Student Experiences, By Country

Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Japan, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, UK, USA

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Canada

Meet Tom

Exchange: University of Guelph

Studying: B. Arts

I'm studying a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in gender studies and minoring in development studies. Early last year a friend of mine also involved with Adelaide abroad told me about the program and encouraged me to give it a go. I was very nervous at first but I figured such opportunities are rare and change like this can be a fantastic experience and it was!

I studied at the University of Guelph in Ontario. Guelph is a small town with some historic buildings, its smallness doesn't mean that it is anyway rural or backward, quite the opposite actually. Guelph University had a thriving arts community in spite of its origin and reputation as a veterinarian and agricultural sciences facility.

I found Canadian people to be warm and friendly to Australians, always ready to listen to a couple of jokes and drink those massive pints of theirs over a hockey game. I went over during the winter season and was greeted by very cold temperatures and tonnes of snow which I never got tired of (until about the third time I slipped over on the icy ground!). I made a bunch of friends over there both the locals and the international community, they were really supportive of us exchange students, always organising various trips and meetings should we be so inclined. Another great thing about Guelph is that it's only about an hour away from Toronto! I found myself going there quite frequently with friends. I also got myself into a wonderful relationship that is continuing through all the difficulties of long distance. I'm making plans to go back next year and work/study depending on what I decide to do next.

Basically the experience opened up a wide range of possibilities in my life and has had a huge and positive impact on me. The only tip I would give to people going to Guelph and Canada in general is to bring warm clothes! But not too many, it's certainly cheaper to buy that stuff when your over there. Also it's important to be ready to say yes to everything, you never know when you will be able to have the experiences on offer again.

University of Victoria

The University of Victoria (UVic to all its staff and students) is located in Victoria, the capital of British Columbia.  In fact, Victoria is on the southern tip of Vancouver Island and has a relatively small population of about 335 000.  Since Victoria is on Canada's west coast, the climate is mild all year round...well, 'mild' in Canadian terms that is!  However, I am the Queen of Summer and I did not find any of the Victorian winter unbearable.  The indoor heating is very adequate and everyone dresses really sensibly – thermals are hip!

UVic is a great university all-round.  There are great cultural and athletic opportunities, with an on-campus cinema , theatre, two gymnasiums and a unique botanic garden of sorts.  On the note of gardens, UVic is all about sustainability – in fact, British Columbia as a whole is a very 'green' province (physically too – I cannot express just how lush the surrounding environment is!).   You'll find that almost everyone owns a thermos (very few take-away coffee-cups) and that maintaining the surrounding flora and fauna is a very big part of the UVic culture.  NO kidding; rabbits, deer, racoons (and the odd cougar scare every five years or so...) surround the university grounds.  It's an incredible experience.

As far as housing is concerned, there is ample accommodation on-campus or you can look for off-campus housing.  You'll find that the UVic exchange office is incredibly helpful when it comes to housing and ensure that everyone has a place to stay.  Just ask for Sherri Williams – she is honestly a living saint!

The actual town of Victoria is all about the outdoors...sailing, hiking, kayaking, skiing, surfing...It's a great idea to join the Outdoor's club at the university because they help you get involved in hiking and exploring the island.  However, exchange students are very well looked after and are offered the option of being involved in a 'Buddy Program', which is essentially a group of current UVic students who mingle with the exchange students and go on outings to adventure the 'Canadian' way – ice-skating, ski resorts, pizza and pub nights...even karaoke!  All the events organised are enjoyable and there's no pressure to do anything you don't want to do...but even I, the most uncoordinated person in the history of uncoordinated people, managed to force myself to ice-skate and ski...so I'm sure everyone else can too!  As well as the 'Buddy Program', the exchange office at UVic is incredibly well-organised.  The initial orientation was where I first met some of the people who became my closest friends and from there, regular catch-ups at various pubs and student-budget restaurants were organised.

The arts-scene is well and truly alive in Victoria too.  There's an international film festival, regular live bands, cultural festivals and summer markets.  Some of the local bands that were gathering momentum when I was in Victoria are the Racoons, It It and Rooney and the Minglers.  Most of the band-members are UVic students and it's humbling to see the groups perform for their peers.
What stood out for me most in Victoria though, was the landscape.  You have the sea, mountains and city all in one...the effect is even more mesmerising when you take the ferry over to Vancouver and have the Rocky Mountains looming over you in the distance.  These are an absolute MUST MUST MUST...I cannot say anymore.  You just HAVE to visit the Rockies!!  The sheer power of nature is right there, confronting you, and it's extremely invigorating.  The nearby Okanagan Valley is also very beautiful with huge lakes, valleys and woodlands – the stuff fairytales are made of!
If time and budget allows, it is also worth-while visiting a few of the other Canadian cities.  Try to get to Montreal or Quebec City to experience the real French-Canadian culture and see Ottawa for the heart of Canadian Politics.  Canada's New York, Toronto, provides a stark contrast to the natural beauties of Canada but it's a very vibrant city with some great jazz bars!

The cost of living is fairly similar to that in Australia.  Just remember to keep a tab on the exchange rates.  There is also the custom of tipping for service and taxes are often not included in prices...these things take a while to get used to but they aren't overly complicated.  It is possible to apply for a Student-Permit, which enables you to work on campus.  If you're studying for only one semester, you do not need to apply for this permit.  I did not get the permit but I think it may have been a good idea because I think working once a week would have helped my budget.  As far as visas are concerned, as an Australian, you do not need one.  The UVic exchange office will send you a letter of acceptance, which you have to show to the customs officials at the Canadian border (as well as your Student Permit if you get one).  If you're planning on spending extra time in the United States as well as Canada, then it's worth while checking with the US Consulate (situated in Melbourne) about whether you'll need an American Visa.  Do this early, as you have to make appointments to apply for an American Visa and they take your passport from you for a few days!

Essentially, UVic is a great university.  It's in an absolutely beautiful city, in one of the most gorgeous countries on earth.  There is a huge variety of outdoor activities to enjoy and a very rich indigenous history (note – Indigenous Canadians are referred to as 'First Nation People', NOT 'American Indians'...the latter is very politically incorrect!).  The exchange office, aforementioned, is extremely helpful and there's an on-campus travel-agency to help you with any travelling plans you may have...if you hunt well, you'll find bargains like $300 flights to Cuba or Hawaii – go for it!!  I don't know how else to convey to you the brilliance of UVic but when you're there, walking to class in the snow, riding your bike along the coastline or surfing in the up-island towns of Tofino or Uclulet, you have this awesome sense of satisfaction that is almost overwhelming.

Chile

Meet Nina

Exchange: La Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Studying: B. Laws & B. Arts

PUC as it is called is located in Santiago, the capital of Chile. It is one of the two main universities in Santiago and PUC is where the wealthier students tend to go. The university has an incredibly well established program for study abroad students with well over 1000 "extranjeros" coming each year. There are regular activities for study abroad students with a weekly Wednesday night at a bar, a day of partying at the beach and a fantastic selection of subjects to study. Not only does the university offer exclusive subjects for exchange students like "Chilean Culture" and "Women in Chile", they also have an impressive array of sporting subjects to choose from. I was lucky enough to get a spot in the Montañismo class and managed to improve my mountaineering skills on 4 weekend trips to the Chilean mountains.

One of the best aspects of living in Santiago is the proximity to dramatic landscapes. To the west lies the coastal cities of Valparaiso and Viña del Mar (1 hour away) and to the the north lies the Atacama desert and the Elqui valley. To the south lies the scenic Lake District and right down the bottom of Chile is Patagonia, an adventure hunter's dream of skiing, trekking and mountain activities. Bordering Chile on the east is Argentina. I made the most of living in Santiago by also dropping in to Argentina. There is a beautiful city called Mendoza with cheap wine tasting and great shopping.

When arriving in Chile, the famously difficult accent can present a few difficulties and there is not a system of housing in place for students. The best way to go about finding a place to live is to rock up, start hunting in "El Mercurio", the newspaper and checking out the internet for apartments. Yes it can be daunting calling up people in Spanish but this is the best way to go about it.

One can get an apartment in Santiago anywhere from 100,000 pesos a month to 170,000 pesos a month. There are cool areas like Barrio Brasil where you will pay less for living in a grungy area (some say theft prevalent). Providencia is a safe residencial area and Las Condes is for the richer parts of Chilean society. I stayed in the cosmopolitan part of the city in Bellas Artes.

