Undergraduate Study Abroad Student Profiles

Studying abroad was the most amazing experience of my life to date. I left for Los Angeles not knowing anyone in the United States, and while a little daunted, was very excited about the months ahead. I should mention that, while I am a Commerce (IB) student I went on exchange as part of my International Studies degree.

UCLA is in the heart of upscale LA, surrounded by Bel Air, Brentwood and Beverly Hills. It is a stunning campus – often seen in movies (eg The Nutty Professor) and the neighbourhood, Westwood, is great. Westwood is essentially a University town – Almost all students live on campus or in the immediate streets around campus. I choose to live off campus instead of in the dorms as I wanted to be more independent and have a little more privacy than you might get living in a room with 3 or more others. I had no trouble at all meeting people and making friends – Americans love Aussies!

The scope of subjects available dwarfed that of Adelaide Uni. While term lengths are shorter at UCLA (3 quarters instead of 2 semesters), The coursework load is less and I found, subjects to be easier.

University Life means exactly that. Studying at UCLA is a way of life. Forget commuting from suburbia everyday for two hours of classes before going to work and then going home again – at UCLA, you live UCLA. It is the most incredible experience – from street parties, to football games, to undie run and midnight yell – school spirit is alive and well. Its contagious.

While at UCLA I applied to take their Washington DC program, was accepted and then hunted for internships. I spent winter quarter interning at the US Chamber of Commerce and loved every minute. It was simply incredible – forget making coffee and filing, I got to attend Senate hearings, free trade coalition meetings with some of the most powerful lobbyists in the States and wrote the US Chambers’ brief on Cross Border Privacy Rules. 

Washington is an amazing city. Perhaps the best part of studying abroad is you get to travel to some incredible places. I will never forget walking through Central Park in New York, clubbing in West Hollywood, going over the Golden Gate Bridge and so, so much more.

Simply, I cannot recommend studying abroad enough.

I originally planned on doing a semester abroad at the University of Massachusetts (Umass) after researching a little bit about the Uni on the Internet. After only a few weeks, I was hooked, and already had begun the process of extending my stay to a whole year.

Accommodation

Initially, on campus housing is the only and best option. You are given a choice of which of the five residential areas you would like to live in. Although each of the five areas are similar in that you share a room with another student and are very close to a Dining Hall, each area is also very different.

Southwest is widely regarded as the craziest of the living areas. If you are looking to do a lot of socializing, then this is probably the place for you, as it is full of young people new to college life.

Central is another popular choice. It is also very social; however the people that live there tend to be a little more mature (most people that live in Southwest are in their first or second years).

Northeast is an area which I didn’t venture into at all. From what people told me, it is a very quiet area with a lot of International residents. I would steer clear of here if you want the full US college experience

Orchard Hill is another area that I don’t know much about as I never went there, although most people who live there are there because they didn’t get their first housing preference, or they are new to the school and didn’t know about the hill. I would steer clear of here to simply avoid having to walk up and down a big hill every time you need to leave your dorm room!

Sylvan is a rather small residential area a long way away from most places on campus. People either love it up there because it is quiet and the dorm rooms are set up in a suite style, or they hate it because it’s so quiet and far away from everything

Academic life

The one thing that you will notice about studying at Umass is very easy to achieve high grades, especially at the business school. It isn’t that you aren’t able to learn a lot, in fact the Umass business school had the #4 best professors in the USA according to last years Princeton review, rather it is because US colleges require students to take a lot of general education classes in their first two years of study. So by the time students are in their third and fourth year, their business classes are at a first or second year standard when compared to Adelaide Uni. Still, challenging classes are definitely available.

Social Life

Umass is definitely a social school. In fact students often brag about being rated the number 7 party school in the country. You will find it very easy to socialize on campus, especially living in Southwest or Central, whether it be get-togethers in dorm rooms, hanging out at the Hockey or Football games or taking a trip to the Towne Houses (large off campus housing areas with a lot of action!)

Traveling

After I decided to extend my initial stay from one semester to a whole year, I had 3 months over the US summer free to do whatever I pleased. I decided to take advantage of the fact that I was close to so many amazing places and do a two month road trip (after convincing my best mate from Adelaide to come join me, with relative ease!)

