School of Education International Exchange Programme

Amerdeep went to study at the University of Hong Kong in 2016

When I heard about studying aboard, I jumped to the opportunity and applied to study at the University of Hong Kong. I thought it would be a great opportunity to expand my future employment prospects, as my aspiration is to work as a primary school teacher in Hong Kong, because I was born in Hong Kong and will be moving back there. I was able to develop my linguistic skills and expand my Chinese vocabulary. I have always wanted to experience living out independently and understand how the world works.  

The one thing that worried me the most was being in a shared accommodation living with five other individuals; I was nervous about who my flat mates were going to be and what they were like and if we would get on. But when I got to meet my flatmates everyone was in the same position as me and everyone got on well, which made the experience enjoyable. The content taught at HKU was valuable, as most of the modules taught were around teaching and learning in classrooms. I was also given the opportunity to visit primary schools and observe lessons in English and learning more about the Hong Kong education system. I will be able to use my understanding and knowledge in the PGCE I will be undertaking next year. I have developed my confidence and social skills while studying aboard.

Studying abroad was one of the best experiences ever, as I got the chance meet a lot of people, who are now in fact my good friends. I was also able to adventure out and explore around Hong Kong and Asia countries. 

Serena Hammond studied at TU Dortmund September - December 2016

I have always loved travelling and experiencing new cultures, and so the exchange program was actually one of the reasons I chose this course at Birmingham. I decided to stay within Europe through the Erasmus program, as it makes it very easy; there is already an established relationship with the institution and a clear program, with specific modules and credit options there for you, and previous students have already undertaken the same exchange program, so it takes away a lot of the worry and stress. The application process has rather a lot of paperwork, but it is straightforward and clearly set out for you, and the experience will definitely be worth it in the end! 

I specifically chose Dortmund, as the program here is within the rehabilitation department specifically dealing with issues of SEN, an area of personal interest to me. I had never been to Germany before, and so this was also a really great opportunity to explore a new place, and learn a new language, as I spoke no German at all before arriving! A really cool part of my exchange here was the 1 month intensive German course before the start of term. This is totally optional, and you can easily get by in English here, so don’t panic if it’s not your thing, but I loved it, even if German has crazy hard grammar!

The course is so interesting, it is really great having different lecturers and being in a class with people from many different cultures and backgrounds, as it gives whole new perspectives on things, and is a great challenge to broaden your view of the world. I also have loved the practical side of the course here, with visits to institutions and trying out technologies for ourselves. To be able to apply the theories to real life situation makes it a lot easier to grasp concepts and analyse the best ways of doing things. I have learnt so much! It is quite intensive, as the course is in such a concentrated amount of time, but very interesting and totally worth the work you have to put in! 

The accommodation here is really nice – I have a larger room than at home for a much cheaper price, and a stunning view! If you choose to stay in the student dorms, you will also have a friendly “Hausmeister” who will fix any problems for you… mine doesn’t speak much English, so it’s often a fun game of charades, but he is super friendly and helpful. I was also pleasantly surprised to find that the area where I am is so green, despite Dortmund being an industrial city – it is so lovely being surrounded by nature… and I have even spotted some rabbits!

An aspect that has made this exchange really incredible is the Erasmus Student Network – a student group that put on events for exchange students throughout the term. Whether you are looking for partying, sightseeing, games, information, there is always something going on, and it’s a great way to build friendships with people all over the world!

They are so welcoming and supportive, and just generally a great group of people who try to make your stay as fun as possible. A highlight for me was going with ESN on their “cabin in the woods” trip where we had a weekend away of crazy games, music, campfires, good food, hikes and laughter. 

Erasmus is a great chance to travel a lot and explore. There are so many beautiful places around Dortmund, and I have been making the most of my student “semesterticket” giving me free transport in this region. I also took the overnight bus to Munich in the south of Germany and saw the stunning sights there… or if old castles and museums are not so much your thing, many other students went for the Oktoberfest! You can also get cheap deals to neighbouring countries with student travel agencies… the world really is your oyster! I only wish the program lasted longer so I could see more new places!

As a teen, I had always dreamed of going to university in America. With all of the sporting events, university mascots and emphasis on school spirit in general, it had always appealed to me as a lover of American films and TV shows. So, when I heard that I had the opportunity to actually experience it, I jumped at the chance! 

At the beginning, I was a tad nervous about the application process. I had chosen three options and had to wait a few months to see which university I had been assigned. However, when I was finally assigned a university, I breezed through their online application – and once I had received my visa and had booked my aeroplane ticket, that was it, I was going to be studying at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee! 

From the day I arrived at the university, to the day I left – I did not have one regret that I hadn’t made the right choice. As soon as I arrived, I was greeted by the international education team, and they quickly helped me and all of the other international students (which there were many) to settle in. Throughout my time there, I made many friends – both American and International, which I still keep in contact with to this day! 

During my time there I lived on campus, so got to fully immerse myself in university life – taking part in the normal things such as society meetings and sporting events, and then some more obscure things such as going to late-night glow in the dark Zumba classes, and going on grocery shopping trips in minus 20-degree weather! My flat-mates were also incredibly supportive, and always helped me out with any queries I had during my time there. 

As for the modules, I took a range which were largely education based – one of which allowed me to work in an elementary school during my time there. This was definitely an invaluable experience that I will never forget, and is one that has inspired me to want to go and teach in America if possible in the future! 

All in all, studying abroad was one of the best decisions that I could have made. It gave me new insights – as I got to experience education in America, as well as help to deliver an education myself when working at the elementary school. It also allowed me to make new connections and gain many new skills, and most importantly was an absolutely incredible experience that I will never forget.