My 6 months in Chile was a fantastic experience. My Spanish improved, as I was writing essays and attending lectures in Spanish, whilst I enjoyed studying the fascinating history of South America.

Chile prides itself on one of the wealthiest South American nations and although this is owed in great part to a stable government (the Pinochet dictatorship), it certainly came at a cost to many Chilean lives.

A must see before coming is Machuca, the story of a young boy in 1973 Chile. The story marks the transformation of Chile as a social welfare state under Allende, to a capitalist Pinochet dictatorship supported by the CIA.  The film really presents an interesting insight into the effect Allende and then Pinochet had on the psyche of the country.

China

Meet Georgie

Exchange: Tsinghua University

Studying: B. Teaching & B. Arts

THINK 1.3 billion people,  THINK 22% of the world's population, THINK 56  people groups, THINK 800 million mobile phones, THINK 253 million internet users, THINK 3rd biggest country in the world… THINK CHINA!!! Think BEIJING! With a population the same size as the whole of Australia, Beijing has so many people that you will never feel lonely! (Well, maybe sometimes!) 

Beijing is home to several of China's famous universities, and one of the most famous unis in China is Tsinghua University. Located on a 385 Hectare property, Tsinghua University (founded in 1911) is home to students from 103 countries, and welcomes more than 26 000 international visitors every year!  Tsinghua University has 31 000 full time students, and is divided into 56 departments, with a Chinese language program that will both challenge and excite you! Catering for all different levels of language ability, if you go to China on exchange to study Chinese language you'll probably be studying between 15 and 20 hours of Chinese class per week, depending on which courses you choose. The Chinese courses can be intense, and you might not understand much when you arrive, but it's worth sticking at it!

If you love food – you'll love Tsinghua! Tsinghua has a reputation for having some very fine food, and for just $1-2 AUD, you'll get yourself a delicious meal in the cafeteria and a soft drink to wash it down as well! You can also find everything you need within a 10-15 minute ride away from Tsinghua, and you'll have no trouble finding places to go and hang out with your friends!
If you would like to take my advice, I suggest that as soon as you arrive in Beijing you get yourself a bike, a Tsinghua University food card, a SIM card and an extra mattress/soft blanket for the bed!!! All of these things (except the subway card) are available right there on campus! The shopping is also great in China, and it's so cheap! Going to China on exchange was an amazing experience and if you can stomach anything try eating local delicacies, such as a scorpion, a sea horse, chicken feet or a chicken head! From lush rainforests, to dry deserts, to snow and ice festivals in minus 30 degree weather, China has it all!

Going on exchange has been one of the best experiences of my life! Don't keep thinking about going on Adelaide Unis exchange program to China – just go!!! You won't regret it…  but if you are trying to find a place where there's very few foreigners and no other English speakers … Tsinghua and Beijing are not the places for you!!!

Denmark

Meet Alex

Exchange: Aarhus School of Business

Studying: B. Commerce (Corporate Finance & International Business)

I had an amazing time in Denmark. I mentally grew up after my exchange. I came to Denmark with very little social skills and came back to Australia with full of interesting stories and hundreds of international friends. Plus, my language skill is relatively improved. Now I am aware of the importance of learning another language and planning to study one soon. During my 6 months there, I did not have any so called "culture shock" but experienced a reverse culture shock coming back to Australia.  That is the 6 months full of travelling, making new friends, and exploring different cultures and languages. However, it doesn't mean that your exchange would finish when you come back home. I am keeping in touch with all of my exchange friends and they will come to visit me soon. Besides, I also had very good Australian friends on exchange. I highly recommend you to join exchange program, especially to Aarhus School of Business, just do it and you won't regret. I wish I had known exchange program earlier so I would have had more time in Denmark.

Aarhus school of business (ASB) is relatively small but only 15 minutes walk from down town. However, don't worry too much because you won't spend much time on campus anyway. The Danes speak decent English so there is no language barrier at all. I arrived on Aarhus in winter, so it was -3 degrees. You should never underestimate coldness in Denmark, especially when you leave Australia in super hot summer.  I had throat infection twice because of that. If you were sick, you would not have to pay anything to see a doctor, as healthcare system is completely free in Denmark. Upon your arrival, you need to register for Personal Identification Number (CPR) and get a yellow card. With that card, you are entitled to open bank account, buy bus pass or enjoy free healthcare as I mentioned above. Aarhus city is really concentrated so you can easily go everywhere with a bike. Bike is really popular in Denmark. Every month, police organizes a bike auction so you can attend to look for a cheap bike. I reckon you should go with someone who can speak Danish because the auction is in Danish only. Alternatively, you can buy a decent bike through exchangers who will come back home after exchange (Hint: search for Aarhus Exchange Facebook group). If you hate exercising, I suggest you buy a monthly bus pass. It is around 350 Kroners or $70 AUD. Even though no one checks your ticket on the bus, there are random inspections and the fine is up to $150 AUD if you cannot show a valid ticket. (Hint: to save money, you can also buy tickets from the machine on the bus, or check a 10 times pass in time when you see the inspectors, who are usually in uniform, but it is risky. Your call!!!). About the bank account, it is the best solution to open a Danish bank account to avoid high transaction and currency converter fees. Visa and Master cards are widely accepted but there are small stores that only accept Danish card (Hint: Nordea and Danske banks are the most popular, but Nordea is free of charge). Shopping and dining are relatively expensive in Aarhus. There are plenty of large supermarkets (Fotex, Netto, Lidl…) and they offer wide range of foods (Hint: for those who cant live without vegemite, look for Super Best store). Dining out is extremely expensive in Denmark. There are several fast food chains like McDonalds or Burger King but they are not cheap at all, ex: $11 for a quarter pounder meal (Hint: pizza, kebab, chinese box are cheaper).

Studying in Denmark is considerably more relaxed than in Australia. Attendance is not compulsory in ASB. You usually will have group presentation and it is not grade, however it depends on subjects. Therefore, passing final examination is all you have to do. There are 3 types of examination in ASB: Oral, Report and Writing. Writing exam is normally opened book but you need to check your course description for more information. You can choose to do your writing exam on computer or paper. I highly recommend you to take a Danish course and Aspect of Denmark course, which are only offered to exchange student. These are golden opportunities for you to get to know more about Danish culture and make friends with other exchange students. (Hint: Danish class is heaps of fun and Aspect of Denmark is the easiest subject I ever studied). However, ASB won't be afraid to fail you. I suggest you should completely focus on studying the last 2 weeks before exam; this is the only time you actually have to put in effort. For other times, I believe that there are more interesting stuffs for you to experience (Hint: for those who just want a minimum pass, enrol the subjects that relate to your major, ex: if you are marketing major, don't enrol Econometrics or Accounting). Most importantly, the Danish grading scale is -3,0,2,4,7,10,12, respectively. The minimum pass grade is 2. However, all your grades in Denmark transferred back home as absolute results that mean they only appear as "pass" or "fail".

Social life and travelling are my favourite topic about Aarhus. Introduction week is a significant chance for you to meet all exchange students, so don't miss it! During my exchange, I spent most of my time going out with friends. Exchange students come from everywhere so there is a mix of different languages and English accent. I found it amusing to learn just a few introduction lines in other languages. Every Thursday, Uni bar called "Klubben" opens until 2am and is exclusive to ASB students (Hint: register for Student Union to enjoy free access). Nightlife in Aarhus is great. Most of bars and clubs locate by a canal downtown Aarhus. Drinks in Aarhus are extremely expensive so we usually have pre-drink events before nights out. On other special occasions such as Birthdays, National Days, an exchange student normally organize house parties to greet other people also to introduce your cultures. Normally, ASB arranges several, not all, exchange students at the same dorm so you won't feel alone. Besides, Aarhus is a student town and there will be young Danes living with you. Most of dorms have common area such as kitchen or common room, dining room so don't hesitate to make new friends (Hint: From my experience, Australia is favourite country of most Europeans so there is no reason not to talk to them). There are plenty of things that you can do in Aarhus with friends such as movie marathon, poker night, and karaoke night or quiz night (every Tuesday and Wednesday at bars downtown) etc…so you will never get bored with student life in Aarhus. In my exchange, people got in to groups to travel around Europe. We travelled almost every month even just for the weekend. It is easy and cheap to travel around Europe. You can buy EU rail (http://www.eurail.com) or fly with cheap airline Ryan air (http://www.ryanair.com), they will take you almost everywhere in Europe. I highly recommend you to take chances to travel with other exchange students; you get closed to others after any single trip (Hint: try to travel as much as possible at early stage of semester, you wont have that much time to do when exam comes up and visa expires soon afterward). Moreover, don't forget to sign up for an exchange trip to Brussels; you would gain helpful knowledge's of European Union history and operation. Besides, you should have short trips around Denmark. It is easiest to travel by train (Hint: ordering a wild card so you can get half price). Skagen, Roskilde and Copenhagen are among many beautiful cities in Denmark.

