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(Thisletter is part of a seriesby The Indian Express where we bring to you the experiences of students at different foreign universities. From scholarships and loans to food and cultural experiences students tell us how life is different in those countries and things they are learning other than academics)

Similar to most students, I was also applying to the US for higher studies after completing my degree programme in India. I graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur with a dual degree (MS + BS) in Physics and was looking for options for pursuing a PhD. It was then that someone suggested that Anton Zeilinger, a well-known physicist and now a Nobel laureate, has a group at the University of Vienna and I should consider applying in Austria.

I researched some more about the university and decided to take admission to the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) after much deliberation. I did not apply to the University of Vienna as at times you dont get to work with such renowned physicists directly. Instead, its their students with whom you have to work. Anton Zeilinger was part of a group called CoQuS Complex Quantum Systems and ISTA and the University of Vienna were a part of it.

CoQus was an initiative of the Austrian government for research on quantum physics. Initially, it was more exclusive with only a few professors but now it has transformed into VCQ Vienna Centre for Quantum Sciences. VCQ is a bigger collaboration of many research groups from University of Vienna, Technical University of Vienna and ISTA. It promotes sharing and discussion of ideas, viewpoints by organising summer schools, colloquiums and conferences.

I was also drawn towards ISTA as Johannes Fink was a part of the programme. I was following Mr Fink and his work in the field of quantum optics and quantum computing.

My application process for ISTA

After sending in my application, I emailed Johannes Fink explaining my interest in the field of quantum physics, especially in the topics he was researching. After reading my email, Mr Fink conducted a Skype interview with me. Thankfully, he liked me and said that he will make sure that my application gets through.

The application process is quite standard. I had to submit my transcripts, rsum, letters of recommendation, and statement of purpose. Once that is done, ISTA calls you for an interview. They select a bunch of 100 to 150 students for interviews from all the applications received. Its a three day event which is hosted by ISTA where they take care of flight tickets to hotel bookings.

They organise everything, show you around the campus, around the town, you can talk to the students present on the campus, talk to the professors and experience everything by yourself. For me particularly, it showed how rich the institute is which ensures that your funding will be secured and research will be well-funded.

Once you are selected, you get a letter of invitation which has to be shown at the embassy so that you can get a visa.

Other than ISTA, I had offers from the University of Rochester, USA and Heriot-Watt University, Scotland. I did not choose the US because I felt the university wasnt that great and for the other university I was a bit uncertain about the funding.

ISTA literally holds your hand

After I decided to join ISTA and accepted their offer, they sent me the logistics details. Over here, they really take care of you. In fact, for the first year, they literally hand-held us. For those in the first years, the accommodation is provided on the campus and it is fully furnished so all you have to do is take the key.For the on-campus accommodation, the international students are given a priority over local students from Austria or neighboring countries.

Once youre in your second year, they ask you to find your accommodation the reason being that the apartments have to be emptied out for the next batch of students. After one year, we developed basic communication skills in German to communicate with the locals and find a place for ourselves. During the initial years, my work was more experimental, so I used to live near the campus. Once it became more theoretical, I shifted to the city of Vienna.

One unique aspect of ISTA is that it is a mix of US and European systems, i.e., when you apply for a PhD you dont need a masters degree.

My life in Austria

I came to Austria in September 2018 and have been living here since then. I completed my PhD in June this year (2023) and currently, I am a post Doctoral student at the institute. My research topic is quantum communication. ISTA allows you to be a post Doctoral student for one year after completing your PhD. In this, you get an increment in your salary and a different contract.

The research is well-funded. Unlike in India where you have to go through a whole process for getting lab equipment, here you can ask for it and you will get it. Even the stipend provided by ISTA is good enough for one person to sustain themselves, enjoy their lives and save money as well.

Vienna is very beautiful and my life here is always bustling with activity. The decision to come here has been one of the best decisions so far. Over the years, I have made a lot of friends here. There is something new to do every evening be it playing volleyball, dancing or indulging in fitness activities. I keep myself free every weekend as my friends and I are always up for some random activity. Last weekend, we went cycling, after that we plucked apricots and later in the day I baked an apricot cake for everyone.

I really enjoy my life here and I would hate to move out of Vienna. There are a lot of Physics related jobs, work-life balance and a good standard of living. Over here, there is great social security, medical and other expenses are covered by the government. Its one of the most livable places in the world and with time I have learned the language as well. There is no reason for me to move out of here. I will soon be applying for permanent residency. In some ways, I am more European than Indian now.

I have travelled a lot across Europe Italy, Switzerland, Serbia, Hungary, Slovenia, Czechia, Denmark and outside Europe, I have been to the US and China. I last visited India in December 2022.

Biggest learning from my experience so far

If you have a choice between solving a problem yourself and getting help from an expert, swallow your pride and get help. Its the most efficient way. Use the saved time elsewhere. Instead of researching a topic, I just find someone with whom I can talk and get a much better idea about what to do in 10-15 mins. It saves a lot of time and prevents me from going down the wrong rabbit hole. And its not limited to research, I use it everywhere, for example, when hunting for a job.

When you are applying for higher studies abroad, its a lot more about probability than you think. Have an open mind, apply to a lot of places and try to reach a person instead of a website portal. It will be a lot more helpful. Once you are in a different place, try to adapt to their culture and be more accepting towards people.

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Life in a Foreign University | How pursuing PhD at ISTA in Austria benefitted this IIT-Kanpur student - The Indian Express