My Exchange Experience

3rd-year science student, Kath Wilson, recently returned from one semester at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland. Read all about how she prepared for exchange and the highlights of her exchange experience.

Why did you decide to go on exchange?

By the end of first year, I wanted to explore the world. An exchange seemed like the best way to make that happen because I would have the opportunity to live in Europe for an extended period of time. I had studied French for several years at school and then at university and I thought that an immersion program was the best way to improve my language skills. I expected that an exchange would be a great opportunity to experience university from a different academic and social perspective. I also wanted to set myself the challenge of being more independent.

What did you do to prepare for exchange?

Preparing for exchange took a lot of thinking and a lot of research. Attending the information sessions offered by the International Office was a great starting point. From there, I found that I had to be fairly independent in trying to negotiate appropriate subjects, visas, accommodation, insurance... I was fortunate that my host university provided a huge amount of background information but it was up to me to work out the finer (but important!) details.

Which overseas institution did you study at and what did you study?

I studied at the University of Lausanne, in Switzerland. The focus of my studies in Lausanne was French language classes but I was able to enrol with local students in a geopolitics subject about third world governance (taught in French) as well as taking classes in German and Spanish. The French classes covered media language, the evolution of human rights in Europe and academic writing.

What was your living situation like? What were the people like?

I lived in a student accommodation complex in Lausanne. I was allocated a room in a five bedroom flat with a common kitchen and living area and two bathrooms. My housemates were from Italy, Germany and Albania – between us we had fluency in five languages. Living with other foreign students was one of the highlights of my stay. Our lives tended to revolve around the kitchen where we spent a lot of time eating, comparing countries and “studying”. I keep writing it on all the forms – the people were the best bit of exchange!

What were the main differences between studying here and there?

Students in Lausanne tended to be much more internationally focused. Most expected to work outside their country of origin, so languages had a much higher priority than in Australia. University also seemed to be very individualistic. In geopolitics, we were able to choose any governance issue from Asia or Africa and then were asked to present a seminar on it. In Lausanne, the emphasis was on researching what you were interested in rather than on learning theory as it can be in some science subjects in Sydney.

What was the best part about exchange?

All of it! Exchange is an experience that is particularly difficult to break down into best moments. There were definitely highlights – learning to ski on Swiss powder, attending a traditional wedding, backpacking around Germany, going to the Fasnacht festival in Basel or Carnevale in Venice, many student pub nights – but for me the “best” thing was the cumulative experience of living with such a diverse and interesting group of people and being challenged every day.

What were the challenges and how did you overcome them?

I found Switzerland to be a particularly safe and welcoming country. When I first arrived, the language proved to be a slight barrier (and I found this more of an issue when travelling in other parts of Switzerland where German is the official language) but this became easier over time. The thing I had most difficulty adjusting to (other than the large amounts of cheese and potato that were suddenly part of my diet) was the tendency for dishes to pile up in the sink – learning to negotiate effectively with my flat mates was originally a challenge that became easier as we got to know each other.

Would you recommend exchange to other students?

Yes! I read a lot of student reports that said things like “You won’t understand until you’ve been” and “It’ll be one of the best times of your life” and once you’re there you realise that every great thing someone’s told you is actually true. Sure, it’s not easy to move across the globe for six or twelve months but you’d be missing out if you didn’t make the effort.

Any tips for students thinking of going on exchange?

If the thought of an exchange feels like a far-fetched dream then stop dreaming and start making it a reality. An exchange will be an awesome and life-changing experience so the most important thing is to trust yourself and just go. Then I think it’s a matter of planning. The more you do beforehand, the easier the transition will be to your new university. You really need to start thinking about exchange at least a year before you plan to leave the country so that you have time to find the perfect placement, match subjects and sort out administrative issues.

Any other comments?

Don’t be afraid to think beyond your original preferences for your host university. I originally thought I should apply for a university in Paris in order to learn Parisian French. But after six months in a much smaller, more student-friendly town, I’m glad that I thought about other aspects of the exchange, like where I would be living and how the studies fitted with my degree. In Paris, I may not have been able to study geopolitics or the other languages. It’s not all about the prestige of the university. It’s about deciding exactly what you want to get out of the experience and working out how to get there.