UTS Think Global

Dream. Explore. Discover.

Recent posts

Disclaimer: All blog posts are written by students and do not necessarily reflect the views of UTS staff.

  • Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong

    Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong

    Hey everyone, it’s Alex and welcome to my blog post that I quickly put together before flying off to China.

    A bit about me, I’m a 3rd year student studying a Bachelor of Business (marketing major) Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (business information systems management major) and I’m doing a semester of exchange at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

    I’m going to write about three things:

    1. Hong Kong in general
    2. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) – where I’m doing my semester of exchange
    3. And finally tips for anyone reading this who is considering doing their exchange in Hong Kong

    Let’s begin…

    Having been to Hong Kong before, one thing always stood out to me was its infrastructure – it’s amazing!!! The towering skyscrapers will leave you in awe every time you take a stroll in the city or catch a bus somewhere. Not only are the buildings awesome but every night they’re lit, Vivid all year round! Catching public transport is also a breeze, much better than Sydney (and cheaper). There’s no stressing about missing your train because they come every 3 minutes. Besides the city, Hong Kong also has many cultural experiences on offer which aren’t too far away. I was particularly fond of the Big Buddha for its sacredness and stunning scenery which could easily make one forget the city was only a short train ride away. The Mid-Autumn Festival lantern display at Victoria Park was also a highlight, showcasing Hong Kong’s Chinese culture. I could go on about the natural landmarks as well but I’ll leave some things for you to discover yourself.

    Moving onto life at PolyU, my experience so far has had its ups and downs, mostly ups. Positives, the campus feels like an actual campus with all the buildings in one spot, it’s very close to transportation, there’s plenty of accessible facilities (food) and plenty of opportunities to meet new people. The only major challenge I had to face was enrolment, heads up if you’re doing a combined degree, there might be some complications, but it all worked out in the end with the help of both PolyU and UTS staff. Some minor things that can take some getting used to might be the small living space and being the best English speakers in class.

    And finally some tips.

    Before exchange: attend all the exchange information sessions at UTS; communicate with the yellow team and UTS International; have some backup subjects ready.

    During exchange: get an Octopus card at the airport; stick to the right when walking; download the MTR and CityBus apps; don’t lock yourself in your room, there’s so many sights to see; be social; travel to some other countries; hit up Lan Kwai Fong; study hard (but not too hard); take lots of photos; and just make the most of this amazing city while you’re here!!

    Alex Vongtongtip
    Bachelor     of Business and Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
    Hong Kong Polytechnic University
    Hong Kong

    Australian Government New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant recipient.

    For more information about the UTS Global Exchange program please visit: www.global-exchange.uts.edu.au

  • Tilburg University, the Netherlands

    Tilburg University, the Netherlands

    Hallo from Tilburg, the Netherlands!

    It’s hard to believe that just under two months ago I left Sydney, completely unaware of the adventure that was about to unfold. Although the planning for exchange took approximately a year to complete, it still had not hit me when I was on the plane to Europe that I was going to be living and travelling abroad for the rest of the year. But since leaving Sydney, I have travelled to London, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Croatia, Italy and finally arrived in the Netherlands to start my exchange at Tilburg University – and I have absolutely loved every single moment!

    I arrived in Tilburg over two weeks ago and settled into my accommodation at Verbs, the dormitory buildings for exchange students. Although I was a bit apprehensive about living on a floor with sixteen other people and sharing only one kitchen, three showers and two toilets, living at Verbs has been a highlight thus far of my exchange. In the last two weeks I have met people from all over the world, formed some incredible friendships and made some crazy memories. These include playing Kings Cup in our dorm kitchen, the park, and by the canal in the middle of the rain; Top Week (I’ll get back to this below) and various Harry Potter marathons in the dorm living room with homemade hot chocolate and popcorn.

    Another highlight, as mentioned before, has been Top Week, which essentially is Tilburg University’s orientation week. Top Week is arranged by I*ESN, a student run organisation that arranges many other events throughout the semester primarily for exchange students. During Top Week we were randomly allocated to different groups with two local students as our mentors to show us the ropes at Tilburg University. There were various events throughout the week including a pub-crawl around Tilburg city centre, a pool party, a festival at a Lake House in the woods and the infamous Cantus, which involved drinking, dancing and singing along with a live band for three hours. Top Week was honestly one of the best weeks of my entire trip thus far and was a great way to meet other exchange students and form close friendships beyond the groups of friends I already had made at Verbs.