If you are considering going on exchange in Aarhus, you should not think twice because I am sure you will have the best time of your life.

University of Copenhagen

The University of Copenhagen is situated in the land of Denmark. In this little country the Bicycle reigns supreme, Danish is what the Swedes call a 'throat disease' and the beloved queen (Mary's mother in law) sleeps in till midday.  Denmark has a population of 5 million and Copenhagen is a cosmopolitan city the size of Adelaide.  10 million bikes to 5 million Danes gives you an idea of how much the Danes love to cycle. They really are a fun loving people who can outdrink most Europeans and love everything to be "cosy". Actually one's biggest worry is the risk of being mowed down by an oncoming cyclist. It's fantastic as a base for travelling Scandinavia and Europe if you want to.

The university is among the top 10 in Europe. It is spread out all over the city rather than being situated on one campus. If you come with a big ambition to learn Danish this is not impossible but it's very tricky, as all the Danes are fluent English speakers. During the winter everything turns white for a while and the days are cold and not very sunny. However, this means as soon as the sun comes out in the spring - Copenhagen goes crazy. Tulips and daffodils abound, Danes smile on their bikes and look forward to the jazz festival, the Roskilde music festival and the summer time.
 
Copenhagen itself has a great transport system and health care system, as Denmark functions as almost a welfare state. Taxes are very high and it's very expensive, so you have to prepare yourself. I was paying 800 dollars a month rent which is standard. 1 cappuccino will set you back more than $10.

France

Université d'Avignon et des Pays de Vaucluse

During my undergraduate degree I was fortunate enough to spend a semester studying at the Université d'Avignon et des Pays de Vaucluse. Choosing Avignon for my student exchange proved to be an excellent decision, and my only regret is that I stayed for a semester and not the entire year. Avignon is a charming little town located on the banks of the Rhône in the far corner of Provence, it is a walled city famous for le Pont d'Avignon and the Palais des Papes. It is a very manageable size so walking can easily be your main mode of transport, and if you are living within, or just outside the walls, you can walk almost anywhere in under 20 minutes.

The University provides a good orientation program for incoming exchange students, including a week of language lessons prior to the commencement of studies, tours of the grounds and resources, a treasure hunt, and an amazing free buffet lunch where you can sample some of the finest tastes of Provence (definitely do not eat before this)! You will also be given instructions and information for course enrolment, and also on obtaining official documents that are required for many purposes. For example, anyone studying in France is entitled to receive CAF payments from the French Government, regardless of where they come from, to help pay for living expenses for the duration of your studies (in most cases this amounted to roughly half the given persons total monthly rent). However to apply for this, you first need to obtain a Carte de Sejour, which in turn requires numerous other documents.

On that note, be forewarned that in the face of French bureaucracy, one needs to be very organised and extremely persistent, as administration tends to be slow and disorganised.

The student exchange association (asso. échange) is well worth joining. It cost only a few Euro to join up and with it you will not only meet lots of new people from all over the world, you will also get to partake in some very fun events. Some of the stand outs were a group trip to Lyon to see the Fête de Lumière, a day trip to the neighbouring town of Orange to see the Roman amphitheatre, some fun themed parties, including pirate night, and soirée "where you come from", at which bottles of Champagne were given to those who wore costumes that best embodied their home countries.

When it comes to studying at the Université d'Avignon, I found, as a humanities student, the standards of work, as well as the workloads, were lower than those of the University of Adelaide. However you are required to take on more subjects per semester (approximately seven). Some courses are made particularly more difficult by the language barrier, but there are many teachers who are sympathetic and allow a lighter work load for exchange students, but it should be noted that there are also teachers who are decidedly unsympathetic towards exchange students. I did hear of a student who took a communications course in which a teacher, frustrated by her broken French, responded to her in gibberish in front of his class. Not to worry though, as exchange students are given ample time to try and change courses before they officially enroll.

So to those who intend to study at the Université d'Avignon et des Pays de Vaucluse, you can expect a challenging, but wonderful experience, whether it be in the hot Provencal sun, or being blasted by the winds of the Mistral. With the sound of cicadas chirping in the background, you will learn to speak French with a southern accent, eat and drink very well, party hard, and make friendships that will last a lifetime.

Meet Thea

Exchange: Sciences Po, Paris

Studying: B. Laws & B. International Studies

Some tips on Paris I wish I'd had...

VERY IMPORTANT TIPS:

• Students who are here for a year can get CAF (a housing allowance for around 200 euros each month), although at the current time it is unclear if students here for under 6 months are still eligible – don't forget to apply once you've found your apartment and you've got your carte de sejour! (ask the Housing Office at Sciences-Po on how to apply)
• MOBILE: get a mobile early on, you need it not only to call potential landlords, but also keep in contact with all the students you're meeting. You'll need your passport as ID. The main providers are Orange, SFR, Bouygues Telecom and 'The Phone House' is a good place to go as they sell phones from all the providers. You're looking at around 30 euros for the cheapest phone with prepaid
• BANKING: It's good to get an account early on as you'll want it to set up automatic payments to landlord/if you need to withdraw large amounts for a deposit, etc. There will be days at Sciences-Po during the welcome program where the banks will offer good deals to you – best time to get a bank account, some of them even offer to give you 80 euros! Some main banks are BNP Paribas, LCL, Société general, HSBC. 
• APARTMENTS: Get a room at the Cité International Universitaire for the first month – it's a good way to meet people, and there is a close and cheap source of dinner on campus, the CROUS restaurant, and you then have a chance to look at apartments for a months before taking one. t the Cité International Universitaire, basically a chambre standard is a room with a bed, desk and washbasin – you will have to share the toilet and the shower; a chambre confort is a room with a bed, desk, fridge, toilet and shower. As far as I can tell all rooms have access to the internet (most through ASDL cable) and the main building, la maison internationale, has wifi access.  Start looking for an apartment from the word go! Better to have double rent than be without something at the end of the first month! Be prepared that a landlord might ask for two types of security: a deposit (une caution) and a guarantor. Make sure you make it clear that you are a student from Sciences-Po as it opens doors. If you are here for less than a year, lie and say you are here for a year as few people, in particular individuals rather than agencies, are prepared to rent to someone who is staying under year

• Step One: Dossier

Not all landlords require the dossier, but some landlords will and all agencies definitely will so prepare your dossier while you are still in Australia. What it entails is: a photocopy of your passport, and proof of being a student at Sciences-Po (the letter of acceptance, or maybe your student card). You may also want to include: your visa, your French bank account details (RIB: relevé d'identité bancaire) if you've already opened an account, and the following documents from your guarantor in France: a photocopy of their carte d'identité, their last 3 payslips (bulletin de salaire), their employment certificate (attestation de l'employeur) – proving that they are not in some kind of trial period or under caution, and with a statement of annual pay and their last 2 income tax statements (avis d'imposition sur le revenu) – BOTH SIDES
   If they rent their house:
   - The last 2 rent receipts (quittances de loyer)
   - Photocopy of their contract (bail)
   - If they own their house:
   - The last property/land tax statement (taxe foncière)
   - They may also ask for their bank details (RIB: relevé d'identité bancaire)

•     Step Two: Searching

You can even start looking at apartments before you leave in order to get an idea as to price, although you want have a chance at any of these apartments as they're generally snapped up within hours and do your searching (internet/notice boards) in the morning, otherwise places get snapped up. Average rent I would put at around 700 euros a month. Watch out whether its charges compris, that is if electricity (EDF) or gas (GDF) are included in the rent price
•    www.pap.fr
•    www.fusac.fr
•    www.bdescpo.info
•    www.seloger.com

There are other options for housing other than your own apartment/studio such as in Foyers (communal accommodation, you will have your own room, shared kitchen but some impose curfews, etc.)

