Study Abroad Reflections.
What are people saying
about
their time
studying abroad?
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Join clubs and group activities, as they are a fantastic way to form friendships.
Going on exchange is an incredible experience that will change your life—as it certainly has changed mine.
Angelina Balaguer Hsu, University of Salamanca, Spain, 2025
The structure of my history and geography classes, which focused heavily on content culminating in a final exam, surprised me. This approach to studying humanities at university contrasted sharply with the system in Australia… I enjoyed acquiring more factual knowledge and general background information, as this helped expand my vocabulary and improve my listening skills across a wide range of topics.
I really enjoyed the consistent cohort of students in my classes… allowed me to quickly form a sense of community and build meaningful relationships. To push myself and find ways to meet people, I joined a couple of different clubs, including the University of Salamanca’s hiking group and a travel group for exchange students. The hiking group had day trips every couple of weeks, and most students were from Spain; I was often one of the only foreigners. While it was daunting at first, I quickly made friends and soon found myself conversing in Spanish throughout the trips.
I am incredibly grateful that I was able to live in a student housing that truly made my exchange experience even more fulfilling. The facilities were incredible and included a gym and a cinema alongside study spaces, and it was mostly young and international students living there which meant I got to make many connections all over the world.
Organising my exchange in Paris in the first place, and then settling into life here were all extremely challenging and I felt like quitting many times. But I didn’t, and now I have a whole new life on the other side of the world. While cliché, I feel changed as a person.
I really enjoyed the consistent cohort of students in my classes… allowed me to quickly form a sense of community and build meaningful relationships. To push myself and find ways to meet people, I joined a couple of different clubs, including the University of Salamanca’s hiking group and a travel group for exchange students. The hiking group had day trips every couple of weeks, and most students were from Spain; I was often one of the only foreigners. While it was daunting at first, I quickly made friends and soon found myself conversing in Spanish throughout the trips.
I am incredibly grateful that I was able to live in a student housing that truly made my exchange experience even more fulfilling. The facilities were incredible and included a gym and a cinema alongside study spaces, and it was mostly young and international students living there which meant I got to make many connections all over the world.
Organising my exchange in Paris in the first place, and then settling into life here were all extremely challenging and I felt like quitting many times. But I didn’t, and now I have a whole new life on the other side of the world. While cliché, I feel changed as a person.
Max Ramsay, Hitotsubashi University, Japan, 2025
Hitotsubashi University focuses on small classroom sizes leading to more student-professor engagement, fostered collaborative learning environments subsequently allowing me to further enrich my knowledge and learnings. Additionally, interactions with my peers from diverse backgrounds enriched classroom discussions and provided invaluable opportunities to exchange ideas and perspectives. Due to how small the university is (in enrolment and campus size), it was very easy to get adjusted to. The campus was sometimes quiet, but I would often bump into someone I knew at the cafeteria on my breaks between classes which was nice.
The highlight of my semester exchange was joining the Hitotsubashi Basketball circle. I participated in weekly practices and social events which gave me an easy way to connect with local students not only from Hitotsubashi but also from other nearby universities. The biggest challenges were going through the long and tedious administrative processes such as registering your residence at the local city hall, enrolling in the national health insurance system and obtaining a Japanese driver’s license. Luckily with the support of the Hitotsubashi study aboard office and the local students I was able to overcome these hurdles.
The highlight of my semester exchange was joining the Hitotsubashi Basketball circle. I participated in weekly practices and social events which gave me an easy way to connect with local students not only from Hitotsubashi but also from other nearby universities. The biggest challenges were going through the long and tedious administrative processes such as registering your residence at the local city hall, enrolling in the national health insurance system and obtaining a Japanese driver’s license. Luckily with the support of the Hitotsubashi study aboard office and the local students I was able to overcome these hurdles.
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At Hitotsubashi there were host family connecting programs as well as buddy pairing programs… these activities are the best ways to truly experience Japan and create genuine connections.
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Try to be proactive and prepared. Everything tends to be easier the earlier you do it, so it’s a good idea to write yourself lists of things you need to organise and set yourself deadlines where you can… especially for housing
Bethany Feik, Institute of Political Sciences (Sciences Po), France, 2025
Science Po’s teaching ethos feels very different from, my home university, in that it is a lot more geared towards practical, career-focused skills like presenting and communications skills. The instructors were really good at challenging you on your opinions, forcing you to self-reflect and get better at defending your stances. The diversity of the classes offered also helped to challenge my worldviews, both in having students from all around the world and in the course content. For instance, it was fascinating studying the history of gender and sexuality in the context of colonisation with a class filled with students from both colonizer and colonised countries, from different cultural contexts and differing gender identities and sexualities. It made for really rich and complex discussions that couldn’t have been had in a less diverse class, and reshaped the way I perceive a lot about these topics.
