Studying here

Studying abroad in Australia during my third year was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I chose to go to the University of Queensland in Brisbane, renowned for its blue skies and beautiful beaches. UQ has at least twice as many students and a far larger campus than Exeter, so was very different. Academically, continuing my studies in English and Philosophy at UQ offered new perspectives on my subjects, deepening my understanding and breadth of knowledge. This has increased both my academic confidence and performance, which has set me in good stead for my final year.

But perhaps the most valuable part of studying abroad was the life-experience opportunities available. From making friends from all over the world and immersing myself in a different culture with a new vocabulary of slang, to indulging my travel-bug, the study abroad scheme literally opened up the world to me.

Insofar as studying abroad involved wrenching myself away from home and a strong support network, it was of course a challenge, but ultimately that only served to intensify the experience. Like skydiving (which you will have to try!) you have to actually jump out of the plane before you have an idea of what it might be like to fly. But it’s worth it!
Elizabeth Mackley, BA English and Philosophy

In my second year I went to Toronto, and you know what? It was great. I did things I’ll always remember: stand on top of the 550 metre tall CN Tower with only a sheet of glass beneath my feet; eat at the famous dive bar Sneaky Dee’s; watch the city’s ice hockey team win a historic victory over their arch rivals; see some of my favourite bands play the legendary Lee’s Palace; and go to a Q&A with Tim Burton for my college’s newspaper.

I got involved with as much as I could, writing for two of the dozen or more student newspapers there. Being involved in this rich media culture made me question why Exeter couldn’t have the same, so when I got back I set up Exetera Magazine. At the beginning of the year we got sponsorship from the College of Humanities, and we’re running an initial circulation of 1,000 every month or so, which is terrifying but brilliant. Without a doubt, if I hadn’t gone to Toronto, Exetera would not exist.

Academically Toronto is one of the top universities in the world, and they push you hard, with frequent assessments and lots of contact hours. I was stretched, but the work ethic that was drummed into me there means I’m coping a lot more with the demands of my third year.

A year abroad is perfect for anyone who, like me, has a hard time staying in one place. There’ll always be a place in my heart for Exeter and I’m glad to be back, but living in Toronto was an experience that I will never forget.
Max Benwell, BA English with Study in North America

It sounds cheesy, but I felt Exeter was the right university for me from my first visit to the campus, and four years later, I know I made the right decision. I’m in my final year studying BA English and Spanish and have just come back from my Year Abroad in Majorca, where I studied at the University of the Balearic Islands. Studying two subjects means I benefit from a broader range of skills, but the Year Abroad was definitely the experience that I’ve got the most out of during my time at university.

My language skills have improved no end, from writing formal letters and essays, to chatting with friends and socialising. But the Year Abroad is about more than that; it’s about gaining independence, trying new things and overcoming challenges in a new and different place. It might sound scary, but the staff back in Exeter are always on hand to help you with any issue, large or small, and nothing can compare to the sense of achievement you get from knowing you can completely survive in another country, using another language. I can’t express how much fun and pride you can get out of the experience.

Without studying a language at Exeter I would probably never have had the opportunity to live and study abroad. I would 100% recommend studying a language at Exeter, just to experience the year abroad!
Amy Price, BA English and Spanish

As a student of French and Spanish, I knew that spending a year abroad would be a compulsory part of my degree. Before I arrived at the University of Exeter, I was rather nervous and apprehensive about what this would entail. I felt my language skills were not good enough to cope with living and studying abroad – how would I ever be able to follow lectures in French? However, I needn’t have worried, as the support network at the University, both before and during the year, meant that no matter how small the problem, I always had someone to talk to.

It sounds like a cliché, but my year abroad was definitely the best year of my life! I spent the first semester studying at the University of Rouen, where I not only improved my language skills, but gained more knowledge of the French culture than could ever be learnt from textbooks, travelled widely throughout France and made friends from around the world. It was hard to say goodbye, but I spent my second semester studying in Cordoba in the south of Spain. I thoroughly enjoyed my time here too and before long spoke Spanish like the locals and took part in all the city’s fiestas!

I would definitely recommend studying abroad to anyone, regardless of their discipline, as it’s a brilliant experience to get to know a different culture, language or way of life, as well as enabling you to increase your self-confidence and meet new people. The hardest part of my year abroad was having to leave!
Antonia Wimbush, BA French and Spanish

Even before university I knew I wanted to spend a year studying or working abroad. Initially I thought about Europe, but I decided to challenge myself and go somewhere outside my comfort zone. I was spoilt for choice with the range of study abroad options available, but with Hong Kong branded as ‘Asia’s World City’ and the University of Hong Kong ranked amongst the top 25 universities in the world, it was the obvious choice.

Even though the idea of being more than 6,000 miles from home was incredibly nerve-racking, I’d definitely take the opportunity to study abroad again. The experience enhanced my communication, confidence and leadership skills and allowed me to ‘test run’ working and living overseas whilst being fully supported by both my home and host institutions. I gained a new level of respect for the local culture and began to fully appreciate the differences in academic study and social expectations of both countries. Importantly, I was able to elect modules which complemented my main degree subject, but which weren’t always available at Exeter, which helped me make more informed choices about which career path I wanted to pursue.

Exeter offers so many incredible opportunities to its students and I’d definitely recommend taking a year abroad, regardless of whether you want to work overseas in the future. It’s only a year (or shorter!) in your whole life and it could end up being one of the best.
Anna Hayman, BA Business and Accounting