UTS Think Global

Aalto University, Finland

May 21, 2018

Moi moi from Helsinki Finland!! I’m Adam, and I’ve been living here since the 31st of December! Helsinki is COLD!!!!!

It has been an amazing experience so far here in Helsinki. Actually, I think I’ve decided I won’t be coming back to Australia for a while when I finish my exchange… I’ve been searching for job opportunities abroad and fingers crossed things are lining up! Finland has a really interesting culture and is completely different to Australia – People are really friendly and pretty happy, however they do tend to like their privacy. I have been lucky enough to make some really amazing friends here who I have spent nearly every day doing things with, both Finnish and international.

The city is different. I wouldn’t say it’s a city full of a huge amount of things to do, but once you become settled it’s easy to find good little bars & restaurants if you like good food. There is a nightlife here, however it doesn’t start till pretty late- most people don’t head out until about 1am because drinking is expensive- So when you make friends you’ll find yourself at home with music a lot before you head out. Luckily, it’s super close to Estonia which is very cheap to go for alcohol. It’s a two-hour boat to Tallinn in Estonia which is a kind of gateway to the Baltic states, and Estonia is BEAUTIFUL.

Sweden, Norway & Denmark are also very close, around an hour by plane so getting around is not hard and pretty exciting to be so close to such amazing places. There is also a boat to St Petersburg which I will be joining in a couple of weeks, so I can head on into Russia for something a little different without a visa..

So Finland- Well as I said earlier it’s COLD! Days in Helsinki have been down to -25 in the last month. If you come here you must try the Sauna and then the frozen ocean or lake swim. It will be a feeling you’ll remember- it’s amazing. February was the coldest, but it’s still so beautiful & there have been so many days of blue sky. Up in Northern Finland is Lapland and this area is filled with things to do, skiing, snow shoeing, husky rides & meeting Rudolph. I wouldn’t recommend going to Santa’s village- that’s a huge tourist trap. When I was there in February they had 97cm’s of snow!!!! So if you’ve never been in the snow- be prepared!! It was BEAUTIFUL. If you’re lucky you’ll get to see the Northern lights too!

University here is really different to Australia. It’s much more relaxed in the approach to the semester. The semester is split into three 6 week sessions. Each subject is only 6 weeks and for a full time Australian study load you need to complete five subjects which you can do at any point in the three sessions. So, I have completed 2 in the first, 2 in the second and I will complete 1 in the final session – which means I have a lot more time to travel and explore.

Finland is really great, but It can be expensive. When comparing to the Australian dollar it is pretty pricey. However, if we were earning the Euro the prices would actually be pretty similar to Australia. When you’re living here it is very affordable because you’re cooking in your apartment all the time so it’s easy to manage finances.

Before arriving I wasn’t sure if I would be able to pick up Finnish. So, when I arrived I wanted to give it a go. Turns out its one of the most difficult languages ever, so I turned to Swedish because that is also a national language here. Joining Swedish classes at University was really easy and I can hold a conversation now which is really cool because my plans are now to move on to Sweden at the end of semester. Everyone (almost) speaks English here though, so if you have no intention on speaking Finnish or Swedish you will be absolutely fine.

Do an Exchange trip and go and experience another culture and life – Who knows where you’ll end up!

Moi moi & Kitos!!

Adam Newman
12687101
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Aalto University
Helsinki Finland
Day 100 at TU Delft, the Netherlands

