peak of their fields and were willingly choosing to help the next generation of young people learn and grow.  

Overall, my year at UT Austin was an unforgettable experience and I would highly encourage anyone unsure of where they wish to go on their year abroad to strongly consider the possibilities and experiences available to you at UT.