•   Step Three: Paperwork

Once you've found somewhere, complete an état des lieux with the owner before moving in which is a document that lists all the defects in the apartment before you've lived there (i.e. holes in walls, starches on floor, anything broken, etc.) Housing insurance is obligatory in France – the banks that offer deals to Sciences-Po students in the first couple of weeks also have good deals for housing insurance too – it shouldn't be too expensive, a couple of euros a month.

• CARTE DE SEJOUR: This is the second part of your visa and you'll need to give a copy to Sciences-Po, if you want to apply for CAF, and if you want to remain in the country. I think the system has just been changed, so maybe I was one of the last to go through it. Very helpfully, Sciences-Po sets up an office until the end of October (2009 – it was in the basement of 9 rue de la Chaise) who help you apply for your carte de sejour.
•  PUBLIC TRANSPORT: The Rapt runs the metro, bus and tram – so the same ticket works across all three. You can by an individual ticket or there are also cards which are designed for long-term use of the public transport – each month you get unlimited use of the public transport! There are two types: the Navigo card and the ImagineR card. If you are in Paris for a year or more, the ImagineR is the best option for students – it costs 30 euros a month, but has to be subscribed to for at least a year. The Navigo is better for people staying under a year – it is more expensive, 56.60 euros a month plus a 5 euro fee to initially get the card. Taxis are expensive, and will try to rip you off. Be warned that there are additional charges for some things. Velib' are bikes which you can hire very cheaply.

SCIENCES-PO

•  PRE-ARRIVAL CONTACT:  They only ever contacted me via email. Watch out for one really important one that will give your student number, and details on how to apply for the welcome program, the cité internationale universitaire, how to access the online services at Sciences-Po and how to get the certificate saying that you've been accepted, which you need to give the French Embassy to get your visa. Get your Sciences-Po email address set up soon, they'll send a couple of emails there.
• THE WELCOME PROGRAM:  Don't get confused as to what this is – it's not all fun and games. The heart of the welcome program is 16 hours of French class and 16 hours of Sciences-Po methodology class. The classes aren't compulsory, so it doesn't matter if you don't do your homework, or if you don't show up. What the welcome program is good for is: meeting fellow exchange students, the Sciences-Po students arrange some events: they will run some walking tours around Paris which are great, they even did a cruise along the Seine at night, the BDE will arrange some parties (and as far as I can tell that is all they ever do).
• ENROLEMENT: Its pretty crazy, subjects come out only a month before, some classes will never have a course description attached, class times are only released days before enrolment, and then there is only a 48 hour period to add all your classes online - and most classes are full after an hour or two. You cannot add any more after this time, unless you can successfully hassle the administrative staff – although you can drop classes for 2 weeks after. So you need to be at a computer ready to go at the time you've been told enrolment starts, and add the classes you really want first!
• CLASSES:  All are 2 hours long. A full load at Sciences-Po is 30 credits. French lecture courses (cours magistraux) are 9 credits and normally involve 1 lecture class and one seminar (conférence) and assessment is a fiche or 2 (2 page document on a book or newspaper article), a presentation (exposé) and a 4 hour exam. English lecture courses are 5 units and just 1 lecture class with an 6-8 page essay and a 2 hour exam. English elective courses are 4 units with a 2 hour lecture/seminar combined and assessment will probably be either a presentation or an essay. French elective courses are 4 units but not sure what they are like as not doing any. Then finally are the language classes. If you are level 0-2 you will have two 2 hour classes and if you are level 3-5 you will only have 1 class. In class you will study grammar and be encouraged to orally discuss topics and there will many pieces of small assessment: presentations, written work, etc.
• OTHER BITS AND PIECES:  Don't forget, you're going to Paris, it is going to be expensive – often double the price of things in Adelaide! So keep this in mind when budgeting. The museums and art galleries are always free for Europeans under 26 years – while Australians clearly aren't that, I've gotten into many places for free simply saying I'm an exchange student a Sciences-Po/showing my card and not giving my nationality. Two places exist that provide all kinds of services to all foreign students other than Sciences-Po:

                    -  CROUS de Paris:
                       39, avenue George-Bernanos
                       75005
                    -  Cité Internationale Univeristaire de Paris
                       17, boulevard Jordan
                       75014
o    www.etudiantdeparis.fr

Germany

Meet Shiva

Exchange: University of Stuttgart

Studying: B. Arts

I chose to go to the Universitaet Stuttgart  for my "Auslandssemester" (semester overseas). I did this as part of their ESSP (Extended Summer Semester) Program. I had originally gone to the Adelaide Abroad office with the intention of just staying for the "Winter University" (six weeks of German language courses with host family accommodation), but after I heard about the Baden Wuerttemberg scholarships I realised that staying for a semester of study was a real possibility.

I chose to do my "Sommersemester" at the Universitaet Stuttgart. Students however can chose to go to any of the universities in Baden Wuerttemberg after the Winter University. I simply chose Stuttgart because I thought I would be easier to stay in the one city, and also since all the universities were unknown to me. However, I would recommend that students research the different universities before they make their decision, because unlike in Australia, German universities are more specialised. I never regret the decision to stay in Stuttgart (there were still fantastic offerings in my field of study)- but- the surrounding population did happen to be 90% male engineers. Little did I know: Stuttgart is a technical city! I have heard that Heidelberg and Freiburg are more appropriate for humanities/arts students.

I lived from the 1st of January until the end of February with a wonderful host family (I negotiated with them to stay a couple of weeks after the Winter Uni was over, but that depends on your family –mine happened to be super awesome). Then at the beginning of March I moved into the university dorm. For students wondering, I think this is about the cheapest and best option for accommodation.  I payed about 260 Euro per month (it ranges from about 250-350 euro a month and you get assigned a room so you don't get to decide when it comes to the price). Then you just have to pay for food, transport and entertainment. I got a Baden Wuerttemberg Scholarship (350 Euro per month), which was a very pleasant surprise, because I had applied after our cut off date and therefore didn't expect to receive one.  This year they also gave additional scholarships to help with the costs of most of the Winter University, which was fantastic.

Groceries are quite reasonably priced in Germany, especially from the "Discounters" like LIDL, Netto, and Aldi. Alcohol is extremely cheap in comparison to Australia. On the other hand, going out in Stuttgart makes up for any money you save in that regard (it's one of the most expensive cities for that sort of thing). For transport, it is worth getting the semester Studiticket. At the Winter University you get given tickets for the transport system so you don't have to worry about that. Student life there is amazing and very social; there is always a party in someone's kitchen, and in summer each dormitory holds its Sommerfest, which are huge parties with concerts and literally thousands of people.

I think to study in Germany one can get along  very well without speaking German; at the University and in its surroundings (it is located in the suburb Vaihingen) most people speak good English. I didn't meet one student there who didn't speak reasonable English. Ten minutes away from the Vaihingen Campus is the US NATO Army Base, Patch Barracks, so there are a lot of Americans in Vaihingen and the storekeepers in that area can generally help you in English. Many courses are offered in English.

That said, I had studied three years of German before I left, and was fine when I arrived. I'm totally confident speaking German nowadays – but I really did put in the effort and spoke as much German as possible.

It's difficult for me to condense this amazing experience into a few sentences, but I will try: (I apologise for the clichés in advance!) I simply learnt so much more than I had ever imagined. I went there just expecting to build language skills, but I ended up learning so much about life and just how to take care of myself. I became more confident in every way because each day I was overcoming new challenges. (My proudest moment was challenging the Deutsche Bahn on an account and getting them to cancel it -many try, few succeed!) I made great friends and learnt so much about their cultures. I learnt a lot about German culture too (I had previously resigned myself to the effects of globalisation and had not expected so many differences).  Being in this environment made me understand my own identity as an Australian. I never realised what Australian culture really was until I was over there.  I also got to studies subjects in my field which aren't available here, such as translation, which I realised I LOVE. If you have the chance, all I can say is: GO! GO!

University of Stutgartt and the Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg

Germany is situated in Central Europe and is home to approximately 82 million people. It is a country with a unique culture, picturesque scenery and an interesting history. There are 16 states that comprise the Federal Republic of Germany and there are some great exchange opportunities through the University of Adelaide particularly in the south of Germany in the state of Baden-Württemberg.

