What a semester abroad has to offer
14 October 2024
This article was written by current second-year, Amal Brepotra, a BA (Hons) Journalism & Creative Writing student, who spent a semester abroad at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand.
She’s keen on all things travel, food and writing about the things that matter most to her. She usually spends her time reading romance novels, going on walks and baking sweet treats with friends.
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A semester abroad whilst at university is one of the most exciting opportunities you may have during your studies as it’s filled with discovery, exploration and adventure!
When I applied for a student exchange in New Zealand, I had no idea the world it would whisk me into and how much I would learn and grow from it. If you’re still wondering whether you want to study abroad, I’ll take you through what I believe a semester overseas has to offer based on my own experience of spending four months away during my second year.
Why did I choose to spend a semester abroad?
Starting off with the question of what made me want to fly myself across the world. Well put simply, I just wanted a change from the country I was born and raised in. When I first applied to uni, one of the key factors I looked out for was whether the institutions/courses I was considering attending included spending a semester abroad. Fortunately, Falmouth did. And by the time I reached my second semester of first year, I started the application process for a study abroad. I could choose between Norway, Australia and New Zealand but after doing tons of research on all three, I decided that spending the spring (autumn) semester in New Zealand would feel more right.
There’s just a huge array of culture in the country, from rare birds to Māori heritage to the most stunning mountains and beaches – I couldn’t pass up on the opportunity to apply, so I went for it and was accepted to attend the University of Otago in Dunedin. It was a dream come true for me since I’ve always had the travel bug from a young age and knew from the very beginning of my university journey that it was going to be a vital part of my student life.
Spending time overseas also provided me with a unique feature to add to my CV and showcase to future employers by giving me the chance to gain an international perspective on Journalism & Creative Writing. Studying abroad also shows that you’re willing to go above and beyond to get the most out of your education and therefore, career. Plus, it’s cool to show off your epic adventures.
Sunrise after camping in The Caitlins
The Octagon in Dunedin
The Highlights and Lowlights of Studying Abroad
Now, whilst spending a semester abroad is an incredible experience full of amazing once-in-a-lifetime highs, there are still some lows. One of the things I most struggled with whilst away was homesickness as I was far away from my friends, family and all the life I had ever known. It was hard, especially at the beginning because I wondered if I would ever fit into this new place, and I often asked myself if I had made a mistake. Culture shock is a real thing too and there was plenty that I didn’t expect when moving to New Zealand like the prices of groceries, the typical Kiwi lifestyle and even the education system, since every country has their own ways of teaching and learning. However, with the comfort of my support system back home like my family, friends and my support worker at Falmouth as well as the helpful study abroad coordinators at both universities, I was able to manage with this new change and it wasn’t long until I began to adjust.
Which brings me to the highlights! A study abroad placement allows you to step out of your comfort zone and do things you maybe wouldn’t normally do back home whether it’s joining a society, going to an event or trying a new activity (bungee jumping, anyone?). I found that mingling with people and planning trips with new friends goes a long way to feeling settled, and it really helped me enjoy my time in New Zealand. As such, I got to see so much of both the South and North Islands. All this really encouraged me to become more comfortable and kept me busy too so I could distract myself from those occasional feelings of homesickness. But keeping in touch with people from home really helped with my loneliness too, and by the time my exchange had reached its near end I felt ready to come home and reunite with my loved ones whilst carrying a wonderful memory of my experiences in the Southern Hemisphere.
So now that you know some of what a semester abroad can offer, I hope it’s encouraged you to take the plunge and try out a bit of travelling whilst you’re at uni. And even if you’re still undecided then you’ll have plenty of guidance at Falmouth to know whether studying abroad is the thing for you!
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