UK – Oskar
Student: Oskar
Course: Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Laws
Program: Trimester exchange T1 2025
Describe a normal day in your life overseas: your university, your work placement or your study tour?
I was lucky enough to develop a routine very early on, which I was then able to maintain for essentially the duration of my trip. Wake up early, head straight to the gym at UEA Sportspark, then either straight to a 9am lecture or home for breakfast (depending on the day). Whilst having breakfast, I would talk to my friends/family back home in Australia (before they went to sleep). I would then spend a lot of time in the law school studying between my timetabled classes. Depending on the day, I would either go back to my flat for lunch or buy something in the Hive. Generally, I would then go for a run in the late afternoon/early evening… and then off to the pub with my friends for beer, pool and darts. I would then head back to my flat, do some more studying, and then relax before going to sleep and repeating it all again the next day.
Did you go on any memorable trips to explore your host country or maybe a nearby country?
I was lucky enough to go on exchange with my best friend from Deakin. Despite not seeing too much of England (other than London!), during the mid-semester Easter break in the UK (over a month), where all the English students go home to their families, we decided to travel through Europe because we were so close to everything! We went skiing in Austria for a week, then we also went to Munich, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin, Rome and Dubrovnik. After finishing exams, I also travelled to Dublin and Edinburgh. It was my first time in the UK/Europe, and these trips around Europe were absolutely amazing, and I made a lot of great memories.
How did you make friends and what sort of things did you do together?
I went on exchange with my best friend from Deakin in Australia, so I was lucky enough to already have a friend. However, I did make a lot of friends at UEA. I primarily met people through my flatmates and going to ‘O-Week’ events which had been organised by the University or societies from the University. It was a great way to meet likeminded people and develop strong friendships. We did all sorts of things, studying together, to going to sporting events, to going out for drinks/clubbing on the weekends. In the UK almost everyone lives on campus, so we did a lot together.
How did you decide which study abroad opportunity to do?
I decided to go to the United Kingdom because I am studying law, and the UK is where our legal system in Australia comes from. Therefore, I was excited to travel to England and learn from some of the best legal minds in the world, which I was fortunate enough to do throughout my time at UEA. I was also acutely aware of the UK’s proximity to Europe and knew that there would be a large break during the semester in which I could travel through Europe and see all the amazing sights and landmarks for myself! However, this was just an added bonus to studying law in the UK.
What’s your one piece of advice for a student who is preparing to study abroad? How should they prepare?
My biggest piece of advice for other students who are preparing to study abroad is… TRY NOT TO STRESS! It is very easy to get caught up in the unknown (e.g. will I make good friends? What will my accommodation be like? Will the host University be good?), however, there is genuinely no point in stressing over these things. The students at UEA were so, so, so welcoming to not only myself, but all of the students studying Abroad, and after being at your new home for a few days, all of the stress and anxiety about the unknown will melt away anyway. Try not to sweat the small stuff and make the most of this amazing opportunity (take it all in!).
How will your trip add value to your studies? i.e. Did you gain credit? Was it to increase your employability?
Due to the different weighting of the UK units in comparison to Australia, all of the units I studied whilst overseas were considered to be 1.34 credit points. Therefore, whilst overseas I only studied three units (this is normal in the UK anyway) instead of my normal four in Australia, and I still received the normal four credit points that I would in Australia (it was actually 4.02!). I believe studying abroad does also increase your employability. This is because it is a physical, tangible piece of evidence to potential employers that you are dedicated to your studies and you are willing to put yourself out of your comfort zone in order to better yourself personally, professionally and academically.