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Life at ANU and in Canberra: What to Expect
By Lily Amos, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia Coming to ANU as an exchange student, there is quite a lot to get your head around — a new city, a new campus, a new academic system. Here is what I wish someone had told me before I arrived. Courses and Academics ANU runs on a major and minor system, which means that as an exchange student, you may (depending on your course) have a lot more freedom to explore subject areas outside your home degree than you might expect. For me, studying Politics and International Relations, this has been one of the best parts of the whole experience. I’ve…
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Festivals, Events, and Why Canberra Surprised Me
By Lily Amos, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia Before I moved to Canberra, my expectations for its social calendar were, honestly, modest. It’s a planned city, a government city, famously described as “a good sheep station ruined” — not exactly the language of a thriving events scene. I was wrong, and I’m glad about it. Canberra turns out to have a genuinely packed festivals calendar, and the city’s layout — all that green open space, that lake, the mountain backdrop — actually makes it a spectacular setting for big outdoor events. Here are the highlights worth knowing about. Canberra Balloon Spectacular Every March, hot air balloons launch over the city…
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Life at UTokyo: A Guide to Komaba Campus
by YiPin Wu, University of Tokyo, Japan If you’ve ever wanted to study at the University of Tokyo, let me take you on a tour of Komaba Campus — the main hub for exchange students. Nestled just two stops from Shibuya on the Keio Inokashira Line (about 20 minutes on foot), it’s also within walking distance of Nakameguro — known for its cafés and cherry blossoms — and Shimokitazawa, famous for vintage shops and curry. It’s hard to believe this calm, tree-lined campus exists in the heart of central Tokyo. Campus Life In my first semester, I had six classes a week — the minimum recommended. One thing that really…
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All about Melbourne accommodation: where to live whilst studying on exchange
By Amelie Duroux, University of Melbourne, Australia It can be so tricky to know the best place to live at university, especially when you are moving across the world to study abroad. I personally had no idea which accommodation to choose when I was preparing to move over to Melbourne, and ended up choosing the accommodation that the majority of the other University of Manchester students chose. The student living culture at the University of Melbourne is so different to the UK universities, because the majority of Australian students do not move away from home – they continue living at home and commute into university, sometimes with journeys which are…
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Discovering Melbourne coffee and brunch culture and working in a café
By Amelie Duroux, University of Melbourne, Australia One of the most exciting things about moving to Melbourne has been realising you can never get a bad coffee. Good baristas and coffee culture is so distinguished here that every cup you have is of such high quality. Part of the reason I wanted to come to Melbourne was for the brunch culture – I had worked for a couple of years in an Antipodean brunch café in London, which made me want to experience Australian coffee and brunch, and I had said this in my application for my exchange year abroad. Melbourne have claimed to have invented the flat white, which…
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North Carolina State University: How to Navigate your first week
By Phoebe, North Carolina State University Leaving home and starting fresh in a new university for a year can seem like a daunting experience. Trading a familiar city, routine, and support network for somewhere completely new inevitably brings a mix of excitement and uncertainty. But stepping onto campus as North Carolina State University for the first time, I quickly realised that a year abroad isn’t just about adapting to new places- it’s about discovering a new version of yourself along the way. Arriving in Raleigh after studying at UOM felt surreal. Manchester’s usually grey skies and tightly packed streets were replaced with the sun, green campus spaces, and a distinctly…
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Life in Toronto – What To Expect
By Isabelle Henaghan, University of Toronto Mississauga, Canada. Sunset from Toronto Islands
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Settling in at the Universidad de Sevilla
Hey! My name is Lauren. I study Politics and Spanish at UOM and I’ll be sharing my journey of my year abroad in Sevilla, Spain. To help those who will be doing study or work placements abroad in the future, I will be sharing the trials and tribulations of moving abroad from the perspective of a student, a foreigner in Spain and as a vegan (in a country where this is admittedly challenging at times). So far, it’s been exciting and stressful to say the least. Seville is a beautiful city and everyday I’m seeing why so many people have told me that it has a special feel for them.…
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17 hours from London to Osaka: A guide to survive
By Gloria Zheng, Osaka University, Japan It has been over a month since I arrived in Japan, so I figured it was time to sit down and write about my experience travelling alone for the first time. I flew from Heathrow Airport in London to Kansai International Airport in Japan (if you’re studying in the Kansai region you’ll most likely be flying here). 1. Book everything in advance I booked my flight the same day I received my visa from the Japanese Embassy in London. This meant that I could get the best savings as as prices steeply rise the weeks following the date you’re planning to fly. I also…
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Sustainability in Canada: What I’ve Learned (and Am Still Learning)
By Deborah Oshidero, University of Calgary, Canada Since moving to Canada, I’ve been trying to live more sustainably – both in my daily habits and long-term choices. It’s definitely a challenge at times (especially with how far apart everything is!), but I’ve also found small ways to reduce waste and make more eco-conscious decisions.
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Travel While You Can: My Year-Abroad Adventures
By Alex Toomey, Rutgers, USA One of the best parts of a year abroad is the freedom to explore. Rutgers’ location is perfect—you can hop on a train, book a budget flight, or pile into a car and see so many different sides of the U.S. I tried to say “yes” to every trip I could squeeze in between classes, and those journeys became some of my brightest memories. Here’s everywhere I went—and a few hacks to help you plan your own. Boston – 3 Days of New England Charm Boston was our first big getaway, and it ended up being more affordable than we’d imagined. We scored a $100…
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The Student’s Guide to Supermarkets in New Brunswick
By Alex Toomey, Rutgers New Brunswick, USA If you’re not on a full meal plan, knowing where to stock up on groceries and dorm essentials is an absolute survival skill. Over my year in New Brunswick, I learned where to go for the best deals, the freshest produce, and the random little things that make student life feel a bit more normal. Here’s my guide: Trader Joe’s – The Cult Favourite Hands down, Trader Joe’s was my number one pick for groceries. The vibe is friendly, the products are reliably tasty, and the prices are actually very good for the quality. Their snacks, frozen meals, and unique pantry staples are…
A study abroad journal by students, for students.