    Other than Top Week, I*ESN also organise parties every Tuesday throughout the entire semester at the university nightclub, Carpe Noctem, as well as regular pub-crawls, trips around the Netherlands and Europe, trivia nights and more Cantus’. I have recently joined as a member and would highly recommend this as you get free entry to all parties and events as well as many other benefits, including 15% off Ryanair flights throughout Europe (which I am very eager to take advantage of!)

    Post Top Week, I have started classes at university and to my surprise have found the subject content really interesting. Many of the subjects look closely at legal issues concerning the European Union, which I have found extremely refreshing and different to my usual studies at UTS. However, the benefit of being on exchange in Europe and having an amazing timetable with subjects only falling on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, is that I am able to travel from Thursday – Sunday. For example, I am currently writing this blog post on a flight to Madrid! I have realised that the travel opportunities whilst being in the Netherlands (which is conveniently located in the centre of Europe therefore making it incredibly easy to roam around and explore) are infinite! All in all, these last two months have exceeded all expectations, been some of the best months of my life, and I cannot wait for the many more adventures to come on my exchange journey. 

    Sareeta Shah
    Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Laws
    Tilburg University
    Netherlands

    For more information about the UTS Global Exchange program please visit: www.global-exchange.uts.edu.au

  • Bern University, Switzerland

    Bern University, Switzerland

    My first day upon arrival was, to say the least, very stressful. I had just come off my 26 hour flight, extremely eager for a shower and to unpack my bags. It seemed as though everything was going wrong for me, with the first issue being my card PIN not working, to making two overly expensive purchases for my train ticket and sim card. Little did I know that there were cheaper options. Much cheaper options. But nonetheless, I was finally in Switzerland and ready to explore this beautiful country! The second day I started to realise how lucky I was to be here, after exploring the Old City of Bern. Myself, Kashif and Fiona (All students from UTS) banded up and visited the Bear park, the Aare river as well as the Botanical Gardens. Each corner unravelled a new reason for our jaws to drop in awe, with the streets of Bern being filled with beautiful architecture and amazing fountains and sculptures. After seeing how picturesque the Aare river looked, we all agreed that we had to swim there while the weather was still nice, so the next day we headed down to a cozy spot and had a dip… It was freezing! But it was such an amazing experience floating downstream in the middle of Bern, Switzerland! A lot of locals were swimming too which added to the exciting thought that we too, will be Bern citizens for 5 months! 

    Monday saw the start of our introduction week where we were able to explore the main campus of Bern University. It has a really beautiful grass patch out the front of the main building with an awesome view of the city and Bernese Alps. We had the chance to meet a lot of the other exchange students, which we instantly hit it off with! They are really lovely people who are keen to have a lot of fun! After the first information session a few of us went down to the river to swim yet again… we couldn’t get enough of it! On Tuesday we had a student union information session which was a lot of fun! They had a big food platter out for everyone and we all mingled and got to know each other over a few laughs. From there we headed to a really nice bar with a huge outdoor setting where we all continued our laughs over a few drinks. 

    On Wednesday we had a city tour where were able to learn some history about the magnificent city of Bern! We were able to see where Albert Einstein lived for nearly 3 years, which is now a museum with a cafe underneath it. We were also able to see the display on the Zytglogge clock tower go off at 3pm which was established in 1191! If only walls could talk. The part of the day that amazed me the most was the Bern Minster cathedral, which is the tallest cathedral in Switzerland. It’s gothic styled architecture gave it an eerie vibe which was very intriguing, topped with a mural which detailed heaven and hell surrounded by Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the 12 Apostles. It was made to teach the locals what would happen if they sinned, as back when it was first made, people could not read, therefore the mural made for an easy way to understand the consequences of sinning. After the tour, Kashif and I went swimming once again! That night a few of us met  up and shared some laughs over a few drinks where we each explained what we were studying, why we chose Bern for our exchange and a random fact about ourselves. 

