Kaitlyn's Exchange to Nottingham Trent University | England
I traveled Europe and worked in London for 2.5 months before moving to Nottingham. While I was there I was enjoying it so much that I almost pulled out of exchange a few weeks before semester started. Fortunately, Jeannette called me and convinced/reassured me to go through with it because a) I’d already come this far and we’d both put in the hours to make it happen and b) I’d regret it if I didn’t go. And sure enough, I would have regretted it. Studying abroad had long been something that I’d dreamed of doing and completing- and making it reality was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and I couldn’t recommend it enough.
I studied criminology at Nottingham Trent University in Nottingham, UK for the fall semester. My expectations were mixed before heading up there, I’d heard good things but also bad too. Tip #1 for studying abroad: Be open to change and difference, but make your own judgements. Despite what I had heard, I loved Nottingham and university life there. It wasn’t like Murdoch; the classrooms and lecture buildings were older and had beautiful architecture. The university buildings and my student accommodation were situated throughout the small city and there was no designated space for the university campus as such, which was really cool. This made it easy to travel too because I could walk everywhere- to class, the shops, nightclubs and bus/train stations. Also, because it was such a ‘student city’ there were always events on, both during the week and on weekends.
Tip #2: Try new things and say yes to as much as possible. The one thing I regret about my exchange was not taking advantage of weekend travel or joining a club. There was a student-run organisation called ‘city life’ which every weekend organised trips from the University, places such as Stonehenge, Snowdonia or Edinburgh. I never went on one of these trips which I wish I did- so be as involved as you can! Also, Nottingham Trent had a huge sporting reputation and if I was staying longer, I would have joined a club. Although I didn’t manage to join one, I would still recommend it. I saw and met plenty of people apart of a club and they said it was one of the best part of university life. Don’t waste the opportunity to meet new people or be a part of something you enjoy.
With saying that, studying and passing all your units is really important. Tip #3: Appreciate and put time into your classes. My three units all concerned the English criminal justice system and the police, and at the time I didn’t really find it completely relevant to my degree back home because I wouldn’t be able to apply any legislation or context to Australia. But looking back now, learning about another country’s courts and policing system was so interesting and I know it will help if I want to get a job internationally. I am also now able to compare what I learn in Australia with what I learnt while on exchange which is fascinating. Overall, the university experience was really good at Nottingham Trent. All of my classes linked together really well, the content was interesting and there was so much support from all lecturers and tutors. Like most people, I could have put more effort into my classes and weekly tasks, but that’s fairly normal I think... I don’t regret any part of my study and if I could have, I would have loved to complete another semester abroad.
The academic experience of exchange was good but it was the social atmosphere that made my trip amazing. I was terrified before I arrived and constantly worried about having messy/rude flatmates or flatmates who didn’t have similar interests as me. Day two came around and I knew I had stressed myself out over nothing. Tip #4: Be confident but be yourself. I am not the most out-going person but I put myself out there and I can easily say that I’ll cherish the friendships I made on exchange for a long time. I lived on a floor with other international students so we were all feeling similar emotions and were all trying to adjust to a new environment (and cold British weather). We all gelled straight away- there was about 30 of us total- and were always out drinking, hanging in each other’s rooms or going travelling. It was always fun and because Nottingham has a huge night-life, every night there was something to do. I also ended up travelling to Paris and Reykjavik with friends I met in Nottingham so, I recommend putting yourself out there and getting to know as many people as you can because those friendships can last a lifetime. I now have friends all over the world which is exciting too. With saying that, there was days where I felt really homesick and annoyed at the coldness. But home was always just a FaceTime away and I kept reminding myself that as much as I missed home, the experience and memories I was making was worth it.
So, don’t be shy or scared of packing up your life in Perth and moving abroad for a semester or even a year. While I was away, I learnt about crime and the CJS of another country which I am grateful for. I also managed to travel to 15 different countries, see some of the most beautiful cities in Europe and meet the most amazing and likeminded people. While I was away I became more outgoing, friendly and confident in myself and my abilities. I am proud of myself for living away for 7.5 months and I will forever cherish all of the memories I made so I cannot recommend studying abroad enough- it is an opportunity and experience of a lifetime that you won’t regret!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Murdoch University Study Abroad & Exchange - Outbound
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTACT US!
EMAIL: studyabroad@murdoch.edu.au
PHONE: +61 8 93607836
VISIT: Murdoch University, Student Centre, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA, 6150
FIND US!
WEBSITE: http://our.murdoch.edu.au/Student-life/Join-in/Overseas-study-opportunities/
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/murdochoutbound
INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/murdochoutbound
