Kate (Sem 1, 2025)

My Exchange at University College London

I attended UCL (University College London) between January and June 2025. It was such a cool university – very different from UoA but really interesting! Its also got a great reputation, being ranked in the top 10 universities worldwide!

I loved my time in London – living right in the centre of everything with so much history and activities to do. Its also so easy to travel – being so close to Europe!

I know exchanges can be hard – being away from all your family and friends is definitely a tough adjustment – especially if you have a big time difference like I did. However, it is definitely worth it for all the cool adventures you get up to – which you get to share with family when you catch up!

My highlights included London’s green spaces – I didn’t realise how many there were. Richmond (you can spot some deer!), Hampstead, St James Park, and so many more! I also loved all the history – so many museums and galleries! The wallace collection, natural history musuem, national gallery – all of which are free and so incredible! Most museums and galleries are actually free which is amazing as it gives you little activities to do on a rainy day. I made sure to also go to some other cool activities – football games, west end shows and comedy clubs! London has so much to offer – theres something for everyone!

One thing I would note is that your living situation can dictate your experience a little bit – I was in a catered hall which was a lot less social than catered halls. From what I heard from others – they found it a lot easier to make friends living in a catered hall as you see people every day for meals. This is something that would have been good to know prior to doing my exchange, as at times it could get quite lonely!

At ‘The Lookout’ – views over the city of London

Q&A

What were some of the highlights of the academic experience at your host university?

The course I took were unique and unlike the courses offered at Auckland. This meant I was able to engage with a different perspective and ideas, and gain knowledge on issues i was interested in. They also have a very different assessment structure, which was cool to experience and compare to Auckland. They typically have very little assessment throughout term time, with assessments at the end of the term. This meant I was able to relax and fully engage with lectures and tutorials without having to stress over assessments.

Would you recommend any particular activity/activities unique to your host country or university?

Yes, UCL has a large collection of items that I was able to engage with in one of my courses. As it is also positioned right in the middle of London it is a truly unique experience with all the other historical sites and museums located around it.

What are your top 3 tips for future students attending your host university or going on exchange to your host country?

• Make sure to book in regular catch ups with home to avoid home sickness and loneliness
• Plan out lots of activities to do so you don’t miss out on things
• Get a bearing of what is around you before you go so you are prepared won’t get lost

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 about $25,000 including accommodation, food costs and travel. It is best to always over budget so that you have money left over rather than running out! This means you can do all the things you want to.

What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?

Skills I gained:
– Independence – you are essentially alone, away from family and friends so have to learn to do things by yourself!
– Courage – it can be scary but is so rewarding

Also realised how many amazing things there are to see and do in the world!

Do you want to share anything about travels you did outside your host city/country?

I travelled a lot throughout England – with day trips to Oxford, Cambridge, Manchester and Brighton. The trains in the UK are a really great way to travel around – and you can get discounts as a student! I also did weekend trips to Scotland and Ireland!

I went to Norway in the winter which was a really cool and unique experience. Its landscape is so unlike NZ, but the people are really friendly and felt like a kind of similar culture!

Then I did a Euro summer trip with my family who came over to travel with me! We went on a tour from Amsterdam to Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Croatia, Greece and France – so we really made the most of our time there! Highlights for me would definitely be the Switzerland (although its pretty expensive!) Greek islands and Dubrovnik (Croatia)!

Is there any advice you could share about accommodation options at your host university and/or in the local area?

Applied for housing through the university portal. Was sorted into a hall after giving information on desired room type and budget. The fees were paid in two lump sums – so its expensive to do but gets it out of the way.