Daniel Charles
Exchange student from the United Kingdom
Leaving home is a big deal, so just picture going to live on that other side of the world. Moving to Australia to study was one of the biggest decisions that I made in my life it, but as soon I got there I was made to feel at home. Not only by fellow students, but the lecturers and the Australian people as a whole really made me feel welcome and this is what makes the real difference. Fitting in was not a problem. For me it was much easier being a exchange student as everyone seemed to want to find out about me, which was very cool.
The lectures were quite different from the UK but very interesting. With at least one subject you have someone from industry coming to speak to you which gave you a real feel for what was going on, and a real insight into different career areas that we as students could enter into. Tutorials were also a plus allowing a lot of interacting and the time to ask about assignments. In addition to this, class trips were something that was really new to me, but come to be a great pleasure; whether it was going to a house auction or a Careers Fair.
One of the biggest things that stood out for me was the amount of interaction that I was able to get. Coming from a uni where nearly 200 students do my course I know how hard it is to get hold of lecturers, but at Deakin this was far from the case. The lecturers were always easy to get hold off and willing to help. At Deakin it was the little things that made the difference, like the lecturers remembering your name.
Students on my course were always helpful and interested in me and in hearing about the UK. I am still in contact with many now. Melbourne as a city, is a place that you really come to love over time. I can promise you that after living there for one semester you will undoubtedly fall in love with the city, as I did. Coming from London, the city had big shoes to fill.
Studying overseas was absolutely amazing and I would highly recommend that anyone who goes to uni does it even if just for one semester, as it will change your life. The people you meet the amount of travelling you are able to do is unforgettable. I was able to travel round the whole of Oz then go live in Asia for 5 months travelling to 9 countries in total including USA and Vietnam. I will be coming back to Australia in 2011 to see all my friends which is very exciting.
Finally what has this done for my career? It has given me the chance that some people will never get, which was to travel the world and meet new people while studying. My CV looks amazing with this year of study at Deakin on it. As I have been telling everyone here, anyone can have the uni experience, but not many can say that they have that experience in another country!