    On Thursday a few of us found another really cool spot to swim with a large grass area that you can lie down on and tan in the sun. We were all so intrigued by each others stories about where we were from and what we were studying. I am lucky to have such an amazing group of people for exchange! 

    I am writing this, reminiscing on my first week in Switzerland while I look forward to the rest of my stay! University has not yet started for me, so I am not able to comment on that, but I am really excited to start!

    Sven Carlsen
    Bachelor of Environmental Science
    Bern University
    Switzerland

    For more information about the UTS Global Exchange program please visit: www.global-exchange.uts.edu.au

  • Tongji University, China

    Tongji University, China

    I imagined that my semester in China, although culturally different, would still be structurally similar to that of studying in the United States and Australia. This was an assumption that was very quickly proven false over the course of my first few weeks studying at Tongji. One of the most exciting aspects of my journey to China has been the opportunity to meet both international and domestic students, organising journeys to the city and nearby areas that are well known for having amazing food options as well as stunning architecture. One thing I couldn’t grasp initially was the size of Shanghai, and when making the comparison to Sydney and even New York, it is amazing to witness just how drastic the size difference really is. I was naïve when making the assumption that language wouldn’t be a large factor when moving to Shanghai due to how much western cultures have influenced modern Chinese culture. In fact, I discovered that Tongji and a variety of surrounding areas have very little English capability and as a result I need to use mandarin daily in order to ask for even the most basic of things, such as a cup of coffee or some dumplings at a local restaurant. Tongji is an incredibly large university, with the Sipping campus accommodating over 30,000 students, including both a large international and domestic student population. Most of my classes are taught in the SEM building which is a relatively new addition to Tongji, and the classes are taught by English speaking lecturers with most of the students coming from Europe. This has been fantastic because I have had the opportunity to socialise with people in the exact same position as myself, which has also made the experience a lot less daunting.

    Sport in China is a novelty and most university students place a high level of importance on academia rather than socialising and playing sport. However, in response to this, I’ve decided to focus on exploring the city and understanding the Chinese culture on a deeper level. I’ve made this a priority by firstly taking the initiative to improve my mandarin, and aiming to make use of it on a daily basis to improve my conversational fluency. Moreover, I’ve tried to immerse myself in the culture as much as possible, from eating new food to attending cultural events held at the university, which has really helped me further understand Chinese culture and I’m very excited to continue this journey.

    My studies are incredibly interesting and are comprised of subjects that relate directly to business within China. For example, I’m studying subjects called Money & Banking in China and Marketing in China which explore the banking and advertising structures that are in place within a Chinese business, which differs significantly to those in western nations. I’m finding both the parallels and differences incredibly interesting and I believe this will give me incredible insight into Chinese business, which will hopefully serve a purpose at some point during my career. I’m excited to see what the coming weeks and months will be like in Shanghai.

    Alexander Sheehan
    Bachelor of Business
    Tongji University
    China

    Australian Government New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant recipient.

    For more information about the UTS Global Exchange program please visit: www.global-exchange.uts.edu.au

  • Lancaster University, United Kingdom

    Lancaster University, United Kingdom

    Greetings from Lancaster University! One of the most gorgeous countryside universities in northwest England. I have now been here for almost seven months and I’m still discovering something new every day. Lancaster is a small town just an hour away from Manchester. This makes it extremely easy to travel not only around the UK but also around Europe (many cheap flights leaving from Manchester and Liverpool regularly). It’s culturally quite similar to what we’re used to in Sydney but this quaint city is definitely a big change from our Sydney city living.

    Prior to starting at Lancaster, I travelled around Europe for a month. Tackling the countries of Italy, France and Spain, experiencing some warmer temperatures before being thrown into one of the colder, rainier regions of England. After that month of travelling, I began my time at Lancaster. We commenced our first week with “Fresher’s Week” which I would recommend partaking in, it was an easy way to meet people (both exchange and local students) and to get a taste of what Lancaster has to offer. This is very much a campus university and the town is centred around the needs of students. With several take outs on campus (one of the best burrito places that is on par with GYG), a bar for each college, great sporting facilities with an amazing gym and running trails, and many societies taking over the university, there is something for everyone. For the majority of my first term, I travelled around both UK and Europe, venturing to other cities in England, Scotland, Ireland, the location of Lancaster makes it very affordable and easy to travel! After this term was over, I made the decision to extend my stay in Lancaster for another half year.

