A life-(ex)changing experience

Let me guess. You’re not sure if going on an exchange is worth it. You’re skimming through the list of partner universities, feeling a bit overwhelmed and confused. I get it, I did the same thing. Not long ago, you made a big change in your life – you moved away from home to start your solo journey. You’ve just settled in, just made friends, why leave and start all over again? Well, my friend, I’m here with a very simple answer – because it might just be the best decision you’ve ever made (after enrolling in VSE of course).

Last year I spent a semester at Leeds University Business School in the UK. And let me tell you, it really was a life-changing thing for me.The courses I took were mostly interesting and engaging, and the way they taught and assessed was different, so I can tell you that you will experience something new in your academic life.

But who goes on exchange for grades and studies anyway, am I right? Let’s get to the away from the academic parts! First, the location! Wherever you go, you will have a great experience with the architecture, culture, pace and way of life, quirky concepts and new slang to bring back and make part of your life. I brought back the ability to turn a thank you into a 4-page letter. If you go to Denmark, you will surely tell all your friends about the hyggeligt time you had, and you will tell everyone how beautiful the sakura blossom is after a semester in Japan (even if you were there in autumn). For me, the warmth of old British brick buildings will forever be in my heart!

Second, the people! There are a lot of student activities, especially for exchange students, to make you feel at home, overcome any culture shock you might have and connect you with your peers. In Leeds, I got involved in several student associations and had a lot of fun while making new friends and having unforgettable experiences!

And of course, travel! If you’re going on an exchange, why not take the opportunity to see more of the country you’re in? Let me tell you, don’t make the mistake of thinking that if you’ve seen one city in a country, you’ve seen them all. In my relatively short time on exchange, I’ve been to Bristol, Manchester, York, London and, of course, Leeds. Each one was completely different. So, travel and broaden your horizons, you’ll thank me later 😉

Now, a practical question you might have: what are your chances of getting this opportunity? Quite high, in my opinion. Sure, having a language certificate and taking part in a buddy programme might help you gain points to land your first priorities, but with my 73/120 points I still got my third priority, which was Leeds, and I couldn’t have been happier! Don’t be discouraged if you think you don’t have enough points to get into your preferred school. If you get your priorities right, you will most likely go on exchange!

Well, that’s all for now. Thank you for reading, or as I have learnt to say, thank you very much for taking your precious time to familiarize yourself with my humble work. Drop me a line if you have any questions!