Moving overseas to study can seem daunting. It’s not the same as being a tourist for a few weeks, nor is it the same as being on a working holiday for a year or two. A semester exchange falls somewhere in between. It gives you the best of both worlds – you can still do touristy things and you get to live like a local over the course of a few months or even up to a year. Still need a reason? Read what returned exchange students have to say about their experience.
Immerse yourself in a new culture like Tara did in the Netherlands
“I really enjoyed being immersed in new cultures/ways of living,” Tara says.
“It was challenging and shocking in the beginning as it was my first time travelling alone and being overseas, but I learned to feel more comfortable with being surrounded by something new.”
Choose a location as a base to explore scenic surroundings like Anthea did in Canada
“Calgary was the perfect place for me because it is only about an 1.5 hour drive from the Rocky Mountains, including Banff, Kananaskis and Canmore,” Anthea remembers.
What did she do on her days off?
“I would go to the mountains with new friends and go hiking up crazy altitudes with an insane view at the top.”
Experience college sports in America like Alexandra did in Louisiana
When most people think Louisiana, they might think jazz or even alligators. For Alexandra, it was all about sport.
“I thought it would be an incredible opportunity to see and understand the sporting environment at not only Louisiana State University but also in America,” she says.
“The college sport programs that have been established in America is something very unique and I wanted to be able to experience this.”
Learn how industry is different to Australia like Alison did in Sweden
“Exchange always excited me and looked like an amazing opportunity,” Alison says.
She was 100 per cent right, of course.
“I chose to study in Sweden in particular because I had heard great things about their nursing and healthcare in general and I wanted to see what they did differently to how we do things in Australia.”
Or, go for the added benefits of fields trips like the one Courtney experienced in Thailand
“One of my classes involved a field study where we stayed for 5 nights on an island called Koh Chang located in the Andaman Sea,” recalls Courtney.
“During the day we got to hike in the forest and snorkel on the reef, all while learning about the ecosystem and practicing ecological sampling skills.”
That’s one amazing classroom, right there!
Inspired?
Applications for exchange during Semester 2, 2021 close on 20 October.
If you haven’t already applied and you are interested, all the information you need can be found on our Semester Exchange page. You can also email the La Trobe Abroad team at studyabroad@latrobe.edu.au so we can help you with the process.
Finally…
If you think you can’t afford it, think again. There is a lot of funding available to make your dream a reality. I can speak from experience!