    This term, I pushed myself to join more societies and travel less and embrace the student life at Lancaster more. Joining a sport I have found was an easy way to not only meet locals but also students our age. Joining hockey has proven to be one of the best decisions I’ve made. The academic life here is quite different to UTS. There is greater focus placed on coursework rather than exams for most degrees and the teaching for my business subjects have shown to be centred predominantly around group work which requires great organisation managing that around travels.

    To sum up, I’d like to give you some insight into things to consider if you’re looking into choosing Lancaster:

    1. Selecting your college is not as important as it may seem. The rundown of colleges are basically Fylde and Furness are the ones located close enough to campus so if you want a nap between your lectures, you can walk back to your dorm but also just far enough to escape the chaos. Cartmel and Lonsdale are the furthest away from campus, about a 10-15 minute walk to lectures (which is good for feeling like you’re away from university but not the best during winter months). County and Bowland are located in the flurry of the campus and although close to lectures may feel like you’re never really home.
    2. Nightclubs in Lancaster. If you’re part of a society, I would recommend purchasing the “Sugarfree” card at the beginning of the year. The main nightclub in town (which is run by the student union at Lancaster) is only 45 pounds (roughly $90 – entry costs 5 pounds so if you’re going out each week – most students will be at Sugar on a Wednesday and Friday night, you’ll definitely be getting your money’s worth).
    3. Travelling from Lancaster is very convenient. If you’re travelling around the UK, you can just get a train from the station in town and it’ll be quite cheap (make sure you buy a 16 – 25 railcard as it saves you a lot of money every time you’re leaving Lancaster. If you’re travelling to Europe, don’t limit yourself to Manchester airport, sometimes the cheapest flights are from Liverpool and Edinburgh – but also make sure you consider train fares as these change from time to time (the earlier you book it, the cheaper they’ll be).

    All in all, Lancaster University is an amazing place for a Sydney local to experience the life in a small town.

    Alison Trang
    Bachelor of Business
    Lancaster University
    United Kingdom

    For more information about the UTS Global Exchange program please visit: www.global-exchange.uts.edu.au

  • Virginia Tech, United States

    Virginia Tech, United States

    The first month of my exchange experience at Virginia Tech has been so much more than what I ever expected…. Hurricane Florence and all!! Right from the beginning of my exchange application, I knew I wanted to experience the quintessential American college atmosphere. Tech is that and so much more. From the huge tailgates and football games to the beautiful campus and friendly locals, my transition to a year abroad could not have been any better.

    Being in a small college town like Blacksburg is very laid back and relaxed compared to life at home. With so much school pride, the entire town revolves around VT; especially their football team. Locals are always willing to help you out and they love to hear about your choice to come to Tech.

    I chose to live in one of the bigger dorms (Pritchard Hall) and love it! The academic and residential sides of campus are separated by the Drillfield, which means a pleasant 10-15 minute walk to classes. You’ll often see the Corps of Cadets training together on the Drillfield. Being in such a central position is also only a short walk to downtown Main Street and really close to Lane Stadium and Cassell Coliseum.

    I’ve met loads of friendly local students from the dorms and my classes. It has also been really great getting to know the other exchange students as we’re able to bond over our similar situations.  

    Greek life is pretty big at VT, however for those who aren’t in a sorority or fraternity there are heaps of other clubs, organisations and opportunities to find people with similar interests. The tailgates before football games are crazy and so exciting to be a part of. Lane Stadium roars when Enter Sandman plays and the players come onto the field. We’ve only had one home football game so far as Hurricane Florence cancelled the second. I can’t wait for the next!

    While Tech is situated in a rural area, busses are easily accessible (and a lot cheaper than flights) to travel interstate. While I haven’t travelled too far just yet, I’m looking forward to going to South Carolina, D.C. and New York within the next few weeks.

    Even though I’ve only been here for one month, I can positively say it has been the best decision I’ve ever made. The opportunity to live and study overseas, make friends across the globe and travel to so many amazing places is something I’m so glad I didn’t pass up. Even though it wasn’t easy leaving the comforts of home, this chance truly is once in a lifetime.