We spent the months of July and August driving 13000 miles (21000kms) around the continental USA and even into Canada. From the Midwest, and its beautiful cities, such as Chicago to the Canadian Rockies and its huge waterfalls and large spring fed swimming lakes to shooting shotguns in Mississippi and even making it to Disney World!

I would have to say that a decision to go to Umass is one which you definitely won’t regret. It’s a great opportunity to meet a lot of life long friends from another country and learn a lot at the same time, not only academically but personally as well.

Studying in Uppsala in Sweden was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I was nervous and hesitant getting on that plane as I did not know anyone in Uppsala and of course did not speak a word of Swedish. The language barrier was not a problem; I took part in the intensive Swedish course for the first month to learn the basics but did not actually need it as every Swede speaks perfect English. Television is in English with Swedish sub titles and even a lot of their text books are in English. As Uppsala was a student town, there were no problems with meeting people.

Uppsala is buzzing with life and with over 40 000 students it is hard not to be! The town is made for students, with a gorgeous river running through the historic town and faculty buildings and student accommodation scattered throughout. Although there are cars, the main means of transport is your bike which can prove challenging in the middle of a Swedish snowy winter or after a big night out at one of the student Nations. The bus system is fantastic and everything is in such close proximity walking is easy.

The nations proved to be the main contributor to student life. There are thirteen and they are all run by students for students only. They are all in stunning old two-three storey buildings, each with their own library, study rooms, lounge areas and eating facilities. It is here where many students spend there days studying and meeting friends for lunch and “fika” (coffee break-huge is Sweden) and, by night, party in the pubs and clubs that the nations transform in to. The Swedes definitely know how to throw a good party! The night and social life was a definite highlight and made Uppsala stand out.

Not only was the social life fantastic but so was the quality of the University itself as a studying environment. The faculty buildings were exceptionally clean and modern, each fitted out with their own studying areas and student kitchen facilities. My lessons were taught in English with other international students and were kept small.

A major highlight in the Swedish university system is that you can sit an exam as many times until you pass, yes that is right you basically cannot fail in Sweden. They even have take-home exams, it’s fantastic!! I was never stressed whilst studying in Uppsala as not only for the fact that you cannot fail so you do not have the pressure you face during exam period, but also you take one subject at a time. Studying this way means that you can concentrate on one subject, learn it well and not have the stress of assignments for all subjects due at the same time and that dreaded end of year exam period.

The different lifestyle, culture, environment and of course the extremely different weather make Uppsala an exceptional place to study. Sweden is so clean and I never once felt unsafe. The Swedish people are so warm, friendly and are always more than happy to lend a helping hand. I spent my first white Christmas in the north of Sweden with a Swedish friend of mine’s family and I felt so welcome even though I had never met them before. It is definitely a Christmas I will never forget.

Although one might be skeptical about going to Sweden or anywhere in Scandinavia because of the weather, I assure you that it is an experience you will love and never forget. I am a person who cannot stand the cold, but when your surroundings are covered in a blanket of white snow it is hard not to take part in the novelty. You will never again get the experience of actually living everyday life for half of your year in the snow, waking up each morning to open the blind and the snow is streaming down and you have to make the decision as to catch the bus into university or ride your bike. Riding the bike definitely is a lot of fun though it can be dangerous at times! And then watch the season change again and it really makes you appreciate the weather we have back here.

I found that studying in Uppsala in Sweden I achieved everything I wanted out of a year away and more. I met the most amazing people who will be my friends for life, I experienced a whole different culture, a completely different weather environment, a different and ideal education system and I was able to travel, all through Sweden and through Europe.

I recommend Uppsala to everybody, or not necessarily Uppsala but just to take a year or six months abroad and experience something different, step outside the safety net of Adelaide, Australia and you will learn a lot about yourself.

The Indiana Experience

- By Andrew Tomlin -

It’s hard to select just what to put into such a short article about the amazing experience I had at Indiana University in the fall semester of 2005 and spring semester of 2006. It was such a rewarding experience in so many aspects and in so many ways, but I’ll try my best to pick out the information that will help you get a well rounded understanding of my time there.

