Heather (Sem 2, 2023)

My Exchange at The University of St Andrews

My semester exchange at St Andrews was undoubtedly the greatest experience of my life, and I cannot recommend the University of St Andrews more highly! I stayed in University Hall, a catered accommodation run by the university, and lived in Wardlaw wing, a historic building that looked and felt like a castle. If you are considering studying at St Andrews, I advise that you apply for catered accommodation — We ate breakfast, lunch and dinner in a beautiful dining hall (very Harry Potter-esque), and I made some of my most wonderful friendships at mealtimes! By the end of the semester, we were having several courses of hot chocolates just to stay together a little longer. 

Fresher’s Week was a crazy whirlwind experience incomparable to O-Week here in NZ; every day, we had several fun activities in our hall and attended Freshers’ club nights in the evening. I was never much of a nightlife person at home, but in St Andrews, the environment was very safe and supportive, especially as we lived in a small town away from the city! I would absolutely take advantage of Fresher’s Week and talk to as many people in your accommodation as possible. As an exchange student, you are guaranteed a place in a hall, which I would 1000% recommend. They’re also a great place to meet other exchange students. I made friends with international students from Australia, Italy, Japan and Germany, as well as full-time St Andrews students from Scotland, England, Ireland, and the US! It was extra special to share the exchange experience with other students and make friends from all over the world. I’d also highly suggest opting to have a roommate; firstly, this cuts the accommodation costs down, and equally as importantly (if you’re as lucky as I was), you’re guaranteed a built-in friend. I was lucky enough to become really close with my roommate, and I stayed with her family in Italy for a few weeks after the end of my exchange (& she’ll be visiting NZ next year!).

The courses are more difficult at St Andrews compared to the University of Auckland, and there is so much to get involved with outside of academics that it is easy to get overwhelmed. It is important to remember that St Andrews is currently ranked the No. 1 University in the UK, and consequently, the work will be challenging! Try not to compare yourself too much with domestic students, particularly as our grades do not transfer back or impact our UOA GPA. Additionally, St Andrews has a very different grading system, where a 7/20 is a pass. So, expect numerical grades that seem much lower than what you might be used to at home; this is normal! An exchange is about living and studying in a new environment; although academics matter, as long as you pass, your grades do not!

Outside of academics, I joined Inklight, the Creative Writing Society, and have some work about to be published in their upcoming journal, which is super fun! I also joined the Filmmaker’s Society and wrote a short film screenplay with my roommate. I joined archery to try out a new sport, attended Celidhs (a must-do at a Scottish University), took lots and lots of photographs, attended many a bonfire on the beach, and even went to a ball! St Andrews has a million activities on offer, and they’re all incredible. Get involved! Travel around Scotland! It’s a beautiful country, and St Andrews is a University experience like no other. 

Q&A

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

Everyone at St Andrews is incredibly passionate about their field of study! It was insightful and super eye-opening to learn about various research interests totally outside of my majors. Our libraries were absolutely picturesque and certainly made it easy to romanticise studying! It even snowed for the first time during our exam revision weeks, which was magical.

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

St Andrews is so unique and full of long-lasting traditions. I would absolutely recommend joining an Academic Family (first-years and exchange students get “adopted” by third-year Academic Parents) participating in Rasin and the Foam Fight (google this one!), the Pier Walk (and academic gowns in general), attend a high-table meal if you’re in halls, absolutely go to a Ceilidh (or several), and try and make it to a ball, they’re expensive but well worth it. 

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

1. Take the offer of a guaranteed place in student accommodation, and opt for a catered hall if you can!

2. Get involved with every aspect of student life! There’s so much to do!

3. Pack some warm clothes for the Scottish winter, and formal wear for events!

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 just over the amount needed for the (catered) accommodation and flight costs, which I paid in advance, and then continued receiving the Studylink Living Costs loan for all other expenses while on exchange. This was perfect, however, if you’re planning on doing some travelling around Scotland/ the UK/Europe during Reading Week (the mid-semester break equivalent) or after your exchange, definitely budget significantly more than you think you’ll need. St Andrews is a very expensive town, and prices for sports clubs, societies, and formal events are much more than you’d expect. 

What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?

My experience abroad helped me gain a lot of self-confidence and a renewed sense of identity and purpose! I realised that I loved meeting new people from different backgrounds and trying new activities. I also realised that I can travel on my own, be alone in a foreign country on the opposite side of the world, and not only survive, but thrive! 

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

A benefit of being in Europe is that flights to other countries and cities are incredibly cheap (thank you, Ryanair!). In our mid-semester break, a few other exchange students and I went to Ireland, which was an incredible experience and a beautiful country. I believe the return flights were only £30! I also got to visit Italy, Belgium and France, and of course, travel around the stunning Scottish landscape during the semester.