Jess (Sem 2, 2023)

My Exchange at The University of St Andrews

When I first arrived in Scotland, I was eager to jump right into things after having a European Summer holiday. Move-in day helped facilitate the excitement, as I got to see my room, meet my neighbours and settle into hall life again. While initially I felt a little out of place as a third year living in halls, I quickly found my people (most of whom were also study abroad students), and we began to have a lot of fun during freshers week. Looking back on this semester, I am so glad I chose to stay in halls because it removed so much admin from organising self-catered or private living. While the food was typical halls food, it ensured I would meet like-minded people, and I am happy to say that I made the best friends while here. 

The University of St Andrews is a really unique place. There is something for everyone, no matter your interests. The entire town exists of 3 main streets, the most beautiful beaches, cute cafes and many pubs. In its essence, St Andrews is a town for the students. For that reason, I am glad I chose St Andrews because it made it easy to find friends, get involved, and learn my way around. For such a small town, there’s a lot going on, and I definitely feel I made the most of that. During the semester I focused on utilising my proximity to the EU by doing weekend trips away which was a great opportunity to see more of the world given I was so far away from little old Auckland. However, I also made sure to immerse myself in the local community, participating in church and social hockey which were equal parts fun and relaxed. 

I think the highlight of my semester is everything I learnt – when you move to another country, time zone, hemisphere and university, you have no choice but to grow. I am so thankful for all the lessons study abroad taught me, and while there were challenges along the way, the memories I have and the friends I made are what made it worth it! As for advice, I would encourage those thinking about studying abroad to make sure they are ready to push themselves, and be prepared to say yes to the opportunities that come your way. 


Q&A

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

One highlight of the academic experience was the way classes are structured here at St Andrews. When you take 3rd or 4th year papers, you have less contact hours and more independent study, which means you really get to set your own schedule almost as much as you want. I found this super helpful for managing travel with study, as I wanted to make the most of both. 

I also enjoyed the tutorials more than expected, as they functioned more as a debate between opinions, with ample time for Q&A with teachers and professionals of the field. 

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

If going to St Andrews, I highly recommend joining an academic family. You’ll learn all about them when you arrive, but they are a great way to make community and friends across all year levels, and have a whole lot of chaotic fun while you’re at it. 

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

1. Bring UK plug-ins for your electrical chargers

2. Pack a high-quality raincoat and umbrella

3. Do what you want to do – there is options for both the pub lovers and the homebodies

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 budgeted quite a lot because I knew I wanted to travel before, during and after. My advice would be to budget more than you think you would need, because you never know what thing might come up that you’ll need spare change for.

What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?

One of my takeaways is how diverse Aotearoa is. Coming to a small, upper-class, Scottish town was a shock compared to living in Tāmaki Makaurau, where the diversity of people and experiences is so prominent. I knew it would feel different, but I didn’t expect to be as shocked as I was.

Final Comments

Just do it, even if you’re scared.


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Tags: 2023, Arts/Humanities, Report