My Exchange at The University of Edinburgh
I loved every second of my semester abroad exchange to the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. When I first arrived, I was struck by how cloudy it was! However, the clouds quickly lifted and the city of Edinburgh was revealed, and I was so excited to be able to spend the next four months in such a beautiful city. The university included some of the most amazing buildings (some of which were used in the TV show ‘One Day’). Studying there was definitely rewarding, as the university is such an academic place, and lecturers and students alike are excited and proud to be at the university. It makes for a very academic environment, and one that I enjoyed being able to study in. They also have great support for students, with so many clubs and societies it is almost hard to know what to join, however, the ‘welcome week’ at the start of each semester was a great way to join clubs and meet people. I was able to join the swim team, as well as Ryanair Roulette, a club that features in some other universities too, and is a great way to travel.
Living in Edinburgh was amazing. My university accommodation was at the bottom of Arthur’s Seat, I was within walking distance of Edinburgh Castle, Calton Hill, Dean Village, the Royal Mile, and many other major landmarks of the city. Furthermore, being in such a central location within the UK meant many other places were within easy reach. Edinburgh airport flies to most major destinations around Europe (but not all) meaning we could use our weekends to travel.
The highlight of my exchange would probably be the people that I met. Edinburgh University is a very diverse place, and I met amazing people there that I would not have had the privilege to have met otherwise. They have taught me more about life than I would have known had I stayed in New Zealand. Furthermore, I think it made me think a lot more about myself and grow as a person, which while sounding very cliche is very true. And while the good times taught me this, so did the not so good ones.
It would be lovely to say that the exchange is only a positive experience, but that would not be true. I found it hard being away from home at Christmas time, and I struggled leaving my family in New Zealand. There were also other moments in Edinburgh that I felt a bit homesick and struggled being alone with those feelings. However, it was also hard to leave Scotland and the friends that I have made there (but then I hope it gives me a reason to go back in the future!).
Overall, going on exchange was the best experience of my life and I could not suggest it more to anyone.
Q&A
What were some of the highlights of the academic experience at your host university?
Being a competitive university for students to get in to, it means that everyone who is there really wants to learn and is highly academically motivated. This helped me to want to learn and made it a very good environment to do so.
Would you recommend any particular activity/activities unique to your host country or university?
Taking advantage of the amazing, old architecture in the city and visiting many cultural landmarks. Also, places like Loch Ness, the Highlands and the Isle of Skye are fantastic places to visit that are so rich in culture, history and stories, that you cannot get anywhere else.
What are your top 3 tips for future students attending your host university or going on exchange to your host country?
- Pack thermals! It is a different type of cold to New Zealand.
- Take advantage of being so close to Europe. You can get to European destinations in under 2 hours flying, so its a great way to spend some weekends.
- However, I think it is also important, and really fun, to fully immerse yourself in the city you are in. Edinburgh is an amazing city, with a strong student population, and is definitely worth staying and taking part in it for as long as possible.
How much did you budget for your exchange? Was this enough? Were there any lessons learned that would help future students budget for their own exchange?
I budgeted roughly $18,000 (including flights and accommodation).
What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?
I have learnt that I love to travel and see different parts of the world. Furthermore, I have learnt a lot about people from many different places around the world, about their cultures, and how these cultures interact. Lastly, I have learnt that there is more the world than New Zealand. Having lived here my whole life it felt like the center of the world for me. And while we are so lucky to live in such a safe and beautiful country, it has also made me a lot more aware of what else is going on in the world, and what it is like to live in other places.
Is there any advice you could share about accommodation options at your host university and/or in the local area?
I was living in a university hall/flat. It was a five person flat within a building of 23 flats all owned by the university. I was lucky enough to have amazing flat mates, however, it is important to note that all my flat mates were full time students in their first year of university, not exchange students, and the university does not separate exchange students and first year students.
The application process was applying through the universities accommodation portal, and putting in my top five favorite halls, in no particular order, and then they decide which one you will go in.
Do you have any advice on what mobile phone apps and/or phone plans that were useful in your host country?
Wise was the best app for having a travel bank card, and being able to transfer money between friends from different countries who all have Wise (as then you do not have to pay fees to transfer between accounts from everyone’s different home countries).
Also, if travelling with friends, Split wise is a great app to be able to split the payments for things. For example, if one person pays for dinner one evening, they can put the total on the split wise group and assign the amounts to each person. You can add this all up over the trip to keep track of who owes who and how much.
I got a UK sim card, and used the Voxi (part of Vodaphone) provider. It was a great provider, which very good prices and easy to add on the ability to use that plan when outside of the country.