I was fortunate to spend time in Stuttgart at the University of Stuttgart and in Heidelberg at the Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg. There are 3 modules involved in a German exchange. The first module is Winter University at the University of Stuttgart which lasts six weeks. The second module is a further language class. Finally, the last module is a semester (or two!) of study at your chosen university. You have to apply separately for all the different modules and it does take a while for everything to process, so it is important to plan ahead and keep this in mind. However, once everything approved, getting to Germany is fairly straight forward. A visa is not required, and you can freely enter Germany for a period of 90 days. Make sure you bring evidence of acceptance at your Host University, health insurance, and sufficient funds to cover your stay, because after this period of 90 days you will need to go to register with the city and get a residence permit.

During the first module, your six weeks are quite structured. Classes run four days a week and consist of language classes and culture classes. You also stay with a host family and activities and excursions are organised on the weekends (although these are optional, I suggest you get involved!). This is a great way to settle in and make new friends from all around the globe. During the second and third module you will be living independently, although the University of Heidelberg had a great student accommodation system. I was living with four other German students in student accomadation. We each had a separate room and shared two bathrooms and a large kitchen area. In Heidelberg, you don't actually know where you are living until you arrive in the city and get a key, but don't worry, it is all organised, and you won't be left stranded! The second module is also quite organised, with German language classes five days a week. However, in the third module you are free to choose your classes in your field of study. I would highly recommend going to the orientation program because you are put in a group with students studying the same degree as you and you can get advice about what classes to take.

Heidelberg is a university town and therefore there was a vibrant student culture. It is a very safe city, and whilst there is a campus university, classes are spread all over the town. The Mensa (cafeteria) is very affordable and open until 1 in the morning. This is a big part of student life, and most students eat there for lunch or dinner. Importantly, the main meal is eaten at lunch and all the shops will shut. Dinner normally consists of bread. When not studying, there are lots of cafes and a large grassy area along the main river where you can meet up with friends. There are also a large number of clubs and a free gym which are part of the university.

The cost of living is a little higher in Heidelberg than in Stuttgart or other German towns because it is a popular tourist destination. Allow about 200 Euro for rent per month and 120 Euro for a semester ticket on the public transport system. As a general rule, prices are the same as in Euros as they are in Australian dollars. For example, if a litre of milk is 3 dollars in Australia, it will be 3 Euros in Germany.

My overall experience was fantastic. I was able to meet local students and international students from all over the world, improve my language skills, travel, and experience the German way of life first hand. I would highly recommend it to all students!

Greece

National & Kapodistrian University of Athens

For a very unique experience Athens is certainly a worthwile destination.  The university is located right in the heart of Athens, amongst all the hustle and bustle. The university offers a number of subjects in English and Australian students are placed with Erasmus students thereby learning about other European cultures.

Some Important things to know/ Facts:

• Athens is serviced by an excellent public transport system: trolley/buses/metro and with your student pass you are entitled to extensive discounts – buy your monthly pass near the university
• As a student you entitled to free meals, Enquire on enrolment
•  Use a cross over bag, avoid carrying large sums of money
• From experience, a laptop is not really required. There are ample internet cafes as well as university computer labs located at Asklipiou and Ippokratous streets.
• Enjoy the nightlife of Athens, www.athinorama.gr is very useful for what's on
• Pay note to the public holidays and note the following down that before a public holiday or after there may be no lessons
• Take initiative if you want things done
• Don't be afraid if you have questions, lecturers are generally willing to help.
• All shops are closed on Sunday and some evenings in suburban areas.
• The university offers greek language tuition at a different campus, if you are interested enquire.
• General note: Drink spiking is an issue so be vigilant with alcohol
• Experience all the wonderful cultural things on offer: music concerts, food, university functions.

You will find that Greek people are usually friendly and helpful but you will get the occasional rude individual do not take it personally.

Japan

Meet Daniel

Exchange: Waseda University

Studying: B. Arts and B. Science

My exchange destination was Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan. I've heard someone say somewhere that Tokyo is a city from the future - and this is certainly the case. With multiple, bustling centres of activity, there's always something to do. No matter how far you are from where you want to go on a particular day, it will invariably be only a short ride away on what are some of the best trains in the world (unless when you want to go is between 12am and 5am, in which case you'd better find a manga cafe to hole up in).

Waseda University is located in Shinjuku, right at the heart of Tokyo, which meant that it was close to pretty much everything - from the peaceful gardens of the Imperial Palace to the trendy district of Shibuya. It also has a great selection of clubs and circles covering every interest imaginable (I joined the car club - we raced cars) and a diverse international community.

To anyone thinking of applying to Waseda, all I have to say is go for it! It's a university with great reputation inside Japan (great for name-dropping) and its Japanese program is excellent. If you want to study in Tokyo, Waseda is the place to be.

Overall, I'd say my year abroad was definitely the best year of my life so far. My only problem now is how to better it!

Kansai University

Kansai Uni has a really nice atmosphere, in part due to the Japanese students' tendency to socialise rather than study. I'd recommend joining a "circle" or two at uni. There are hundreds of groups you can join (ask the kokusai centre for a booklet with all the contact details)- every sport under the sun, bands, acapella group, juggling, dancing, Japanese tea ceremony, calligraphy etc etc etc… Clubs are more of a commitment, but circles are pretty casual and usually allow you to attend just once or twice a week, usually at lunch time or after uni for a couple of hours.

The neighbourhood around Kansai Uni also has a really nice feel: like a university town, about 20 minutes out of Umeda, with lots of pubs and cheap places to eat. There are always lots of people out and about, as lots of the student population live away from home in accommodation near the uni.

If your Japanese level is equivalent to JLPT level 1 or better, you will most likely be able to take all mainstream courses with local Japanese students. Otherwise, following a Japanese placement test you will be given a Japanese language level which will determine which of the exchange student classes you can select from. These classes include language classes and classes about Japanese politics, culture, economics, law, literature and philosophy etc, with some taught in English and some in Japanese.

If you get to know some of the lecturers who teach exchange student classes in English, you may be able to start attending their main-stream Japanese classes for no credit. Meli Sensei (literature and philosophy) and Tanaka Sensei (law) are two lecturers who I found really open to this.

If you're going to Japan with the goal of improving your Japanese, I highly recommend Kansai University. The main distinguishing factors are Kansai's living arrangements and the small number of international students at the university. There are two dormitories, one for each sex, and both involve sharing a room with a Japanese student. The girls dorm in particular is new and spacious (for Japan), with a big common area, a kitchen, bathroom and showers and a laundry on each floor, and then there is an eating hall and a shared bath and showers below ground. The food in the shokudou is really nice, only 500 yen for dinner and 250 yen for breakfast (in 2008 anyway, the prices might have gone up), and there is a 2 month rotation of all the meals, so a really good way to try a huge range of food. Rent is also relatively cheap in these dormitories, and the locals staying there have to pass a pretty strict selection process so everyone is lovely. The shared bath is optional, as there are showers on each floor (although these are coin operated, whereas the communal showers are free, plus you get the luxury of having a bath EVERY NIGHT!!!) but (although the first time is a bit of an experience) you get used to it surprisingly quickly, and it soon becomes a good place to catch up on the gossip of the day and relax.

Living in Osaka is so convenient if you want to explore a bit, as it's just 1 hour (and only 500 yen!) on the train to Kyoto, and 1 ½ hours to Kobe and Nara. Shikoku is also a beautiful place to spend some time, and of course Hiroshima is a must and Tokyo so much fun. The best trip I did was two weeks in Hokkaido's national parks in the summer- beautiful scenery, great hikes, and a chance to get away from the crowds and see the stars. The 24 hour ferry is a great (i.e. cheap!) way to get there. If you're doing any long distance travelling, and want to do it on the cheap, consider booking a seat on a yakou bus (night bus), or buying a seishun juuhachi kippu for 5 cheap days of travel on non-shinkansen trains. Make sure you print off some 20% discount coupons (waribiki ken) before you book your tickets at the travel agency in the uni. If you have any interest in Korea, there are often some really cheap flights from Osaka too, and the trip is about 1 ½ hours.