May 17, 2018
Today marks my 100^th day of being on the other side of the world and the uni workload has finally started to steady, so I thought it was the perfect opportunity to reflect on my time abroad. I arrived at TU Delft at the beginning of February along with 300+ international students after spending 2.5 months travelling across the USA, Canada and all over Europe. After receiving the keys to my new home for the next 5 months, the first question my roommates asked me wasn’t ‘What’s your name?’ or ‘Where are you from?’ but ‘Do you want to have a beer with us?’ and that pretty much sums up my exchange thus far. If you’re considering TU Delft for your study abroad, here are a few bits and pieces you should know:
- TU Delft is a technology university, meaning the faculties are mostly streams of engineering, IT, design and architecture, meaning there are a LOT of guys
- Most faculties have their own bars and a specific night of the week that beers only cost 1€
- Despite being a tiny city, Delft seems to have more events and things to do than Sydney
- You’ll always find out about these events through Whatsapp – everyone uses it to communicate and you’ll become a part of so many group chats that your phone will constantly be receiving notifications
- Professor Schermerhornstraat, the student housing complex where I live (and arguably the best one, along with Stieltjesweg), becomes easier to pronounce when you’re drunk (which is a lot of the time)
- To truly immerse yourself in the Dutch university experience, you’ll need a bike – there’s a great startup called Swapfiets that rent bikes out for 12€ a month but register before you arrive to avoid waiting 3 weeks for a bike!
- Don’t stress about learning Dutch, the only place you need it is in the supermarket and that’s where the google translate app becomes your best friend
- In fact, you’ll learn more Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and Korean phrases than Dutch – Delft has a very international community so you’ll never feel like a foreigner
- The international office is there to help you with everything from accommodation to visas to bank accounts so if you are unsure about anything, send them an email
Studying abroad is a truly invaluable experience and if you’re looking for an escape from the hustle and bustle of Sydney, come to Delft – the little Dutch town full of social, inventive, and motivated young people who are coming up with bright ideas every day.

Isabelle Edwards
12592933
Bachelor of Design in Product Design
TU Delft
The Netherlands
Seoul Search – Sogang University, South Korea

May 14, 2018
Annyeonghasaeyo from Seoul, South Korea!

International Business Studies sub-major at Sogang University. That’s my academic role here as an exchange student in Seoul. However, exchange in Seoul is about much more than just that an academic overseas program. It’s literally a “Seoul”- searching experience like no other!

With close to 10 million people calling Seoul home, the city is bustling with beautiful sceneries, grand department stores, unique street markets, deliciously diverse food and crazy-cheap alcohol, it is really no wonder as to why students from all around the world come to share their once-in-a-lifetime opportunity here. Sogang University is one of the most-recognised universities in terms of reputation excellence and location-wise. It is one of the first university choices for all students, domestic and international, as it is located right next to the “Hot Place” Hongdae. Hongdae, or Hongkik University, is a very popular area known for being accessibly generous to college students with lots of multi-national restaurants, shopping malls, big movie theatres, busy bars/clubs and bright arcades, all at student prices- hella CHEAP! Did I mention that the nightlife lasts till 8 in the morning?

It has been only three weeks, yet I have made so many memories already. New friends from every continent across the world. New food experiences at shockingly-low prices I wouldn’t see back home. Joining a sport club I never imagined I would ever try in my life except in high school- Volleyball. Meeting domestic and other international students through Sogang’s H.U.G buddy program who help international students adjust and understand the Korean way of life and go on field trips together while bonding and getting to know each other better.

Tips to note:
- Whether you are coming alone, or with friends, it will be very fun to mingle around and make friends with other international students. Just a smile and saying “Hi” could be the start of an incredibly unique relationship you could have never imagined. (That’s how I met my “Seoul-mates”)
- If you have academic worries, the teachers and offices here are extremely welcoming and helpful. So, if there is an issue of any kind, they will be more than happy to help you and give you lots of information regularly to ensure you don’t miss deadlines!
- If you are on a budget, I suggest you get a budget diary and start thinking about how much you want to spend per week to get through however long you are staying at Sogang or Seoul. It is easy to over-spend- too easy.
- If you decide on Sogang, I recommend staying at the university dorm – Gonzaga Hall. This is where you meet majority of the international students, so staying at a dormitory is a big YES.
- If you are worried about the language barrier, don’t be. A lot of people/ shops at universities, Hongdae area and tourist places speak English, however it would be extremely useful to be able to say a few words or even read/write Hangeul (the Korean Language).
- If you want to learn Korean, Sogang KLEC is one of the most entertaining yet useful classes. Look into it at least once!
- If you are worried about the entire exchange itself, it can be quite a big decision to think through, but I can say with absolute certainty that it will be one of the most important and memorable moments of your life. Something will make you smile when you think about it and you’ll reflect on how you became the person you are then, in the later years of your life after university.
I wish that everyone would be able to take up an exchange opportunity given the chance. It is too great of an opportunity to pass up on!

