Pieta (Sem 1, 2023)

My Exchange at The University of Granada

The 360 international exchange programme was a real highlight of my degree and of my life. It gave me the opportunity to consolidate the language I had been studying as part of my degree, to meet people from all over the world and to learn about myself completely outside of my usual context.

I was very anxious leading up to my departure, and it was a lot of work preparing to go. Sorting out the accommodation from New Zealand in another country in particular was stressful. However, once I said goodbye at the airport it was a real rush to be off on an adventure by myself, with full faith in my ability to solve any issues that came up. I stayed in a flat with 3 other international students who became some of my best friends while I was over there. A real highlight of my stay was the community of international students who were all so open to making friends and socialising. I was surprised that there were some student travel agency type organisations in the city I was living in, that organised trips and social events in the evening. This made it really easy to meet other international students and socialise, and there was always something to do.

I lived in Granada, in southern Spain and I fell in love with the city in a way I never knew I could. It was a beautiful city, surrounded by snowy mountains and sunny nearly every day, with beautiful architecture and lots to do. A real highlight was having the chance to perform at a local bar that held weekly open mic nights, and meeting all the other musicians there to rehearse songs to perform. I also loved travelling on the weekends with new friends and old friends that were living in different parts of Europe.

I was really nervous about the university course and particularly if I could pass the courses in a second language, but the professors and international department at the university were all really supportive and wanted to help me achieve. In the end, it was a lot easier than I expected. I also paid to do a language course that was credited back for university points, and gave me the confidence that I was making the most of the opportunity to improve my language skills.

I was a little bit unsure before I left about how much money I would need to budget, but the cost of living ended up being much lower than it is in Auckland. The biggest expenses were flights and travel insurance. Weekend trips by bus and staying in hostels were pretty economical.

I would highly recommend an exchange for anyone who can afford it and can fit it into their degree. It is especially valuable to people who have studied a language, and being able to use your skills in real life is so validating. I think this is a really great opportunity to spend some time in a different country in a supportive environment with other students going through the same thing.

Q&A

What were some of the highlights of the academic experience at your host university?

The highlights of the academic experience at my host university were the satisfaction of achieving in a second language, and realising that I was able to write, submit and pass assignments in my second language.

Another major highlight was the community of international students from all over the world, who were really open to making friends.

The opportunity to travel on the weekends and to discover a new city made the semester really enjoyable.

Would you recommend any particular activity/activities unique to your host country or university?

I would recommend the trips with student travel agencies such as “Best Life Experience” and “Erasmus student networks” as they are organised, good value and a good way to make friends. This is a very easy way to travel, especially at the start of the semester.

What are your top 3 tips for future students attending your host university or going on exchange to your host country?

1. I would highly recommend the city of Granada to anyone looking to study in Spain.
2. I would recommend good Spanish skills before going and doing a class at the Centre of Modern Languages.
3. I would also recommend going on trips and travelling as much as possible on the weekends.

How much did you budget for your exchange? Was this enough? Were there any lessons learned that would help future students budget for their own exchange?

I used StudyLink Living Costs for week to week living costs, including weekend travel. I then withdrew $1000 from savings once a month which paid for rent for the month with some left over for extra travel money. I ended up spending quite a lot of extra money on a language course that was worth it. I would recommend tracking how much money you spend each week and on what (eg groceries, travel, eating out etc). Starting before you go might give you a good comparison so you know if your spending habits while you’re over there are normal for you.

What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?

I felt like I became a lot more emotionally independent as I had to rely on myself to get through the difficulties of exchange without having my friends or family to lean on. I really took the time to work on personal self-development, which I found really valuable. I gained a lot of confidence travelling around and realised how much I enjoy living in a walkable city in Europe with lots of travel opportunities, which has inspired me to live overseas again while in my twenties.