Studera utomlands

Hi everyone!

You have been reading about my (and Amelia’s, Sandra’s and Petra’s) experience in our host countries the past few weeks. But we are by far not the only ones who went on exchange this semester and I would like to give you a little sneak peek into what exchange in some of the other countries KI students went to was like!

Linnea’s Exchange in Strasbourg (France)

1 thing that positively surprised you:

• I was surprised by the extent of offers that Strasbourg has for its students: lots of sports to try out, creative spaces to use, very good deals for public transport and lunches, and last but not least most museums are free for students.

2 things that you would do differently now:

• Engage more in ESN events
• For getting faster replies to my mails: send mails in French instead of English

Top 3 things that you would advise someone who is starting the exchange now to do:

• Try to arrive a couple of days before the start of your courses/internship to give you a bit of an adjustment period for figuring out how things work, where you can get your groceries, how to get to uni etc.
• Join social events, take initiative to meet the students around you, check social media for upcoming events
• Don’t be too hard on yourself if things are overwhelming and remember to ask for help if you need it

Maria’s Exchange in Italy (Milan)

1 thing that positively surprised you:

• They are very welcoming and they include you in their group of friends from day one.

2 things that you would do differently now:

• Make sure that the apartment I am renting is how it looks like it is.
• Putting more time and effort into finding a lab sooner than later.

Top 3 things that you would advise someone who is starting the exchange now to do:

• Learn the local language if you can or at least learn the basics, it will help you connect with more people.
• Don’t be afraid to join all types of activities and try to meet different kinds of people.
• Don’t be afraid of asking for help and support from those around you.

Zoja’s Exchange in Dublin (Ireland)

1 thing that positively surprised you:

• I was pleasantly surprised by the remarkable kindness of the people and the strong sense of solidarity within the communities.

2 things that you would do differently now:

• I would find a lab and define my project earlier to order supplies on time, even though it’s tough with all the final exams. This way, I’d hopefully have more time to get involved in student society activities.

Top 3 things that you would advise someone who is starting the exchange now to do:

• I’d suggest going into the exchange with the goal of having fun, keeping an open mind, and being prepared to work hard. Every experience is different, but with this mindset, it will definitely be something you’ll always remember.

I hope this gave you a bit more of an insight into what exchange studies are like at KI and the great variety of different countries you can go to!