Good luck!

Sanra Rana
12589774
Bachelor of Business
Sogang University
Seoul, South Korea
Two weeks in Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany

May 10, 2018

Going on exchange is a big decision. There’s a lot of planning that goes into the entire process, and there’s even more after you get accepted. The stress involved with applying for a visa and searching for places to stay made me apprehensive about studying overseas. I doubted myself and second-guessed my choices. All that initial fear has disappeared. Going abroad has been one of the best decisions I have ever made.

The Hochschule für Gestaltung (HfG) is a small university in a small town called Schwäbisch Gmünd. At the HfG, exchange students are permitted to choose subjects from different disciplines. This semester I entered a ceramics course (which is part of product design), this being a thing I’ve always wanted to try. The exchange student group is relatively close and plan many events such as dinners, drinks and hikes. As a result, you can bond with everyone in the group – you’ll always have a friend.

Schwäbisch Gmünd is a beautiful place, one that I would never have visited if not for exchange. The European landscape is so different to the Australia bush and I am constantly in awe of the scenery and environment. Like Sydney, the weather changes drastically. This morning I woke up to the sight of the city covered in blanket of snow while the week before, it was warm and sunny.

The school and shops are within walking distance. It’s easy to get around, and there’s a river that runs through the city that is home to ducks and swans. Schwäbisch Gmünd is so small that the chances are, you’ll be living with other students from the HfG. This size facilitates a feeling of intimacy and family which I find very comforting.

I always knew that Germans drank a lot of beer. Only coming here and joining in on the German drinking culture, have I realised how big it is. In some places, water is more expensive than beer. On Sunday, like most European cities, the shops are closed. You can go on a ‘Spazierengehen’ (a stroll), cook food with friends or stay at home. The first two weeks in Gmünd have been eventful and positive. Hope this good trajectory continues!

Joanna
12576233
Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication
Hochschule für Gestaltung Schwäbisch Gmünd (University of Design Schwaebisch Gmuend)
Germany
Aarhus School of Architecture, Denmark

May 7, 2018

After living here in Aarhus for just over a month, many things have surprised and interested me.

Firstly, how easy and quick it is to travel from Denmark to anywhere in Europe. Cheap airlines like Ryanair offer return flights for often under $100 from a number of airports in Denmark. From Aarhus, I have found Billund Airport to offer a great amount of flights, and only takes 1.5hrs to get there rather than Copenhagen’s 3hrs. I was lucky enough to go on a Study Trip to Florence for a week, costing surprisingly little and taking no time at all.

The main town in Aarhus is really cute, with a number of really stylish/designer shops, interesting bars and delicious food! However, this all does come at a cost, and in Denmark that cost is fairly high! So be prepared to eat in with friends a lot if your planning on lasting the 5 months! Nightlife in Aarhus is very broad, from bars, clubs to a very alternative scene. The Architecture School is very social and holds what they call ‘Friday Bars’ – big parties in the studio every couple months on a Friday that are a lot of fun! Also, the district ‘Godsbanen’ has a lot of interesting music and alternative events happening.

Aarhus is quite an international place, as almost half the people I have met have been from other parts of Scandinavia and elsewhere. Everybody is so nice at the university, very easy to make friends. The university pedagogy is a lot different to UTS in my Unit (Unit E). It is a lot more subjective and ‘free’, with tutors giving much less direction, wanting students to kind of find their own path. We have signifcantly more time to complete our project – for example this semester I am designing a façade, in the same time that I was asked to design a music venue, emergency shelter and terrace at UTS. This allows us to take the project to a completely new degree of detail, and really think about that you’re doing rather than just go go go.