    Micaele Parker
    Bachelor of Business
    Virginia Tech
    United States

    For more information about the UTS Global Exchange program please visit: www.global-exchange.uts.edu.au

  • Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

    Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

    EXCHANGE! EXCHANGE! EXCHANGE!

    After chanting this word for the past two years, I am finally on exchange at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore – the Centre of Asia.

    My exchange journey started exactly two years ago, I met Minnie Zhu in one of UTS Mentoring Programs where she first said the word “exchange” to me. I was very interested in going on exchange myself and started to investigate the whole process. Trust me if I can overcome the application process anyone can as I had to choose direct equivalent subjects (because of a double degree). After some research and sleepless nights when choosing universities, I picked three and one of them was “Nanyang Technological University (NTU)”. After the initial submission of the application and waiting for some months (as the foreign universities do not start accepting enrolment), I finally got accepted to NTU where I started a new adventure for the next six months.

    Nanyang Technological University AKA NTU is a massive city within itself. If you think UNSW is immense, try again cause NTU is so big that all the halls of residence have their own postal code. The university is equipped with some of the best technical equipment, and the buildings are worth just stopping by to look at. One of the buildings is called the “Hive” , and another is “ADM”. These are some of the buildings which grabbed my attention when I first started at NTU.

    Hive Building
    ADM

    Getting around in NTU is convenient as the university provides free bus
    rides around the campus as it is so huge making it hard to walk everywhere. These buses are very easy to understand, and there is an app for the students to use to keep track of buses. The buses are always on time (Sydney’s transport could pick up a tip or two).

    The university has a lot of places to eat at, each residence hall has one canteen which is very affordable. One can eat a whole meal under $SG 3.00 including a drink on campus. There are a variety of cuisines to try such as Korean, Japanese, Indian to name a few.

    My accommodation was in one of the newer resident halls which are called “Crescent Halls”. At the top of my blog is an aerial picture of the new halls. Doesn’t it look so pretty from high above?

    The study culture in NTU is very different from UTS. In NTU, they promote a lot more self-study rather than face to face study time; I have more tutorial time than lectures. All the lectures are recorded in NTU, and one is supposed to watch them before the class to ensure they know what to expect in the class. All the students are very helpful in guiding you around the university and letting you the know the tricks of NTU. I really like my subjects in NTU, I am gaining new skills with each week passing by. The structure of the subjects is the same as UTS which includes, assignments and exams.

    After you step out of NTU, there is so much to explore such as tourist attractions and eating out. I have been to Marina Bay, which is one of the highlights of Singapore. Below is a picture of the Marina Bay. There is so much to do at Marina Bay such as the Merlin Park, Gardens by The Bay, etc.

    I have visited more places than other exchange and local students. One of the memorable trips I had was to Little India with a whole bunch of students. We explored the streets and visited the temple and ended up eating at one of the oldest South Indian restaurants in Little India.

    In the recess week, I am going to Japan for a week to cover Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. Over the next few weeks during university, I will be covering, Malaysia, Phuket and Vietnam. After the exchange is over, I will be covering China and India.

    I will be more than happy to help anyone who needs some advice regarding exchange or especially regarding NTU/Singapore. Please don’t hesitate to contact me.

    Special thanks to the team at UTS International especially Raffaela for not giving up on me regarding my direct equivalent subjects as I struggled a bit. The team at UTS International is always there for the students to help and make their exchange process easier and simpler.

    Hopefully, my journey will inspire other double degree students to take up an exchange during their university life.

    Tanvi Singh
    Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
    Nanyang Technological University
    Singapore

    Australian Government New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant recipient.

    For more information about the UTS Global Exchange program please visit: www.global-exchange.uts.edu.au

  • CIAO BELLA! – BOCCONI UNIVERSITY, MILAN

    CIAO BELLA! – BOCCONI UNIVERSITY, MILAN

    I am writing this from a train heading home after a wonderful weekend away in the French Riviera; just one of the many perks of living in Milan.

    Milan is very much an international city, with a business culture and busy nightlife. What really sets it apart from other Italian cities is that it is really wealthy with a huge fashion and design scene.

