Science exchange in Europe

Science student Thea Longman recently returned from one semester at the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands. Read all about how she prepared for exchange and the highlights of her exchange experience.

Why did you decide to go on exchange?

My decision to go on exchange was fairly spur of the moment. In addition to a long held desire to explore Europe, I felt the need for a new and different experience. The opportunity of exchange, namely of living in another country while not falling behind in my degree, fitted such desires perfectly.

What did you do to prepare for exchange?

To begin with, I attended the International Office Exchange Information Sessions which were a useful starting off point for finding out how exchange worked. Then basically came a lot of research! There are many host universities on offer so it is important to find one which appeals to you and which offers subjects relevant to your degree. Once accepted at a university, further planning included obtaining permission for subjects, housing, a residence permit and winter clothes! Preparing for exchange begins about one year before you actually head off, so while there is a lot to organise I promise it all becomes worth it in the end!

Many students worry about the cost of going on exchange – how did you deal with this?

I was fortunate enough to receive the Dean of Science Undergraduate Exchange Scholarship which helped enormously with the costs of exchange. Going on an exchange is expensive, particularly in regards to accommodation and travelling, so the scholarship greatly contributed to my having enough funds to get the most out of my experience. The rest of my funds was simply a result of my working and saving as best as I could as soon as exchange became a possibility.

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

I studied psychology and some additional humanity subjects at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. My psychology electives were Propaganda, Adolescence, Organisational and Forensic Psychology, which were all very interesting. I particularly liked Forensic Psychology, where our final paper involved analysing a psychologist’s findings in a court case of our choice.

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

I lived in the main Guesthouse, which contained about 250 international exchange students and was a short bike ride away from class. The guesthouse was a definite highlight of my exchange experience as I got to live and make friends with people from all over the world. The friends you live with become your family away from home, and we spent a lot of time in the guesthouse just hanging out, eating together or having drinks before heading out.

What were the main differences between studying here and there?

The educational program adopted by Maastricht University is quite different from Sydney. Class mainly consists of tutorials which are run under the PBL, or Problem Based Learning system. This is a form of student-centred learning, where students lead the tutorials and decide what learning objectives they will use to guide their independent study i.e. lots of reading! The third year elective psychology program I studied under was also quite different, in that subjects ran in succession for about 3.5 weeks each. This meant that assessments were fairly constant, but manageable.

What was the best part about exchange?

In my opinion, the best part of exchange is definitely the people! My friends from all over the world were what made the exchange experience for me. I had some of the best times of my life living, partying and travelling with my ‘Maastricht family.’ It was very interesting to learn about different cultures and ways of life, and while everyone shared a similar outlook of making the most of their exchange, cultural differences led to numerous and often hilarious communication breakdowns! I was able to meet up and stay with some of my friends in my European travels post-Maastricht, and we continue to all be in touch with much reminiscing and updating!

What were the challenges and how did you overcome them?

I can’t say I faced any major challenges while on exchange. The fact that I had to be completely self sufficient in an overseas country was a new experience, but I found it quite easy to manage as long as I stayed organised. I always had a list of the various administration/assessment/travel booking/shopping etc. I had to do, as there was often a lot and it served as a great reminder.

Would you recommend exchange to other students?

Absolutely! Going on exchange was one of the best decisions I have made as it gave me some of the greatest times of my life. It’s such a unique and fantastic opportunity and I would strongly recommend it to anyone who is even entertaining the possibility. It allowed me to not only immerse myself in the way of life of my home city, but also to experience a diversity of cultures through the great friends that I made and the countries that I travelled to. To quote the ultimate yet true cliché, it’s an experience you’ll remember for a lifetime!

Any tips for other students thinking of going on exchange?

To anyone thinking about exchange, make it a reality! I’m yet to meet an exchange student who didn’t say they had the time of their life. Though of course, those who have the greatest time are those who make the most of it. Don’t sit back and let the experiences come to you, get out there and take hold of every opportunity. Meet lots of people, really explore your own city in addition to as many others as you can, and say yes to all opportunities that are presented to you!