When you picture studying abroad, you might imagine snow-covered mountains, charming cities, and a university that gives you both freedom and direction. For Sara Pajdas, a 23-year-old from Croatia, that dream became real in Innsbruck, Austria. After finishing her Bachelor’s in Finance and Banking at the University of Rijeka, she felt ready for a change — not just of place, but of purpose.
What you'll learn from reading her story:
- Sara from Croatia wanted to shift from finance to tourism and found the perfect Master’s in Entrepreneurship & Tourism at MCI Management Center Innsbruck.
- She discovered her programme on Studyportals, chose Austria for its quality education and culture, and financed her studies with savings, family support, and an Erasmus scholarship.
- Her story shows how studying Tourism and Hospitality Management in Austria can open doors to both personal growth and international experience.
Finding direction through studying abroad
Sara’s story begins with a decision many students face — changing direction after their first degree.
“I decided to turn a bit more to tourism rather than economics,” she explains. “My best chance to gain a proper education in the field was abroad.”
That’s when she started searching for tourism-related Master’s programmes that would help her build both academic and practical skills. Austria quickly stood out for its strong reputation in tourism and hospitality, along with its rich Alpine culture and high standard of living.
“Innsbruck seemed like a wonderful city to spread my horizons and live in a proper winter destination,” Sara says.
“My best chance to gain a proper education in the field was abroad.”
Choosing the right university and programme
Sara’s top priority was finding a high-quality programme that aligned with her goals. She wanted something academically strong, international, and connected to the tourism industry.
“My main priority was the quality of the programme and the curriculum,” she says. “I wanted to find something I could fully engage in and that would be in my area of interests.”
After researching her options, she discovered the Master’s in Entrepreneurship & Tourism at MCI Management Center Innsbruck, which offered exactly what she was looking for: a hands-on, career-oriented degree taught in English, in one of the most beautiful student cities in Europe.
“I was interested in German-speaking countries to improve my German skills,” Sara adds. “Austria fitted the best in my financial plans and the curriculum matched my interests.”
She had initially applied for an Erasmus Mundus programme that combined studies in Slovenia, Spain, and Denmark, but when that didn’t work out, MCI became her first choice.
“Austria fitted the best in my financial plans and the curriculum matched my interests.”
How Studyportals made her search easier
Like many international students, Sara didn’t know where to start. That’s when she found Studyportals — a platform that allowed her to compare programmes by subject, country, and language.
“On Studyportals, I discovered all programmes that I looked into as my options, including MCI Management Center Innsbruck,” she recalls. “From the beginning, I loved the website and the way the search criteria was set up. It really helped me a lot.”
Studyportals helped her narrow down choices based on what mattered most — programme content, language of instruction, and cost of living. It also gave her direct links to official university pages and reliable insights into tuition and admission requirements.
“Studyportals really helped me a lot — I found my Master’s in Innsbruck there.”
Living and studying in Austria
Life in Innsbruck turned out to be both rewarding and challenging. Known as one of Austria’s most student-friendly cities, it offered Sara an international atmosphere and a close connection to nature — but also some practical obstacles.
“The living is just a bit of a problem in Innsbruck since there are so many students and so little accommodation, which is also quite expensive,” she admits. “If I could do it over again, I would start looking for my accommodation earlier and only in the student dormitories.”
Despite these issues, she rates her overall experience highly. “I am satisfied with my programme and the university,” she says. “All in all, I would recommend it.”
“Innsbruck seemed like a wonderful city to spread my horizons and live in a proper winter destination.”
Managing costs and financing her studies
Sara financed her studies mainly from personal savings and family support, but she also received an Erasmus scholarship, which helped cover some expenses.
“I financed my stay abroad mainly from my own savings from part-time and seasonal jobs,” she says. “Naturally my parents and family also helped me out. In this semester, I have also received an Erasmus scholarship to study abroad on an exchange. I recommend everyone to use that opportunity.”
She also learned that speaking German can make a big difference for students who want to work part-time. “For EU students who speak German fluently, it should not present a problem,” she adds.
Learning from a new culture
One of Sara’s biggest lessons came not from lectures, but from observing how things worked in Austria.
“My biggest surprise was the overall difference in culture and how studies are organised,” she says. “I like the organised Austrian way. It is a lot easier when you have almost everything planned and organised.”
That structure helped her adapt quickly and focus on her studies. It also gave her confidence that she could manage in a new environment — an experience many students share after moving abroad.
“I like the organised Austrian way — everything is planned and it makes studying easier.”
Sara’s advice for future students
Sara encourages future international students, especially those interested in Tourism and Hospitality Management, to do thorough research and plan early.
“I would advise them to look, based on their interests, also on Studyportals,” she says. “It provides good information on costs, enrolment processes and links to the university portals. After the options are found, contacting the university directly is the best option.”
She also reminds others to plan their budget carefully and learn about the city before moving. “Research well the city where you go to in order to plan all your costs in advance to prevent surprises,” she says.
If Sara’s journey inspires you to follow your own path abroad, explore hundreds of Master’s in Hospitality, on Mastersportal. You might just find the perfect mix of culture, learning, and opportunity — just like she did.