Education

Being a commerce student, I studied in the Kelley School of Business at IU, which is widely regarded as being one of the top ten business schools in the United States. It follows then that the classes were first rate, with excellent lecturers (and even some guest lecturers from high up the corporate ladder in companies such as Coca-Cola, Visa, and P&G).

There were several differences between studying at the Kelley School at IU and the School of Commerce at the University of Adelaide. I found at Indiana, that there was much more of an emphasis on group assignments as well as continual assessment throughout the year. So it became possible to pass a subject mid-way through a semester, and then from there put more of an emphasis on achieving a competitive grade, rather than worrying about a huge exam looming at the end of the course. Also, the lectures at IU generally tended only to have between 20-30 students in them. This makes them small enough for students to interact during the lecture and, I find, is conducive to an increased retention of the material being presented.

All considered, the courses I studied were exceptional. I was also able to receive full credit for the subjects I took which was excellent.

Living Arrangements

I found living in on campus accommodation was probably the best arrangement I could have had. I was never more than a five minute walk away from any class (less by bus), and the food and facilities were great. There was a three storey gym across the street, a huge football stadium down the road, and an eatery downstairs. It also allows you to mingle with and make friends in your building, as well as receive IT and administrative support if you need it. Some of the friends I made in my building on the first day continued to be my friends throughout the year and I am still in close contact with them.

Social Life

Summary

The experience I had at Indiana benefited me as a student and as a person more than I could have predicted before I left. I enjoyed my stay so much, I extended my initial one semester’s study abroad, to a year. It was such a great way to learn more about myself, and another culture, all the while earning full credit towards my degree. The best piece of advice I could give would be, that you not just take my word for it, but that you too participate in study abroad and take advantage of this amazing opportunity.

Dim Saam at 3am

- By Raymond Tan-

Going on an exchange program is a very rewarding and unforgettable experience and if you're reading this, then I shouldn’t have to say anymore about why you should include study abroad in your degree. I’ve prepared this article for those considering Hong Kong as your destination and some handy tips about HKU.

Why Hong Kong?

The Country
Hong Kong is a very vibrant city with ALOT of things to do. There are 4 main ‘parts’ of Hong Kong: 1) Hong Kong island which is home to the Central Business District and HKU, 2) Kowloon which can be considered as ‘downtown HK’, 3) New Territories which is connected to the Mainland and is primarily a residential area, and 4) Surround islands where you can escape the city life to more rural areas. You can pretty much do anything from exploring the neon nightlife, hike or bike ride on a neighbouring island or go and eat dim saam at 3am in the morning with your floor-mates.

Academic
With Hong Kong’s close proximity to Mainland China, it has always been regarded as the ‘gateway’ into the Chinese market and has benefited from a lot of foreign direct investment. With China’s accession to the WTO, Hong Kong’s position in the global economy is changing and HKU’s Business faculty have specific subjects which analyse these current issues.As a commerce student (particularly, marketing or management), you will benefit from learning the specific considerations that organisations must take into account when doing business in China/HK. HKU (all faculties) have a very wide range of subjects on offer, which cannot be found at Adelaide Uni.

Travel
If you go to Hong Kong, you’ll definitely want to capitalise on its close proximity to neighbouring countries and travel a bit (or a lot!) when you are there. Mainland China is an absolute must since it is just a train ride away. Other countries like Singapore, Thailand, Japan, Korea, Cambodia and Vietnam are also popular destinations among exchange students. You will no doubt be able to find travel partners/groups of exchange students to explore these places.

Accommodation & Hall culture
Your choice of accommodation (hall) is very important when enrolling to HKU. The unique characteristic of HKU is its ‘hall culture’. At least half of the student population live in halls which are situated near the main campus. Take note that only 2 (Swire Hall and Simon K.Y Lee Hall) of the 15 or so halls are situated inside the campus itself. Each hall has a unique culture or ‘hall spirit’ – think Harry Potter – and there are many cultural and sports activities in which local students MUST participate in to qualify to live in the halls. Exchange students aren’t subject to this rule, but it’s a lot of fun joining in if you find an activity you like.  There are many sporting and cultural competitions/events happening throughout the year involving all the halls and it is well worth getting involved.
Some hall cultures are stronger than others, due to long held traditions since their establishment. I noticed that exchange students don’t mingle well with the local students in some of these types of halls since they either do not fit in with group or miss the hall’s induction period.