Some tips:
Things to buy:

• Buy a second hand bike! Everyone in Japan rides to uni, shops, train stations… everywhere! They only cost between 6000-10000 yen, plus you can usually sell them on afterwards.
• Go to a 100yen shop when you arrive for 100yen EVERYTHING YOU POSSIBLY NEED to stock up on for your new accommodation (If you're having trouble cutting down on packing, remember this! Female sanitary items, and possibly shampoo and conditioner, however, I would recommend you consider bringing, as even if the brands you use exist in Japan, the products are different.)
•  Get a mobile, even if you're only going for 6 months. In my experience Japanese uni students don't use email much at all. They use mobiles for all their communication. Anytime you meet someone new they will recommend you "sekigaisen" – swap details with infrared. When you do this, make sure you save their name straight away in Hiragana, or take a photo of them to put with their profile, or else you will soon have a phone full of crazy-hard-to-read kanji names and not be able to contact anyone! (yes, I'm talking from experience!) Shop around to find a mobile carrier that's cheap. When I was there the cheapest thing to do was to sign up to a 2 year contract, get a free phone, paying about 2500 yen a month for everything (texts are typically 1 yen!), then cancel the contract after a year (or 6 months). There were often deals whereby there were cheap cancellation fees for students etc.
• If you buy a denshi jisho, go to Yodobashi Camera (Huge electronics store in Umeda, and lots in Tokyo etc) when there's a sale, and get a Gold Points Card BEFORE you buy it. You'll get lots of points which turns into lots of free electronics!
• Bring a laptop with you if you have one- in the girls dorm you can work out with your room mate a way to share their broadband internet, usually for about 2500 yen a month. There are also computers you can use at the uni though, if you don't need a computer at home.
•  If your visa card isn't working in all of the ATMs try an ATM in a 7-11 convenience store (of which there are over 12,000 in the country!). Everyone I know who was having problems withdrawing case was fine at 7-11. It's normal to use cash for everything, so getting a local bank account that you can withdraw from free of charge (typically only free during business hours) is a good idea.

If your aim is to improve your Japanese, make sure when you meet someone you start speaking to them in Japanese from the very start. When you meet someone new, in a country you've just arrived in, and their English seems so good, and your Japanese feels a little rusty, the natural instinct is to resort to English… But, be confident in yourself, be prepared to laugh at your stupid language mistakes, and just jump in there and speak the language from the outset. People will automatically pick up that you have come to Japan to work on your Japanese, and will speak Japanese to you from then on.

I found that a good way to meet people similarly interested in languages and in foreign cultures etc was, funnily enough, to help out people with their English.  Plus, after being spoilt 24/7 by lovely Japanese people for such a long time, it's a good way to satisfy your feeling that you want to give back to people in some way. 

Some ways to do this:

• Tutor kids in English- ask an exchange student who's been there for a while if they know of any families in the area looking for a native English tutor.
• Help out in the English Speakers Society at your uni: At Kansai Uni they used to meet every lunchtime, and you could just join in as often as you liked, picking up their mistakes and joining in on their roleplays etc
• Teach an English class: at Kansai exchange students are encouraged to do this

All I have left to say, is make the most of it and say yes to every opportunity! Exchange for me was about meeting interesting people and getting an insight into the culture, the language and the people that could never be appreciated from a short stay. It was about being a local on the other side of the world.

Singapore

National University of Singapore 

I am a second year business student at the University of Adelaide. In July 2009, I embarked on my 1 semester of exchange at NUS (National University of Singapore). No exchange student can get bored in Singapore, due to the tons of things to explore in such a hot and humid island. On arriving in Singapore, I was so amazed by the incredibly delicious and inexpensive food. There is a wide range of Asian food choices here for you to savour, such as Chinese, Malaysian, Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Korean, Japanese, and Indian. For local food, sugarcane, Char Koay Teow and Fried Oyster are my favourites. Most of the hawker centres in Singapore are open 24 hours, 7 days a week, so you can get whatever you want here even after midnight or at weekends. Besides food, entertainment is another attraction in Singapore. For those who like shopping, Singapore is the must-go place in Asia, as there are plenty of stores there especially on Orchard Rd, ranging from selling luxury goods and affordable goods. Every year, many people from overseas choose to come to Singapore for shopping on holiday, due to the variety of choices.  Besides shopping, Sentosa, which is a man-made island in Singapore, is also an awesome place to go. I like to get some friends to go there together playing beach volleyball, Frisbee and sun bathing. The biggest Merlion sculpture is there as well. You can climb up to its mouth or its head to enjoy the whole view of Singapore. Singaporeans are really enthusiastic and easy-going. I made lots of good local friends via classes, the NUS buddy system, and NUS clubs. They were all willing and happy to show me around in Singapore and took me to try different kinds of food.

NUS has a huge campus, within which many internal buses run frequently every day. Each faculty has its own canteen offering different food and drink subsidized by the Government. NUS always takes care of exchange students and tries their best to fulfil our needs, like enrolling in courses, accommodation, and psychological counselling for homesickness. NUS has a buddy system, which assigned each exchange student a local student, so whenever we need help, we can approach them. The time I spent in NUS was really inspiring. I am very impressed by how hardworking the local students are. Studying with these diligent students indeed spurred me on to achieve a high academic goal.

Another advantage of exchange in Singapore is that you can go to many surrounding countries at a low expense, such as Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Macao and even mainland China. For me, I went to Thailand and Malaysia with other exchange students from Canada, New Zealand, Japan, and Hong Kong. We had lots of unforgettable experience there and also in Singapore. I believe all the friends I made in Singapore will be my friends for life.

If I could go back to in time, I would definitely still choose NUS for my exchange. I can confidently say there is no regret for my exchange to NUS.

 

Singapore Management University

Singapore is rapidly becoming a hub for travel, luxury, commerce, arts and culture in South East Asia. It might be just a tiny dot on the map at the tip of Malaysia, but it's packed with fun and the central location of the island makes it a great place to catch cheap flights from.

Tourist must-visits include the Singapore Flyer, the Raffles Hotel for Singapore Slings, Sentosa Island and Orchard Road. However, once you venture deeper there is an interesting mix of cultures. You will find traditional architecture and goods from Chinese, Malay and Indian origins as well as many remnants of Singapore's colonial past.

There is a well-established clubbing scene – mainstay Zouk is always popular but there are plenty of other nightspots vying for their place. Clarke Quay and Robertsons Quay are full of food and expat clubs (including a microbrewery and parties by hed kandi and OneLove). Around Haji Lane you can find a wealth of shisha after dark, or a few hidden bars just off shopping heaven Orchard Road. Holland Village is another popular expat place for shopping, dinner and a few drinks.

For partygoers, expect a cover charge of at least $20 at most clubs (though this may include free drinks). Wednesday night is ladies night, with many clubs offering free entry or free flow (drinks) to girls. Guys…get used to it. Alcohol is taxed heavily but on the flipside you'll find cheap Thai beer in your local 7-11 or Cold Storage.

The most fashionable eating locations change by the month. However, look out for Rochester Road, Dempsey, Liang Court and Keppel Bay. You'll find  For cheap and reliably good food, try: Newton Circus, Serangoon Gardens, Chinatown, Little India and food court chains Kopi Tim and Food Republic. Singaporeans adore food, so you'll have plenty of recommendations for the best chicken rice, nasi lemak or chili crab.

Shopping and grabbing a bargain is another favourite Singaporean past-time – it's not so much where you can go for good shopping as where you can avoid it.

Transport is easy, cheap and efficient. Within the city, the underground MRT will take you within a very short walking distance of where you want to go – though in the heat you may not want to walk far! For everywhere else there are buses, though as many streets are one-way you may need to find out which street to go to for your return trip. You can pay for both using a rechargeable smartcard. Luckily, taxis are comparatively cheap and common. Just be aware that on busy city streets there are designated stopping points.

The high emphasis on education in Singaporean culture is evident from the effort put into Singapore Management University. It is the newest of the three major universities with a state-of-the-art campus in the middle of the city and staff comprising some of the best business practitioners from across the world.

Classes are small and the bidding system can make competition vicious. As an exchange student you will most likely get the classes you want, but it's best to look at the course outlines before you choose. Frequently different professors take different timeslots and will have completely different outlines for the same subject. As tempting as it is to schedule a 5 day weekend so that you can take that weekend in Malaysia, check assessment dates very carefully.

Usually there are 200+ exchange students at the University, with the majority from Europe. They do not provide accommodation so the best way to meet people is to arrange to share a flat – prices are reasonable for the city if you rent a large flat with 2-3 people per room.