Overall, I have already made some great friends and had some awesome experiences at Aarhus. I would definitely recommend everyone to spend a semester here, just don’t forget your rain jacket!

Jordan Bamford
12572638
Bachelor of Design in Architecture
Arkitektskolen Aarhus (Aarhus School of Architecture)
Denmark
Tilburg University, the Netherlands

May 3, 2018
It’s been two months since I took the train to Tilburg University station with my giant red suitcase and zero expectations of what was to come. I chose the Netherlands mainly because it was in the centre of Europe (easy to travel to/from), Tilburg was a university town (something entirely different to UTS), I’d heard there was a good international exchange program (i*ESN) and I’d never been to the Netherlands before (somewhere new). From stepping off that train to now having settled in, I can now confirm I’ve made a great choice.

The study

Tilburg uni is quite similar to UTS – the workload is about the same, the library looks scarily similar, there’s lots of group assignments and we have the same structure of workshops/tutorials and lectures. I’m doing free electives here which has allowed me the flexibility to choose subjects that really interest me and there’s also the added bonus of a 5 day weekend… A word of advice when you’re choosing subjects: really read through the subject descriptions, figure out if your classes clash (the enrolment system doesn’t automatically tell you if they do), and have a look at the course load (sometimes there’re 100% final exams).

The people

I followed the advice of previous exchange students and made sure I got housing at Professor Verberneelan. The benefits of living here include a sweet room that’s super close to uni, social events every week and of course an instant international family. Just on my floor alone are new friends from Spain, the US, Canada, Belgium, Brazil, Mexico, Hong Kong, Singapore, Hungary, Germany, Sweden and Turkey! In fact, I live with so many Spanish speakers that I feel like I’m learning more Spanish than Dutch…

The party

If you consider yourself a social butterfly I would definitely recommend coming to the Netherlands because the Dutch love to party. There’s cantus which is kind of like a cross between Oktoberfest and karaoke (you sit at long tables and sing along with a band, when the song ends you have to down your beer – repeat this for 2-3 hrs) and it is the wackiest, funnest thing you will experience. Then there’s Carnaval which is a weeklong party where everyone dresses up in crazy outfits (I saw someone dressed as an aloe vera plant…), bands play in bars, you sing, you dance and you drink beer and Schrobbler (Tilburg’s version of Jägermeister). And finally every time you go out (which will most likely be weekly) your night will involve a singalong to either ‘Piano Man’, ‘Unwritten’, ‘Sweet Caroline’ and/or ‘Narcotic’ (don’t ask why, just sing).

Here are some more tips if you decide to choose Tilburg for your exchange (or if you need further convincing):
- The Dutch are really good at English so don’t worry about trying to master the language before you come.
- Bike life is the best life. If you can’t ride a bike or it’s been a while, get practicing because it will be your main mode of transport here. You can either buy one for around 100€ (and get 20€ if you return it at the end of the semester) or you can hire one like I did through Swapfiets (which is about 12.50€/month).
- Make the most of your weekends! Travel when you can during the semester because there’ll be deals left right and centre. If you’re travelling within the Netherlands and plan on taking the train, buy group tickets (4-7 people) because it’ll be a lot cheaper. Also, if you’re like me and can fall asleep anywhere, make sure you download the Flix Bus App and keep an eye out for sales. The same goes for RyanAir (there’s some pretty sweet deals from Eindhoven Airport).
- Every Saturday there’s a fresh fruit & veg market in the City Centre. Load up on fresh produce for the week here, it’s way cheaper and better quality than the grocery stores!
- If you’re wanting to work off all that cheese you’ll be eating, you should sign up for the sports centre. It’s super close, it’s only 97€ for 6months (or 22.50€/month) and there’s heaps of classes you can do. Also, if you play a sport, check out if they have a club for it in Tilburg. I’m training and playing games with the volleyball team here and find its a great way to meet a bunch of really nice Dutch people!
So if you’re still um-ing and ah-ing about going on exchange, just do it! You’ll make some amazing friends from all around the world and really learn a sense of perspective. And if you’re considering coming to Tilburg, do it! You’re going to have a helluva time!