Taking every possible opportunity to practise French… I found my mind switching more naturally into French-mode, and it became a lot easier to speak and listen.
Taking every possible opportunity to practise French… I found my mind switching more naturally into French-mode, and it became a lot easier to speak and listen.
Coco Knowles, Free University of Brussels (Université Libre de Bruxelles), Belgium, 2024
Although in the beginning it was certainly difficult to follow my lectures in French and coordinate myself through the administration process, I found that the social network that I connected with early on during the exchange allowed me to overcome my feelings of frustration very quickly. The biggest plus of ULB was that they do not have mid-semester assignments, only exams at the end of the semester. This lack of pressure also made the university campus a way more engaging, fun, and social place for all students. The students on campus were constantly holding events, parties, and activities both academic and non-academic related that everyone got involved in which bred an amazing sense of community and cohesion.
I lived in a share house with seven other roommates who were all under 25 and were from all over the world. My rent was so expensive.. and by far my biggest cost. We would always eat together at someone’s house or alone at home and then we would go out for drinks (always Belgian beer which is very affordable). The University had a canteen that I went to most weekdays, which was about 5-10 euro per meal.
I lived in a share house with seven other roommates who were all under 25 and were from all over the world. My rent was so expensive.. and by far my biggest cost. We would always eat together at someone’s house or alone at home and then we would go out for drinks (always Belgian beer which is very affordable). The University had a canteen that I went to most weekdays, which was about 5-10 euro per meal.
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A result of the freedom that I had to explore myself away from home, while also being in a safe and secure friendship group, really allowed me to develop a sense of confidence and independence that I would never have been able to achieve at home.
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I highly recommend finding accommodation that is safe and close to the city. This proximity had a huge impact on my experience, as it made it easier to be involved in activities and social events.
Sara Argyrou, Université Lumière Lyon 2, France, 2024
The most enriching experiences came from subjects tailored to exchange students, especially those focused on the history, language, and culture of Lyon. I had the unique opportunity to immerse myself in the French way of life through activities like observing and teaching in a primary school French class and exploring Lyon’s historical sites. These experiences allowed me to gain a deep appreciation for how culture, history, and language are interwoven, expanding my understanding of the heritage behind the French language. Professors were stricter about attendance, punctuality, and grading standards, but they demonstrated a deep passion for their subjects. Unlike the structured use of PowerPoints and lecture notes at Melbourne, many of the professors in Lyon relied solely on verbal teaching, which created a highly engaging atmosphere during tutorial. The interactive nature of the classes, particularly those that took us outside the traditional classroom setting, also required a more open mindset and flexibility.
I found daily living cheaper than that of Melbourne. There is always discounted prices for students which I really appreciated. The market on Saturday and Sunday mornings were my favourite, very fresh and cheaper ingredients. There were quite a lot of activities planned for Erasmus students in Lyon, including tours, parties, meet and greets. They were all paid events costing around 10-20 euro each. All the museums were free for students which was amazing!
I found daily living cheaper than that of Melbourne. There is always discounted prices for students which I really appreciated. The market on Saturday and Sunday mornings were my favourite, very fresh and cheaper ingredients. There were quite a lot of activities planned for Erasmus students in Lyon, including tours, parties, meet and greets. They were all paid events costing around 10-20 euro each. All the museums were free for students which was amazing!
Maya Wilmhurst, Université de Genève, Switzerland, 2024
Strangely enough, one of the most valuable and enjoyable experiences from my exchange was volunteering at a uni student-run free grocery store. This put me slightly out of my comfort zone as I was talking to lots of people during my shifts in both French and English, but also provided me with an avenue to meet lots of warm, friendly people from both Geneva and around the world. It helped me feel like I was part of a community, even though I was only in the city for a few months, and gave me a great way to improve my language skills.
Remember to enjoy your experience your way. While for some people, this will mean travelling to a different city/country every weekend, for others this will mean going on a walk in nature or to a nearby café with a friend.
Remember to enjoy your experience your way. While for some people, this will mean travelling to a different city/country every weekend, for others this will mean going on a walk in nature or to a nearby café with a friend.
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Try not to let what others are doing dictate how you make the most of your exchange – this experience is for you to make the most of in whatever way makes you happy.
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Attending orientation day is an absolute essential - whilst it may seem optional and unnecessary, it IS the time when you will meet other international students.
Sophie Hodge, University of Chile, Chile, 2024
Due to the small class size, particularly in my subjects at the Humanities faculty, I became much more engaged in direct communication with my teachers than I usually do at University. The classes all had a great focus on class discussion.
I often arrived on campus for my classes and students were actively protesting against all sorts of issues in both Chile and across the globe. Weekly protests at the JGM campus were quite a surprise! I truly think that this opened my eyes to the crucial place of protests and ‘campus occupations’ amongst youth fighting for social justice in Chile.