Spain

University of Granada

The University of Granada (UGR)  is located in Andalucía in the southern part of Spain. Granada is truly a university city with different campuses spread out over the centre. When I first arrived in Granada in February 2009 I had no idea what to expect. I had done a pitiful amount of research into Granada, all I knew was that they spoke the "real" Spanish there, not Catalan as in Barcelona, and there was a lot of Moorish stuff there. Not that I knew who the Moors were. I didn't even know about the Alhambra, one of the most visited sites in Europe and one of Granadas' better known attractions.  I had heard about the free tapas though; free food with your drinks was something I could definitely get into!

Granada is the most popular destination for European students studying abroad as part of the ERASMUS program and there are many reasons for this.  Granada is a relatively small city with a compact city centre where everything is within walking distance or a short bus trip. Personally, I lived in the city centre and I think I caught a bus twice in the six months I was there just because for me everything was within walking distance.  The cost of living in Granada is relatively cheap compared to other Spanish cities. The average cost of an apartment is about 200 euros a month which varies depending on how close to the centre you want to live and how nice you want your room to be.  The whole city is geared towards university students who constitute one third of the population during the semester. It is impossible to forget the tapas bars which are particularly good in the Albaicín (the old Moorish quarter of the city) and near the Plaza de Toros.

Ok, now for a bit of history and city layout. Granada was the last stronghold of the Moors who were driven out of Spain by the Catholic Kings Ferdinand and Isabella in 1492. Ferdinand and Isabella loved Granada so much they decided to be buried there. The Moors were a tribe of people from Northern Africa who occupied the Iberian Peninsula for over 800 years. You can see their influence in Granada through the prevalence of water fountains and features throughout Granada and of course through the distinctive architecture.  New and old Granada is roughly divided by Gran Via, the large main road that runs through the city. On one side you have the Albaicín and its close winding paths, and on the other you have the more modern shopping district.

Some of my top recommendations for really experiencing Granada:

•  Spend some time getting lost in the Albaicin, just make sure you take a camera and look out for motos.
• Go up to Sacremonte and see some of the people living in caves up there.
• See some flamenco. Andalucia is famous for Flamenco and outside of Sevilla, Granada has some of the best around.
•  Tapas pub crawl, enough said.
• Speak as much Spanish as you can. You will meet people from all over the world and especially Europeans and while it may be tempting to speak English try as hard as you can to speak Spanish at all times.
•  Give in to the siren call of the siesta. Nothing is open from 2-5 anyway.

For those of you worried about your language skills all I can say is….don't! I started Spanish at university and so found acquiring a new language quite challenging to say the least.  After completing my Diploma in Language and finding that I was still very uncomfortable with using Spanish and certainly not confident in my ability to have a conversation with a native speaker I decided to throw myself in the deep end and study in Spain. Despite my initial nervousness ( ok it was more like panic), especially regarding the very strong Andaulcian accent, my Spanish improved and I now believe that going on exchange  was the best thing I could have ever done for my confidence.

Sweden

Meet Zoe

Exchange: Uppsala University

Studying: B. Laws & B. Commerce (Marketing & International Business)

Uppsala is the fourth largest 'city' in Sweden and is situated just 40 minutes north west of Stockholm. It is one of the two major student towns in Sweden (the other being Lund) and during term the streets are filled with students riding around the streets. The university itself was founded in 1477 and offers a broad range of subjects, with plenty in English for the Exchange students.

Student life in Uppsala revolves around the 'student nations' of which there are 13, all named after the regions of Sweden. Although it is no longer compulsory to become a nation member, it is definitely required if you want to have an active social life on exchange as they become a sort of second home, with restaurants, cafes, bars, and even libraries! In fact, if you want to immerse yourself in the Swedish experience whilst studying abroad I would highly recommend becoming as involved as possible in the nation which you choose. They all have their own characteristics and by asking around you will soon find there will be one perfectly suited to you.

I was in Uppsala from August 2009-June 2010 and honestly believe it was the best thing I have ever done so far in life. The people I met and the things I experienced in Sweden were unparalleled.

Meet Emily

Exchange: Lund University

Studying: B. International Studies

My exchange year was an unforgettable experience I would recommend to everyone! I spent my exchange year in Lund, Sweden's oldest city that houses Sweden's oldest university; Lund University.

Lund is known in Sweden as a student city and you can understand why when you find out that almost half the residents of the little 100,000 people town are students! Student life is the way of life in Lund and the opportunities to get involved are endless with student run organizations at every street corner. Even the pubs and clubs are run by students! Being such a small town everything is walking distance and due in a big part to not-for-profit student organizations, the cost of living if comparatively lower than other cities in Sweden, including rent, recreation and study costs. Sweden prides itself on being a good English speaking country and therefore language barriers are not a problem although it is a positive with the Swedish people if you know the language.

Academically, Lund University is a very good school and is ranked amongst the top 200 Universities in the world. The teaching style and course periods are different from those in Australian Universities. The lecture style is much more informal and you will usually take one course at a time throughout the semester rather than four at once.

My advice for anyone going anywhere on exchange would be to get involved, be flexible and have fun. My advice to anyone going to Lund on exchange would be to start being active in a 'student nation' as soon as possible, try and learn Swedish, buy a bike and have more fun!

The Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm

I arrived in early January with no idea what to expect. When I disembarked the aeroplane it was about 4pm, almost pitch black and -10 degrees, a very strange feeling coming from a hot summer back home.

I arrived 2 days too early for the university, and so had to spend the time in a hotel which was a fantastic opportunity to get over the jet lag and to explore the city. Then I went to the university for the introduction day. There is a whole building called Nymble on the university campus that houses the international student society, a bar and this is where all the student parties happen! This is where we met, and were greeted with huge smiles, lunch, drinks and a welcome pack that included all the information needed to get started in Stockholm as well as a sim card. The day was a great opportunity to meet fellow exchange students, swap numbers and start to feel a little less daunted by the whole experience.

Each student was assigned a Swedish buddy who was there to help us with any problems. My buddy, Emile was really lovely and it was great to get to know a Swedish person who could give tips on where to shop, party and tell us what to do in Stockholm (and what to avoid). Through this buddy system I made some really good Swedish friends. They are very hospitable and we were invited to 18ths, house parties and other occasions without knowing the hosts.

The international student society, ISS, was very organised and provided a lot of fun activities for us exchange students. They put on this whole array of activities in the first 2 weeks of us arriving, including ice skating, bowling, sauna, Swedish movie night, and a very fun 'typical' Swedish dinner, where everyone sings songs and drinks copious amounts of alcohol. This was a great way of meeting people and doing some activities that otherwise may have been possible.

The ISS also, in conjunction with other Swedish universities organises a few holidays. There are road trips to Russia, which I did over Easter. There are a few different trips, with varying lengths, and I chose to do the longest 10 day experience. This started with a booze cruise to Finland (these cruises are a must while you are in Sweden –especially because they sell duty free alcohol which is much cheaper than system bolaget prices), followed by a bus to St. Petersburg and Moscow, and a booze cruise back again. There were 110 students from all over Sweden, and it was a very cheap and fun way to experience Russia. All the paperwork was organised for us, and although there was very little sleep, it is definitely a trip to do! The ISS also organise a cruise called sea battle. This is again for students all over Sweden and Estonia, and basically they hire out a whole booze cruise (see photos the ships are huge), and fill it with about 2000 students. It is a 2 night cruise with a day stop over at Tallin, Estonia, and is definitely a fantastic trip!

I also did a bit of travel around Sweden in my breaks and after my semester finished. My first trip was to Lapland, north of Sweden, above the Arctic Circle. I would definitely recommend this. I went in early February, middle of winter so it was dark and freezing cold (-20 was our maximum temperature). We flew to Kiruna and hired a car and stayed in a backpackers in Abisko. I would recommend not staying in Kiruna but going somewhere a little out of the way. Our backpackers was very cheap and had so many activities offered. We went dog sledding, cross country skiing, visited the ice hotel and took the train to Narvik, Norway. The train ride was spectacular, better than the actual visit to Narvik. We were given warm outer clothes thankfully!

I would recommend visiting Uppsala, only 40 minutes by train, especially during Valborg, a big student party which attracts thousands of students.