So when choosing your hall, think carefully about how involved you want to be in the hall activities, since students in the older/established halls are very serious about it. A safe option would be to pick a newer hall, such as Starr Hall (where I stayed in) which has a 30% International / 70% local student population and where the hall culture is not so strong. In any case, be involved in some hall activities otherwise I think you’ll be missing out on a significant part of what it is like being a student at HKU.

You should also bring or buy a suit for High Table Dinners (which occur in every hall). This is a dinner held 4 times a semester, where all students in the hall gather for a dinner and official hall announcements / ceremonies are conducted. The Final High Table dinner (at the end of each semester) is definitely worth going to.

The cost of accommodation is very reasonable. Be sure to check beforehand, since the cost varies greatly depending if the hall has a sponsor/government subsidy or not. You should also note that some halls provide meals, while others don’t and also note the location – generally, anything on Pok Fu Lam Road is walking distance to the main campus, while other locations require a short bus ride.

Choosing subjects

Unlike Adelaide Uni, you only get 2 weeks to finalise your subjects. If you need to do 5 subjects, get 10 approved before you leave Adelaide as it is very hard to organise everything in the space of 2 weeks. Coincidently, these 2 weeks happen to overlap with Adelaide Uni’s enrolment period, so the course advisors here will be very busy with enrolments here in Adelaide – it’s in your interest to try and get courses approved in advance. You should use the 2 weeks to sit in all the classes you are interested in. Just as a prior warning, the enrolment system HKU use (at the time I was there) does not alert you if there are timetable clashes – you need to work this out yourself. This is very annoying since the timetable is not out when you need to get approval for your courses in Adelaide – this is another reason why you should pick a lot of courses to get approved before leaving. I highly recommend enrolling in the Cantonese class (for exchange students) organised by the International Office. It’s a fun way to pick up basic Cantonese and it doesn’t have a heavy workload. hope this helps whoever is thinking of studying abroad. I have no doubt you will enjoy an exchange to HKU.

Canada and beyond

- By Susie Hodson-

Deciding to study abroad at McMaster University was one of the best choices I’ve ever made. I studied one semester abroad during my second year of Commerce (Accounting) and learnt a lot about a different part of the world, as well as about myself.

I love Canada, and am desperate to go back. McMaster is in Hamilton, Ontario. Although Hamilton is an industrial town, it has a big student population, so always has loads going on. It’s about 40 minutes from both Toronto and Niagara Falls, which makes it easy to head away for weekends and to catch ice hockey matches and concerts. The weeks away in Montreal for Thanksgiving, Toronto to seeing the Rolling Stones and Coldplay, New York and camping in country Ontario were probably the best experiences of the exchange. I was in Canada during winter, so it was understandably freezing, but also loads of fun - tobogganing to class and snowball fights! Having a white Christmas with my family in Banff was amazing.

Living on campus was great, and made it so easy to meet people and meant there was always loads’ going on. A lot of the friends I’ve made will be mates for life. If anyone is looking into an exchange to McMaster, start planning early – it’s really hard to get into residence – especially if you are only going for 1 semester. On that note, the exchange office at McMaster can be extremely difficult to work with at times, so make sure you get confirmation that you will be able to enroll in all your courses, before you head over. Even though you have to take 5 subjects a semester, I found studying in McMaster was a lot less stressful than at Adelaide, especially as it had a lot less weight on the final exam, and most subjects you could pass by half way through the semester. Some of the facilities were amazing - they have their own trading floor in the business faculty.

Classes were generally a lot smaller and more interactive than at Adelaide, and there are more contact hours, but a lot less independent study is expected. Students are also a lot more involved in university life. Almost every Uni student goes to watch the Homecoming football and the ice hockey matches. The exchange was such a worthwhile experience that I’d definitely recommend it to anyone – even if it means overloading, or delaying graduating by a semester.

I would encourage any students to consider an exchange for a whole year, or stay to travel during the Summer holidays - it’s definitely difficult to leave after just a few months. The whole experience was one of a lifetime, and I’ve got no regrets.