Deirdre Stewart
12041923
Bachelor of Business
Tilburg University
The Netherlands
Copenhagen Business School, Denmark

April 30, 2018

It’s been about almost two months since I came to Copenhagen. I took an exchange in Copenhagen Business School because I have always wanted to come to Northern Europe and study for a semester or two and plus the university is ranked really high on top business schools list.

The university in Denmark is quite different from UTS, the teaching style is mostly composed of seminar-style lecture with fewer students than in UTS lectures. The assessments are only one big exam at the end of the teaching period in the form of essay, both sit-in and home assignment and oral exam (presentation-wise). They also divide their semester into quarters which I find very efficient and convenient for students. That means you are only taking two subjects in one half of the semester and another two in another half. That way students can focus more on the subjects that they are doing. I really hope one day the universities in Australia would follow this model as it really helps a lot and keep students on to good tracks.

I haven’t pick up any new sport while I’m here as the weather isn’t as favourable compared to Sydney and I’ve been travelling quite a lot, mostly during the weekends. T

he one thing I find most surprising about Denmark is that having a beer or two on the street is an okay thing to do and in a café (Nexus Cafe) at the university, I normally see students casually have a beer while discussing their assessment or writing their essay as such. Also, every Thursday the café turns into a nightclub which is weirdly amusing.

I’m taking two subjects related to business and politics about the EU and they are very interesting because I get to know about how things work in Europe and the EU. I also took one management and one marketing course which is really fun as one of the subjects is an online course and I’ve never had an online course before.

Overall, the exchange I’m doing in Denmark has been really “hygge”, a concept of the Danish in describing mostly anything that’s fun, relaxing, cosy, etc. The society is highly well-balanced between work and family life and centers around free time which a lot of Danes enjoy.

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Panha Long
12193177
Bachelor of Business
Copenhagen Business School
Denmark
Stockholm: A Winter Wonderland!

April 26, 2018

Hej! My name is Chris and I’ve now reached the halfway point of my exchange to Sweden! With the Swedish universities starting their Spring semester relatively early to other countries, I arrived in Stockholm in mid-January and was lucky enough to make a whole bunch of new friends within the first couple of weeks.

As was expected, Stockholm was freezing cold in January (probably averaging -5⁰C) and unfortunately nothing much has changed. The concept of the ground being covered in snow and snow falling from the sky every few days was like a childhood dream to begin with, but now it’s just a pain. Stockholm itself is an amazing city to explore – with 14 islands making up the Stockholm archipelago, there is an abundance of daytrips to be had and plenty of picturesque photograph opportunities. If I ever have a day with nothing to do, there are also over 80 museums to visit (probably about half of them are free!).

KTH has been an extremely welcoming host university and I would highly recommend the university if you are considering going on exchange! Signing up for accommodation with the university was very easy, however it is random where you get offered. I was fortunate enough to be offered my own apartment in a brand new building on campus, however a lot of the other accommodations are a 20-30min train ride off campus. KTH’s student union, THS, put on a 3-week introduction program for the new international students that is full of activities you can sign up for. I went along to most of these activities to meet as many of the other new students as I could!

The classes at KTH are structured a bit differently to UTS which took a bit of getting used to. The semester is broken up into 2 separate periods that are roughly 7 weeks long, where you study 2 subjects intensively, do the final exams/assessments, and then start 2 brand new subjects. Classes also start 15 minutes after the scheduled start time and finish exactly at their finish time (not 10 minutes before like UTS).

These first 2 months have flown by and I can’t believe I only have 2 months more remaining! So far my travels have taken me on a cruise to Tallinn, a “Northern Lights viewing” weekend away up in the north of Sweden (where unfortunately we had 3 nights of thick cloud cover) and just last week during the “study week” I have been in Amsterdam, Cologne and Brussels. Before exchange, I thought I had so much time over here to travel, but the reality is that you need to pick and choose where you go and who you go with because time is at a premium! Seize the day!