For the actual university, the teachers are very helpful and I found no problem with any of the subjects. They all speak excellent English, and often I was at an advantage compared to other exchange students because my English was far better (English being their 2nd or 3rd language).  I would definitely recommend taking Swedish culture. Every exchange student did this subject, except the Australians. There really isn't any work involved, and they got to visit all the museums in Stockholm, some of which are very interesting. I regret not taking it because I didn't do that much sightseeing in Stockholm and that would have made me do a little more!

KTH has experience with thousands of exchange students and are intent on making sure everyone has a good experience. There are hundreds of other people in exactly your situation and I met nobody who had a less than amazing time.

United Kingdom

Meet Mariana

Exchange: University of Leeds

Studying: B. Pharmaceutical Engineering

As a Bachelor of Engineering (Pharmaceutical) student, matching subjects to get credited for was a little bit tricky... but so worth it. Going on exchange gave me the opportunity to travel without deferring and was not only one of the best times of my life, but an enormous advantage in terms of employment.

Leeds was a fabulous choice: the city is enormously student populated and hence you'll find it is VERY cheap. Going out at night is cheaper than Adelaide (think 1.50 pound jager bombs) and there is something on every single night of the week. The "Otley Run" is a famous pub crawl down the major street in Leeds and involves a strict dress-up code (as you can see in my photo).  I stayed at Bodington Hall, home to over 1000 students. The English students were really welcoming and I also made some great friends who were on exchange as well. I travelled overseas for 75% of the weekends I had in Leeds and visited Prague, Denmark, London, Amsterdam, Portugal, Edinburgh and Dublin (for St Patricks day) just to name a few.

The budget airlines fly for ridiculously cheap out of the UK and Leeds to London is only a 4 hour, 5 pound bus away. By the time I left I felt really at home in Leeds and gained some self qualities which I know now I gained through the sometimes testing and very much self discovering experience that was my semester long exchange to the UK.

University of Leeds

Participating on a university exchange to Leeds in the United Kingdom was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. To begin with, the process of undertaking an exchange to the UK is relatively easy compared to other European countries. If you are planning to go on exchange for just one semester, a visa is not required as you will be accepted to study in the country as a 'student visitor'. Furthermore, provided you have the relative papers with you (i.e. Subject approval and Acceptance letter's from both universities) the process of passing through Heathrow's immigration is of no hassle at all.

My time in Leeds was terrific. Not only was I exposed to a completely different academic structure, the student life was also remarkably different to that of which we have in Australia. In the UK, the on-campus vibe is more prolific than what we have here. Leeds has the largest student union in the UK, containing numerous bars, clubs, various shops, a free-entry cinema and a supermarket. As soon as the sun would come out, students would spill out into various beer gardens regardless of what night it may be. The social life in Leeds is also far greater than here in Adelaide. Something is happening almost every night of the week regardless of what type of night you're after. There are clubs for every type of music you may prefer, including hip hop, house, reggae, jazz, techno, drum and bass or dub step. Leeds is renowned for its live music seen, hosting a huge array of national and international artists weekly for very reasonable prices. There are also countless numbers of pubs especially throughout the area of Headingly.

Choosing accommodation to stay in is very easy and something is available to suit every kind of person. In my experience, if you're after more of a social experience, you can't go past Bodington Hall where the main objective is simply to meet new people and have a good time.

Travelling around the UK is a hassle free and inexpensive process. Both buses and trains are reasonably priced and run at all times, enabling you to scale the country in less than half a day for sometimes ridiculously cheap fares. The bus service 'Megabus' will take you to London for around 5 pounds and up to Edinburgh for around 10 pounds.

USA

Meet Todd

Exchange: University of California, Berkeley

Studying: B. Commerce

Where do you start with this one... this is one of the most incredible years of my life and it is all thanks to the opportunities that what is globally known as the finest public University on the world presents, and that is the world of Berkeley, California.

To give you a quick insight of what I got up I spent 26 hours a week playing Rugby Union on the acclaiming No.1 Collegial team in the country, where we were fortunate enough to beat BYU in the final to win a collegiate championship. This wasn't for the faint hearted I can tell you. I pledged a fraternity called Beta Theta Pi, skydived the valley of San Francisco, visited the entire coast of California on weekend trips down to Santa Barbara for the biggest Halloween Party in the country, went to Las Vegas for one of my best mates 21st, ended up enjoying Spring Break in Cancun Mexico then to cap it all of spent a month at the end 'Road Tripping' across America with some of the most amazing people I have ever met in my life.

All this and I still managed to maintain a good GPA in what I would regard as the best 'research' economics department in the world. Given its nature to produce Nobel Prize winning economists, and some of the classes were phenomenal, really innovative and ground breaking stuff.

Some quick words of advice:

• Head over a couple of weeks early and sort out your own accommodation. I actually went there without anything, and just 'winged it' so to speak when I got there. Not for the faint hearted but book yourself into a hostel and go around and look at apartment, University Housing in the US is often over priced so don't be afraid to shop around for an apartment.
• Just Say YES. Ever seen the Movie 'Yes Man' honestly has a go at anything and everything you won't regret a second of it, live the dream and do everything you can.
• Get the most out of your lecturers, at my College anyway they were amazing and you can learn loads from them.
• Travel as much as you can in your breaks, see and do everything. The best EAP student we regarded was EAP of the year 'Greg Stewart' A Scottish lad from Edinburgh was renowned for doing everything!
• A funny one again with the Scottish mates of mine, don't get an American girlfriend you will leave California heartbroken and end up working out how to get a job in some sort of accounting firm to stay there over the summer to be able to see her. 

Meet Seema

Exchange: The College of William and Mary

Studying: B. Media & B. Arts

The College of William and Mary is a liberal arts college of around 6,000 students in beautiful Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. As part of the Historic Triangle, Colonial Williamsburg (CW) is a tourist town rebuilt in the 1920s recreating colonial America. It's a bit bizarre at first to see college students and tourists among horse drawn carts and people in colonial costume, but you will soon find it charming and endearing. Only three hours south of Washington DC, the college is a merge of the East Coast and the South and being there allows you to experience both cultures. As the second oldest university in the US, and the alma mater of three Presidents, William and Mary is deeply steeped in history and tradition. Walking around the beautiful campus and CW, with all of its statues and monuments, you'll gain a real sense of 'Tribe Pride'.

There is a feeling of community at W&M that I haven't felt anywhere else. From the opening Convocation to the Yule Log Ceremony at Christmastime, you will be made to feel a part of this university, not just as an exchange student, but as a true member of the student body. The students are passionate and incredibly friendly, while living on campus and all the strong friendships you'll make will help to create a home away from home. Every season is stunning in its own way and the campus can be unbelievably beautiful. Events such as football games, Homecoming, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the Kings and Queens Ball all help to make your time away truly unique and amazingly fun.

Academically, the school is challenging but also very stimulating. As a humanities student, the classes I could choose from were hugely varied and different to anything that's offered at Adelaide. The workload might be more than at home, but generally the standard expected of you is slightly less. But don't worry, there are also endless opportunities to have a good time! There are a  wide range of activities available from niche clubs, theatre, sports and community service, to working on the school newspapers, just to name a few. There are also sororities and fraternities to join which will give you a readymade social life and group friends. The International Office also holds lots of events and excursions to give international students the opportunity to experience all parts of America and the culture. Even though Williamsburg is small and a bit sleepy, there is always be something to do. It is college after all! There are always parties, numerous campus-organised events and of course, the bars.

American college life is vastly different from the Australian university experience. Going to college is an entire lifestyle, where everyone is your own age, away from home, living, studying, and partying together. Americans are really friendly and love Australians! Dorm life is a lot of fun and there are basically no restrictions.  American universities constantly provide their students with opportunities to experience new things and meet people that you never would have imagined. Also, if the dollar is good, living in the US is not necessarily that expensive either. 

Everything that you need is either on campus or within walking distance. There's also a public bus system that's free for students to help you get around. W&M is really well located so that you can travel easily throughout the country. There's an Amtrak train station just outside of campus which is relatively cheap and you can easily explore the entire East Coast and some of the South that way. During winter break friends and I used it to go travelling to DC, New York and Boston. Online American websites have plenty of cheap plane tickets all throughout the year to make travelling a bit easier as well. The West Coast is particularly amazing during summer. Try and take advantage of your breaks and the time before and after the exchange to travel the country. America is so vast and every section of it is completely different to the other, you should try to experience it all!

Being on exchange at William and Mary was the most amazing experience and would recommend it to everyone!