Veronica (Sem 2, 2023)

My Exchange at The University of Sheffield

I had been interested in going on exchange since I started university, so I had already researched for some time before applying. When I arrived in the UK my first impression was that it was more similar than I expected to NZ, especially the countryside. On the coach to Sheffield when everyone else was admiring the view and taking lots of photos, for me it just looked like home!

The first week was hectic. I moved into my accommodation and was relieved to find it matched what I saw when I was applying… the only downside was my drain was blocked upon moving in. For first week orientation, there were lot of activities on and it was very overwhelming! Clubs and stalls were generous with their freebies, and the university’s Global Campus also hosted different activities every day for the first few weeks to help overseas students settle in.

As for studying, I found course content was similar to UoA in the way it was taught. However, I did like that there were less assignments so you did not have something due every week, although each one was weighted more heavily. Some of my courses had one essay that was worth 100%!

Sheffield has a more town than a city feel and is also known for its greenery and proximity to the Peaks District National Park. It is also one of the cheaper cities for students in the UK, which played a role in my decisions; things like grocery prices were definitely a lot cheaper if you knew where to go. And due to its central location, it was also easier to go traveling a lot! The university hosted weekend day trips, called Give It A Go, to many different places around the UK, and all you had to do was pay for the transport. Additionally, many societies also had GIAG events which were first-timer friendly.

A few highlights of my exchange would be visiting somewhere new every week with friends, hitchhiking 400km from Sheffield to Glasgow as part of a charity hitchhike, and of course seeing snow!!

If there was any advice for future exchange students, I would say definitely prep well in advance, not just for what you need but also your mindset. Unexpected events will happen and you have to work around them and do what you can. Also, I recommend arriving in time for orientation as it gives you more time to settle in. It will be hectic in the first few weeks, and it can definitely get very lonely sometimes, but once you adjust to your environment and find your people it will get a lot better.

Q&A

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

There were less assignments in total, so even though each assignment was weighted more heavily, this meant you only had something due every few weeks which was nice (this does depend on your study area though). I also found most of my lecturers supportive and accommodating.

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

The University of Sheffield has a society which hosts two hitchhikes every year for charity, called “Bummit”. One is within the UK (Baby Bummit), and one is over wider Europe (Big Bummit). I did Baby Bummit from Sheffield to Glasgow, and it was definitely a unique and challenging experience! It was a combination of luck and strategy, and having long conversations with strangers also opened up new perspectives. (Note: yes there is insurance)

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

1. Make the most of opportunities available to you as universities will host many activities. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity so it’s always good to try new things.

2. If you are going in winter, be prepared for the weather. Storms can be strong and cause delays for things like transport (which happened to me many times). In Sheffield, some days were almost completely dark at 4pm!

3. Sheffield in particular is quite hilly so definitely factor that in whenever you travel anywhere…

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 managed to stay under my budget cause I was quite stingy with my purchases, and also because my city was relatively cheaper compared to others. Personally, I tried to spend more money on experiences than things. Cooking your own meals also helped and although it’s tiring, over time it can be rewarding as well! I also think it’s a good idea to have some money on hand for unexpected events, they will happen.

What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?

To keep an open mind and trying not to assume things too much before they happen. Often things don’t turn out as bad and scary as they seem. Also if you want something, you have to take initiative for it to happen as your decisions decide your experience.

I also didn’t know how much I was capable of until I was thrown into a situation that tested my limits. If something seemed too big and overwhelming, I learnt how to focus on the most immediate tasks and this helped break things down.