I’ve been struggling to keep this as brief as possible because there’s so much more to tell, but feel free to read my more detailed blog that might answer any potential questions about exchange – theswedishjourneyofalifetime.wordpress.com

Chris White
12050163
Bachelor of Engineering (Civil), Diploma in Engineering Practice
KTH Royal Institute of Technology
Sweden
Maastricht University, The Netherlands

April 23, 2018

Hallo!

I’ve been in Maastricht in the south of the Netherlands for about a month now and everything so far has been amazing! Maastricht is a student city with a population just over 100,000 and is very close to the border of both Belgium and Germany – which has made it a very convenient place to explore Europe from on weekends/breaks. Below is a picture of the main square in Maastricht with one of the oldest churches in the Netherlands!

When I first arrived in late January it was freezing! The maximum temperature during the day didn’t get much higher than 3 or 4 degrees and it snowed quite a few days! The main way to get around town is via bike so this made for some very interesting bike rides!

I’m staying at the Guesthouse here in Maastricht which is a lot of fun in itself, even though it is a converted hospital building (Note the rainbow in the below photo – It is nice here sometimes!). Just in my hallway of roughly 20 people there are people from Australia, America, Canada, Spain, Italy, China and many more! Living with people from such diverse backgrounds makes every day even more interesting – one person from Spain is even coming to UTS next semester so I’ve been able to help them with information about Sydney and UTS (small world!).

As for the university itself, Maastricht Uni use a problem-based learning system which is very different to the way classes are taught at UTS, with a much higher workload. The students are expected to lead tutorial discussions on each topic and are graded on their participation in doing so. As well as this, the semester is broken up into periods in which you do two subjects at a time, so even though I’ve only been here just over a month, we are only a few weeks away from our first exam block.

Overall, my first month in Maastricht has been a lot of fun and I’m looking forward to the remainder of my time here and in the rest of Europe!

Sean Dalwood
98104060
Bachelor of Business
Maastricht University
The Netherlands.
Aarhus School of Architecture, Denmark

April 19, 2018

How’s life in your host city? What’s the university like?
Life in Aarhus is very different to life in Sydney. The biggest change is probably the weather. It’s pretty cold here and has been snowing regularly. The Danish concept of “Hygge” an untranslatable word meaning “cosiness” is not understood until in Denmark: warm cottages with fireplaces and candles and lots of warm drinks. Aarhus is a really nice sized city. The centre of town feels like an old village with cobblestone streets and small stores and bars. Everything is within a 20-30 min bike ride and is very well linked with dedicated bike paths everywhere.

The uni here is very cute. It’s made up of lots of small old buildings, which have been acquired over the years as the uni has expanded. The pedagogy of the uni is completely different to UTS. The studio environment is very professional in the sense that it emulates an office environment. It is however very loosely organised which can be frustrating and very confusing at times.

Have you taken up a new sport or activity while on exchange?
I was meaning to get into European Handball but with this cold weather it’s really hard to leave my room! I will most likely sign up for a gym though soon… maybe… or just keep drinking beers

What have you found most surprising about your new country/culture?
People in Denmark do not lock their bikes to anything on the street. They have “wheel locks” here which basically lock the back wheel to the frame. This means someone could come along and pick up your bike and walk away. However people in Denmark are so trusting that the system works and hardly any bikes ever get stolen. People also leave their babies unattended in prams out on the street if they have to go into a store/room, which is super crazy!

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Are you studying something really interesting or different to what you’ve done before?
At the moment my unit is designing a Façade for the San Lorenzo Basilica in Florence. We took a trip to Florence a couple of weeks ago as a class which was great. Having a site overseas is really different to what we would be doing back home and also working with such an old historical building in San Lorenzo is also quite different.

Oscar Read
98130685
Bachelor of Design in Architecture
Arkitektskolen Aarhus (Aarhus School of Arhcitecture)
Denmark

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