The cost of living was very comparable to Australia. Groceries were at a very similar price. Eating out was slightly cheaper than in Melbourne but generally very similar. The cost of my accommodation in Santiago was less than what I previously paid in Melbourne.
Going to an ‘atypical’ destination country like Chile was the best decision of my life. I highly recommend following some Chilean news channels on social media, as well as watching documentaries from Chile.
I often arrived on campus for my classes and students were actively protesting against all sorts of issues in both Chile and across the globe. Weekly protests at the JGM campus were quite a surprise! I truly think that this opened my eyes to the crucial place of protests and ‘campus occupations’ amongst youth fighting for social justice in Chile.
The cost of living was very comparable to Australia. Groceries were at a very similar price. Eating out was slightly cheaper than in Melbourne but generally very similar. The cost of my accommodation in Santiago was less than what I previously paid in Melbourne.
Going to an ‘atypical’ destination country like Chile was the best decision of my life. I highly recommend following some Chilean news channels on social media, as well as watching documentaries from Chile.
Tallulah Thornton, Lawrence University of Bordeaux, France 2024
I was lucky that the University of Bordeaux ran specialised French classes for international students, and as part of those classes I was able to learn more generally about French culture, whilst my sociology classes focused on more theoretical aspects of society.
I also saw some great live music, as well as buying my own guitar so I could participate in open mic nights both on and off campus. My University organised regular student open mic nights, with both music as well as theatre, comedy and dance. This was a great way for me to participate in the local scene and see other musicians in the area.
In the first month I definitely struggled with the administrative/bureaucratic side of studying abroad. My advice to my past self and to any future exchange student encountering similar difficulties, is the need to accept that you can’t control everything before you go. Problems like timetabling seem more trivial in hindsight but in the moment I allowed myself to become overly anxious, as I had just arrived and was feeling overwhelmed by the new University model.
I also saw some great live music, as well as buying my own guitar so I could participate in open mic nights both on and off campus. My University organised regular student open mic nights, with both music as well as theatre, comedy and dance. This was a great way for me to participate in the local scene and see other musicians in the area.
In the first month I definitely struggled with the administrative/bureaucratic side of studying abroad. My advice to my past self and to any future exchange student encountering similar difficulties, is the need to accept that you can’t control everything before you go. Problems like timetabling seem more trivial in hindsight but in the moment I allowed myself to become overly anxious, as I had just arrived and was feeling overwhelmed by the new University model.
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I bought a second hand bike when I arrived, and this was a great way to get around the city, as it’s a particularly flat city with a lot of other bike riders.
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The campus has cafeteria facilities which are relatively cheap (roughly 3 euros 50 for a meal) and convenient if you don't have time to have a long lunch break.
Luke Baz, University of Lyon 3 - Jean Moulin University, France, 2024
To summarise my whole trip, I want to mention 3 roses and 3 thorns, representing what I enjoyed and loved the most as well as what I would change retrospectively. My 3 roses would be the aspect of independence where I was responsible for all my living needs including bills, groceries, and scheduling; my confidence in the French language where I feel I'm more able to speak spontaneously as well as being able to elaborate on concepts where previously I felt too shy to input in conversations; and finally the friends and connections I made along the immersion, both French and international students which contributed to my globalised perspective inputting different customs and perspectives that diversify us.
My 3 thorns I would say would include more spontaneity, in the sense that before my departure and quite early into the exchange, I had most things booked and planned so I was following a program that I had decided almost 9 months before the actual events; I also feel that having a small job would have enabled me to not only earn some pocket money but be able to interact more with French people, especially in a more face to face role to see the differences between work life in France and Australia; and finally, I believe further research into things such as transport and accommodation cost analysis would have let me use the money for leisure instead of bills, however, I was a big fan of my apartment as it was as a central gathering place for my friends and me right next to the university.
My 3 thorns I would say would include more spontaneity, in the sense that before my departure and quite early into the exchange, I had most things booked and planned so I was following a program that I had decided almost 9 months before the actual events; I also feel that having a small job would have enabled me to not only earn some pocket money but be able to interact more with French people, especially in a more face to face role to see the differences between work life in France and Australia; and finally, I believe further research into things such as transport and accommodation cost analysis would have let me use the money for leisure instead of bills, however, I was a big fan of my apartment as it was as a central gathering place for my friends and me right next to the university.
The above text is taken from the Mangold Scholars’ Experience reports completed after returning from their study abroad or exchange program. The reports are not published in full and may include excerpts of their reports and photos submitted to the Mangold Trust.
“…greater understanding and tolerance between the people of the world – and consequently a lessening of conflict – could be achieved through the study of other languages and cultures.”
Anne Marie Herzenberg on Walter Mangold