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6 Tips for Moving Abroad
By Annabelle Henderson, ESADE University, Spain As I near the end of my year on exchange, I have some tips and advice that I think would have been helpful to have heard before I went away: 1. Prepare Well in Advance Getting organised early is essential. Some documents, like visas, often require additional paperwork just to start the application process, so it’s important to research requirements as soon as you know where you’re going.For example, I studied in Barcelona for a year, and even though I didn’t move until August, I had to start gathering documents by March — five months ahead!It can also be really helpful to reach out…
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Oslo – Munch, Matty Healy and Saunas!
By Talitha Hamshaw, University of Bergen, Norway 06/03/2024 – 09/03/2024 A key trip for year abroad students in Bergen is to Oslo, the capital of Norway. My friends and I booked tickets to The 1975’s concert in Oslo earlier in the year, so we decided to combine this with our trip to Oslo. To get to Oslo from Bergen you can either fly or take the train. The train journey from Bergen to Oslo is famous for its views, however it takes around 7 hours and is slightly more expensive than flying therefore we decided to get the train on the way there and fly back. The train journey did…
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An Itinerary for Visitors
By Ellen Sleeuw, University of Copenhagen, Denmark I had a few friends and family come to visit me in Copenhagen over the year and by the end I think I found a great way to show them lots of Copenhagen, visiting the tourist attractions, whilst also showing them some of my favourite spots. I was living in Ørestad, so this was my starting point, but it is easy enough to switch up the routes!
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How to Master Budapest’s Public Transport (Without Losing Your Mind)
By Louis Hazeldine-Cosgrove, Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary. When I first arrived in Budapest, I was more concerned about not getting lost; than getting to my actual destination. But quickly, I realised that Budapest’s public transport system is not only everywhere—it’s actually pretty amazing. That said, the network of metro lines, trams, buses, and trolleybuses can look like a maze when you’re new. But once you become familiar, you will see why they are considered as one of the best public transport systems in Europe! So if you’re heading to Budapest for study, travel, or just to soak in the views along the Danube, hopefully this blog will be able to…
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A Guide to Housing in Copenhagen: Housing Foundation, Mariendalsvej and more
By Rudy Cone, University of Copenhagen, Denmark When you apply for study abroad, the pressure to find accommodation can be extremely daunting. And rightfully so, as housing in Copenhagen can be difficult to find. Prices and demand are high, housing foundation accommodations are first come first served, and turning to Facebook runs the risk of being scammed. I’ve created this guide, to be used alongside the information from the placement team and help you feel more prepared.
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A cold plunge a day keeps the doctor away!
By Ellen Sleeuw, University of Copenhagen, Denmark You’re probably going to think that I am mad, because I thought the same when I first heard about it. However, I quickly came to love the thrill of it.
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The Symphony of Paris: Gardens, Musicians, and Everyday Encounters
By Zhuzhen Xie (Nina), Babylangues, Paris, France I love leaving early to take the subway when it is less crowded. The difference that five minutes can make! Just by arriving one minute later, I could have been shoved onto the train and suffocated by heavy coats and mixed odors.
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Settling into the Second Semester
By Ellen Sleeuw, University of Copenhagen, Denmark Whilst it took some time, I managed to feel really settled by the end of the first semester. I had made some great friends, I felt like I knew the city I could cycle without having to stop every 2 minutes to check google maps, I was enjoying my classes and had gotten used to new teaching methods.
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Tromsø trip – swimming in the arctic circle!
By Tali Hamshaw, University of Bergen, Norway One of the biggest bucket list moments for a year abroad in Norway has to be seeing the Northern Lights. In our hopes to achieve this, my friends and I booked a trip up to Tromsø, in the north of Norway. Since Norway is such a large country, it was a two hour flight to get there, something which surprised me since that is longer than the length of my flight home to the UK. Before we even left for the trip I encountered a slight spanner in the works when I went to book my flight and found that it was sold…
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Amsterdam: Beyond University
By Will Fisher, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands It’s nice to earnestly say that my exchange year in Amsterdam has been one of the most fulfilling and formative experiences of my life. I approached the year with both excitement and scepticism, not sure if it would be as life-altering and meaningful as I hoped it would. Seven months in, I wouldn’t have wanted to do anything else with my time. The university itself has, of course, had an impact. UvA’s courses are varied and detailed, and my particular exchange programme has allowed me to go in-depth on topics such as alienation, free speech, and Machiavellianism, ideas that may be covered…
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(Ice) Swimming in Bergen
By Charlotte Hussey, University of Bergen, Norway Swimming in all conditions is normal in Norway! Whether on a warm summer day with blue skies or in the middle of winter, having to physically break the ice to get in. I take part in a weekly dip into the fjords across Bergen in different bathing points with a student organisation, ‘SVI Baddegruppen’. With the organisation, we would have sweet treats and every Sunday we would go into the water. Originally I thought we wouldn’t continue through all conditions but we did, even in the snow and ice!
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Adventures in Northern Europe
By Annabelle Henderson, ESADE Business School, Barcelona, Spain As I am on a year exchange, I complete two exchange semesters. This means that students who came to Barcelona for just the fall semester have left now we are in the Spring. I was lucky to be invited by some friends from last semester to visit them in their home countries. So, as I had a week off university, I decided to do some travelling and go visit them. Firstly, I went to the Netherlands. One of my friends I met last semester studies in Rotterdam at the Erasmus University so I went to stay there for a few days. Whilst…
A study abroad journal by students, for students.