    After living here for 3 weeks I’ve started to settle into the Italian way of life with the help of my 2 gorgeous Italian flatmates. Major notes: breakfast as we know it is non-existent, here it’s a quick espresso at the bar and maybe a cornetto if you feel like indulging. Nothing opens before 10 so don’t expect to be seizing the day with an early morning routine, however, it is really beautiful to walk around the deserted streets. Italians kiss everyone twice, don’t matter whether you’re a stranger or close family so just brace yourself. Bedtime is midnight with most of the social activity starting well after 9pm, hence a much-needed daily sleep in. Take extra caution crossing the road because each driver has their own style, which means sometimes they give way and sometimes they don’t.

    Things I wish I read before I left

    –    Don’t worry about packing absolutely everything you think you might need. I am someone that packs the kitchen sink every time I have a weekend away but my mother’s wisdom steered me in the right direction. So long as you have your passport and access to money you can buy anything you need here.

    –    Have a rough plan of travel you want to squeeze in on your quiet weekends. This helps you make the most of your time and keeps you busy. This was personally important for me being someone who does get a little bit homesick. Particularly in Milan, the access to affordable trains, buses and flights are amazing I’ve been able to squeeze in so much site seeing already.

    –    Make sure you know what kind of person you are when booking accommodation. Both student residences and private housing have their perks for sure, but living in an apartment has been the best decision I’ve made so far. If you’re wanting a young, college, party experience then the student residency is for you. As for me, I wanted to live a more authentic Milanese lifestyle. I would recommend booking as soon as possible in nearby neighbourhoods, Navigli or Porta Romana are really popular.

    –    Organize a sim card as soon as you arrive. This is something I neglected to do which resulted in a very expensive phone bill. Sim cards are cheap in Europe, only 8-13 euros per month and are equipped with unlimited social media to help stay in contact with friends and family back home.

    –    Do try to learn the language before you get here. It’s not that you need it as pretty much everyone speaks English, but I found meeting Italians much easier if you can at least introduce yourself, order at restaurants and exchange pleasantries. I was really lucky to travel around Italy for a month before starting so I picked up the bare minimum.

    –    Don’t arrive too late! Meeting people and making friends is really important in the first couple of weeks. I signed up for the Italian crash course, which started 2 weeks before class (highly recommend). It was such a great opportunity to meet other exchange students and gave me much needed time to organize myself before term started. Being early meant everyone was in the same boat and for my friends that arrived later in the term they have had a little trouble meeting people as everyone gets a little clicky.

    –    Be open and say yes to everything. Moving here feels like worlds apart from my life in Sydney and it is so easy to get overwhelmed with change. Make sure you get outside every day, go see what the city has to offer, make plans with new friends and try all the local food. 

    Molly O’Toole
    Bachelor of Business
    Bocconi University
    Italy

    For more information about the UTS Global Exchange program please visit: www.global-exchange.uts.edu.au

  • Sweden: More than ABBA, IKEA and H&M!

    Sweden: More than ABBA, IKEA and H&M!

    While Sweden is 15,527 km away from Sydney, I already feel so at home here in Uppsala.

    In just 1 month, I have marched in Stockholm Pride Parade with 15 new friends, pet reindeer, gone to Sweden’s famous IKEA 3 times, had Swedish meatballs (which were vegan!), and sung in an all-Swedish taught choir! Honestly, Uppsala University should be your number 1 preference. It offers constant fun, endless activities and a taste of the quirky Swedish culture.

    Do the following three points fit your exchange criteria? If so, then do not hesitate to pick Uppsala!

    • Uppsala has an idyllic, bustling small town vibe (yet a quick 45-minute train-ride will drop you off in one of the most majestic capital cities in the world, Stockholm)
    • The university has a never-ending pool of exchange and Swedish students to make friends with because it is a student-focused town (seriously, you meet someone new every day here!)
    • There is a slight but not overly challenging language barrier as you need to learn some basic words for grocery shopping, transport etc. but everyone can speak English perfectly!

    Let me unpack these statements more…

    Small-Town Vibes:

    Cycling around Uppsala feels like you are on a small-town movie set. The cathedral dominates the sky-line and you can see it from wherever you stand. The river is lined with flowers and beautiful bridges, there are cobbled streets and every building is a different colour. I’m constantly stopping to take a photo or simply pause to ‘smell the roses’!

