Caitlin (Sem 1, 2023)

My Exchange at The University of Southampton

Completing an exchange through 360 International was one of the best choices I have ever made. I first found out about the exchange programme when I decided to stay in Auckland for university, rather than going somewhere else in New Zealand. Before even deciding what city I wanted to go to particularly, I knew I wanted to go to somewhere in the United Kingdom, and obviously I need to know a lot of information before deciding to apply. I found a lot of research online through 360 to go through before deciding to apply for the exchange so when it came to finally applying, I knew what I was getting into.

When I finally found that I had been accepted into the University of Southampton, after months of paperwork and waiting might I add, I was excited but definitely nervous about going somewhere I had never been, across the other side of the world no less. I did as much research about Southampton as I could but you only really find out what a place is like when you finally get there. When I first arrived in Southampton, it was the end of winter, but still very cold so the stereotype of a dreary England was pretty accurate. But I found that although on the other side of the world, Southampton was pretty similar to how Auckland is, just with a bit of a different accent going around.

Southampton is a large port city, but it has upgraded massively to become a very student-focused town, much like Christchurch. This meant that it was easy for me to get a little more comfortable in a new place, a lot quicker than I thought I would. I was put into the Montefiore Halls, part of the student accommodation at the university, which meant that it was easy for me to get around (with the buses coming directly to our accommodation) and I was able to meet so many other students as well as some other exchange students.

University of Southampton has a large social culture, with there being over 200 different societies/clubs for you to join so there are so many different opportunities for you to try something new or to find people who are also interested in the same activities that you are. I personally joined one of the many bands at the university and I met so many people and made many friends which I am so grateful for. The Student Union holds many events for new students and returning students to come to and to meet new people. They are constantly hosting pub quizzes, markets, game nights, movie nights, and the student community is so welcoming. Immediately when the semester began, we were given a chance to meet other people on exchange within our department, so I attended the orientation for business exchange students. It was incredibly helpful to meet other people who were in the same boat, as well as seeing where the other students were coming from (Canada, France, Switzerland, Singapore, China etc.)

Although the exchange was a great experience, there were obvious challenges I faced. It was the first time I had lived alone, and the fact I was so far away from family and friends, it was nice to know that the university help to create a more welcoming environment for new students. I was able to find comfort in the many people I met, in my flat as well as just in classes. You learn quickly how to meet new people, just like when coming to the University of Auckland, and you always have a talking point, especially when it comes to people trying to guess your accent (even if they usually think I’m from South Africa or Australia).

There were so many highlights of my exchange, whether it was just being in a new country for the first time, to making some friends that I hope I will be able to stay in contact with forever. I started doing a lot more for myself and finding out what it was like to live in the United Kingdom, and Southampton itself is such a different place and helped to open my eyes to what life is like on the other side of the world. I wouldn’t change my decision at all to complete an exchange as it has allowed me to discover more options for my future, regarding both my personal and working life.

My main advice for going on an exchange would be to just enjoy the process. Of course, there are going to be stressful moments, like all the research you have to do beforehand, the tiresome number of applications and forms you have to fill out, and the waiting to find out whether you have been accepted into the host university that you chose, but that is all part of the fun. All of this is exciting! You have the opportunity to go somewhere new, somewhere fun and somewhere that you will cherish forever. Take the time to enjoy the process, before it’s over and you’re back home to the mundane.

Q&A

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

I had a bit of trouble matching up courses since I was in my third year, but being able to take quite a few first year courses meant I was able to learn a lot of different areas of business that were targeted towards the UK. Many of my courses were looking into the economy of England, which helped me to learn about the differences between our two economies, with England obviously being on a much larger scale than New Zealand.

The way that the assignments and exams are structured at the University of Southampton made it easier for me to study for what I felt I needed more time on. Modules have assignments or exams, there is not a mix. I had three papers that only had assignments to be handed in, with one having 100% weighting for a report, and one exam (again 100% weighting!). The content is completely targeted for us to learn all we need for the assignment and once that is completed, we did not need to think about that content again. It was easier to section the study. My one paper that only had a 100% exam allowed me to focus on learning all the content, without having to worry about the content I needed for assignments. This meant I could focus completely on what I needed for the exam.

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

As many people would know, England has a VERY large football culture. Whether it’s watching football, or even hating football. I would definitely recommend watching at least one football match, whether you go to the pub with mates and watch, with a pint of course, or going to a game physically. Southampton has a large football stadium, which you can easily buy tickets for and immerse yourself in the football culture.

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

My first top tip for my host university is to get involved. This could include joining a society, going to events, or even just going to the markets on campus. There are so many ways for you to meet people and fully experience the student life of the university. This means that you won’t feel lonely so far away from home and can feel more comfortable among the students.

My next top tip is travel! In Southampton, and England in general, it is so easy to get anywhere in the UK and even Europe. Southampton does have its own airport, but it is a bit costly to fly from there, so I suggest taking the £12 coach up to London and getting a flight from there or taking the train to wherever it is you want. Nothing is easier than travelling around while in the UK so it would definitely be something to consider.

My final top tip would be to get a travel pass. This is just so everything is easier. There is a pass for around Southampton, that is for the Unilink buses, which also comes free if you stay in the university accommodation. This means that you can travel on the bus for free around the university and around Southampton as much as you want. Another travel pass would be for getting around London, as if you make the trip up from Southampton, it can get quite expensive just constantly using your card to tag in and out of the tube and on busses, so get an oyster card, top it up, and use that instead.

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 wouldn’t say I particularly budgeted, not strictly anyways. I knew I had my course fees covered by StudyLink student loan and my family helped to sort out my accommodation but when it came to spending weekly, I just tried to make sure I wasn’t being ridiculous. I would spend about £40 every week to get all the groceries I need to stock up for the week but sometimes this would end up lasting me for almost two weeks, depending on my activities for that week. I ensured that I wouldn’t be spending too much when going out, but it can be said that it is slightly cheaper to go out and get food, or drinks at the pub, compared to New Zealand.

Personally, it is hard to say what I budgeted but I ensured that I wasn’t spending money on wasteful things, but did treat myself to a few things here and there.

What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?

While on exchange, I found that most people in England actually find it quite difficult to locate our accent. There were a few occasions where someone would guess it right straight away but most people it took a few guesses between South Africa and Australia before New Zealand was chosen. I did happen to get an American/Canadian guess which was very surprising.

I think the main takeaway from my exchange was discovering what it was like to live by myself for a while. Yes, I did live with others physically in my flat but it was weird to be completely alone in a city, where you just don’t know anyone. I found what I would be like when I move out of home and how I would survive. I discovered how I could entertain myself when sitting at the desk was just not doing it for me anymore. I learned to grow up and ‘date myself’ as people term it. I enjoyed it, and I would do it all again.

Do you want to share anything about travels you did outside your host city/country?

Obviously being in the United Kingdom meant that travel is extremely easy, especially when there are trains that go across the whole of England, can go all the way up to Scotland, or just hopping on the Eurostar to Paris. I decided not to do too many crazy travels during the semester as I just know I would not even be in class if I really wanted to. I decided to go to Scotland for a while, to discover where some of my ancestors were from, and found that a lot of things in Glasgow were named Buchanan, which is my family name and felt so special.

I decided to leave my big Europe travel to after my semester, as I still had just under 2 months until I had to return to New Zealand after I finished my exam in Southampton. I decided to go to Amsterdam, Italy (Rome and Naples), France (Nice and Paris), and finally headed back to London. It is so unbelievably easy for you to travel around the UK and across to Europe.