Selin (Sem 2, 2023)

My Exchange at The University of Edinburgh

Before leaving for my exchange, I had so many questions. Will I make friends? What if I don’t like my school and city? There were so many what-ifs! But the moment I landed in Edinburgh, I was filled with excitement for the unknown. I stayed in Kincaids Court; it definitely was on the older side, but I was lucky to be paired with other international students in my flat. I definitely found meeting other internationals really helpful, as everyone is just really excited to be there and eager to make friends!

Edinburgh is an incredible city, full of beautiful architecture and so much to do! I would definitely recommend this city to anyone who is looking to go, as the city has a great student vibe, and it is just a bus ride away from all the other cities in Scotland. The highlight of my exchange was definitely taking advantage of the student tours they do at the university. I did two different tours with my flatmates into the highlands to see The Isle of Skye and Glenfinnan Viaduct (the Harry Potter train) I would definitely recommend this to anyone, and they do cheaper prices that are budget-friendly for students! I also recommend taking part in the clubs! My favourite was the Edinburgh Uni Snow Sports Club; they held so many fun pub crawls, and I met so many of my friends through them. The Ryanair flights were also really cheap out of Edinburgh if you’re looking for a weekend getaway. I did both Dublin and Belgium; it was a great break away from the uni work!

I found the cost of living similar to Auckland. I had many questions about how much an exchange would cost, but it is what you make it. You can definitely keep it more budget-friendly by shopping at Lidl and Aldi, cooking at home and doing fewer weekend trips! There also are lots of student discounts available too! I found that university accommodation has cheaper options you can pick from, and the cost of a supermarket shop is cheaper if you go to the right stores! Overall, life on campus is super fun! The campus is located in the city centre and is close to everything. There are so many cute coffee shops to study in; my favourites were Soderberg, Love Crumbs and Black Medicine!

If you’re still on the fence and unsure, that is how I felt up until I got on the plane from Auckland. But I can promise you now that this will be one of the most amazing experiences in your life and you definitely won’t regret it!

Q&A

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

The buildings you get to study in are so gothic and beautiful that you feel like you are in Harry Potter! The lecturers and classes were great with so many study spaces and cafes nearby!

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

I would definitely recommend joining student clubs! My favourite was Edinburgh University Snow Sports Club. Also would recommend travelling around Scotland and seeing the Highlands and other cities! ESN runs budget-friendly tours, and my favourite trip was to St Andrew’s to watch the Edinburgh uni vs St Andrews Rugby Game!

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

• Definitely spend time seeing Scotland! Many people do weekend trips to other countries, but make sure not to miss out on seeing what Scotland offers.

• I’d say which hall you choose is important. I stayed at Kincaids, which is great if you like going out and being in the centre of the city! There are other halls further away from the city or in other areas if you prefer a quieter more suburban vibe.

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?

It is better to overbudget than underbudget as you never know what can happen! I think an exchange is what you make it. You can definitely make it more budget-friendly by doing fewer weekend trips and cooking at home! I found that once I got to Edinburgh and made friends, we ended up booking weekend trips and fun activities together, so make sure to budget for those too! The weekly student loan was also really helpful for paying for essentials.

What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?

I think never say no to opportunities and don’t be afraid of the unknown! It’s crazy to think that I was on the fence about going on an exchange as I was worried about making friends, would I like it there etc, I almost missed out on making amazing memories I will have for a lifetime.

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

Dublin was only a 40-minute plane ride away! It was also only 30 pounds return, so it was a really fun overnight but budget-friendly trip I did. I really enjoyed getting away from my studies and exploring the city. There is so much to do and great nightlife! Temple bar is a must if you are visiting.

Final Comments

If you’re on the fence or unsure, just do it!! What I loved most is that you are literally able to live somewhere else in the world for a few months without actually having to move and going through the struggles of renting and bringing all your things over, finding a job, etc. You just get to study, travel and make friends without the commitment of moving permanently!