    Student Life:

    Uppsala is a university town. The 13 student nations (like an American sorority or fraternity) dominate the student culture. During your time, you will choose 1 to be part of but this does not limit you from experiencing activities in the other 12. They all offer:

    • Cheap and tasty food and drink. Does a big burger and chips for only $10 sound good? Or maybe pea soup, pancakes, unlimited salad, bread and coffee all for only $8?
    • Daily events such as Latin dancing, hiking, choirs, formals, clubs at night and MUCH more
    • Work opportunities in the restaurants or pubs with no prior experience is needed!
    • Grandiose buildings with cosy spots for you to chill-out, study and meet local Swedes.

    I can’t stress to you enough how cool these nations are. It is so unique and Harry Potter-ish and once you pick your nation you feel an immediate sense of pride and passion for it!

    Adding to this student life, you must stay in Flogsta; the place where everything happens! 800 students live in this accommodation area, and you live in a corridor with 11 other international or Swedish students. My corridor is already so close and I have people from Korea, Syria, Germany, France, Germany, Japan, Indonesia, Netherlands, India and Serbia! As you can imagine… there is never a dull moment!

    Sweden:

    I initially was going to pick a UK university but wanted something a little more out of my comfort zone in terms of language and culture. Sweden strikes that balance perfectly. Sweden has some quirky yet fascinating traditions which you have to see to believe. For example, at the end of a ‘gasque’ (ball/formal), we were whirling napkins above our heads chanting?! It’s so interesting and a beautiful place and culture to explore.

    A final tip if you want to go to Uppsala is to do the Summer Swedish Langauge Course. This is with 150 other students where you arrive 4 weeks earlier than the rest of the international students to learn basic level Swedish. This was the best decision ever. It allowed me to settle down, make amazingly close friends and learn basic Swedish all before semester kicked off. So you felt really comfortable and settled in by the time actual university starts which is such a bonus.  

    Overall, Uppsala University is the perfect place for a Sydney-sider to come for exchange. It is a small town yet buzzes with life. I already know I’m going to be so sad to leave.

    Adjö! (Goodbye!)

    Clare O’Rourke
    Bachelor of Accounting
     Uppsala University
    Sweden

    For more information about the UTS Global Exchange program please visit: www.global-exchange.uts.edu.au

  • Yonsei University, South Korea

    Yonsei University, South Korea

    I am currently in South Korea at Yonsei University, a university that is in the top 3 within South Korea. Hence, everyone on campus holds pride and class. During orientation, they announced that there are about 940 students on exchange this semester. This makes me realize how lucky I am to have this opportunity to study and meet people from all over the world. Also, the campus is huge with aesthetically pleasing buildings, which makes the walk into classes enjoyable.

    Yonsei offers many society clubs to allow Korean students and exchange students connect and feel welcomed. I have joined a couple, including Yonsei English Society (YES). YES is an extremely inclusive club that has many social activities, for example this semester they are doing a musical of La La Land which I will be apart of.  Furthermore, other clubs such as Mentor’s club is provided to divide exchange students into “cells”. These cells consists about 12 people, enabling the opportunity to meet people that are out of your social group.

    Korea has this culture where each club goes on MT, which stands for Mentors Training. This is like going on camp, doing activities such as scavenger hunt and lots of drinking games. This is probably something I found most surprising. Korea has a huge drinking culture, where they casually drink almost everyday at dinner and social events. This means the night culture is huge. Hence walking on the streets at around 10pm shocks me to see so many lights and people on a weekday.

    Moreover, the subjects I am studying are mostly related to my major back at home. However one interesting subject I’m studying is called Korean Popular culture. In this subject we listen to traditional and current Kpop music. I wasn’t really a fan of KPOP before exchange, but I think I will come back a huge KPOP fan. I am super excited for what the rest of the semester is going to bring and I can’t wait to share them when I am back!

    Christina Park
    Bachelor of Communication (Public Communication)
    Yonsei University
    South Korea

    Australian Government New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant recipient.

    For more information about the UTS Global Exchange program please visit: www.global-exchange.uts.edu.au