Rhianna (Sem 1 + Sem 2, 2023)

My Exchange at The University of Edinburgh

I found out about 360 through Auckland Open Day and enrolled in Global Studies with the goal of going on exchange. When I first arrived in Edinburgh, I was struck by how beautiful and old the city was; everywhere I looked, there were hundreds of years of history. My accommodation was at Warrender Park Crescent, which was situated right by the Meadows and a view of the castle; although the accommodation itself was basic, it was all I needed as most of my time was spent out and about, and the walk through the meadows to campus was a huge highlight.

Orientation at Edinburgh was great, although sometimes overwhelming there were plenty of events to meet people through. I really enjoyed the courses I took at Edinburgh, specifically any of the courses at or above Stage 3, in particular a gender course, and two literature courses. The classes were intimate with great small group learning, and the professors were inspiring and enthusiastic about the content. Scotland was a brilliant place for exchange, although it was cold, the location was incredible for day trips out to the highlands, and longer trips into other parts of Europe. Edinburgh is rich with art and culture and there are always events, shows and music happening across the city (often in the small cozy pubs or stunning historic churches).

I found the cost of living similar to that of Auckland, university accommodation was similar, food shops were slightly cheaper, but going out for dinner was significantly more expensive. I had a great time being a part of the hillwalkers society, in which we would go out to the highlands for the weekend and hike in the mountains, the club was welcoming and fun, and really reasonably priced for all of the perks they offered, I would definitely recommend it. There were endless clubs on offer. Life on campus was great, many of the students I met in my classes were really keen to study together and many of the cafe’s around the city are filled with students who sip on one cup of coffee for four hours. The food was definitely different to NZ, there was not much in terms of cheap fresh food, but Scottish food such as haggis, neeps and tatties, oatcakes, Irn Bru, a full Scottish Breakfast with potato cakes and Scottish beer and whisky definitly fit the vibe of and warmed the often cold and dark city.

The highlight of my exchange was definitly being able to travel around the area so easily, buses in Scotland are free for under 23 year olds, and flights are cheap around Europe, this travel allowed me to learn so much about a range of cultures and ways of living, as well as experience incredible nature. Although going on exchange is sometimes complicated and often feels lonely, I would always recommend it as a safe, supported and economical way to live in an entirely new city, meet new people and gain the best experiences. 

Q&A

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

Studying politics from another part of the world expanded my understanding and theoretical reasoning upon learning about a new perspective, history and culture. Literature was also incredible to study in Edinburgh as there is such a rich history of literature movements and literature figures and the specialised courses to do with Scottish literature offered great insight I couldn’t have gained elsewhere. Furthermore, many people are in Edinburgh to learn about the art and history of the city in particular, and therefore I was surrounded by passionate and curious students. 

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

I would recommend trips into the highlands, whether this is independent, through the ESN day trips, or through clubs like the hillwalking society that takes you out into the highlands; it is such a beautiful and unique place to visit. I would also recommend attending as many ceilidhs as possible, these are traditional dances to a live band which are simple and fun, the university often organises ceilidhs, and so do societies and clubs. 

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

1. Say yes to as many things as possible during orientation and beyond; although overwhelming at first, it opens up so many doors. 
2. Get involved in student life and attend events and societies; there are so many visiting students at Edinburgh, and home students are very welcoming. 
3. Plan some travelling to do in Scotland preemptively and make time for it. 

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 kept my budget the same as I had in NZ, and then factored in the lack of income from a job, and a bit of freedom to travel and get involved in fun things – this is different for everyone but you want to allow yourself some space or insurance if you get caught up somehow. Having a scholarship helped a lot. I also worked over summer as I was there for the whole year. 

What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?

Just experiencing new cities, countries, people, and cultures really expanded my perspective about the world and how people live and made me want to travel more. 

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

From Edinburgh, I did great short trips to Copenhagen, Paris and Dublin. Over the summer, I had an amazing long trip with some girls I met in Edinburgh from NZ through Greece, Italy, France and Spain. I definitely encourage making the most of Europe whilst you are that close to it all if it’s within your budget.