Elisabeth: University of Lausanne (Semesters 1 and 2, 2010)

UQ Program: Law/Arts (French and Criminology)

I was fortunate enough to spend the fourth year of my Law/Arts degree at the Université de Lausanne.  I studied French, Criminology and Law.  I would highly recommend the Criminology courses at the School of Criminal Sciences – one of the few Universities in Europe that offers Criminological studies.  I even had two well-regarded criminologists from the States flown in to give intensive courses.

I lived in an FMEL student residence which is a great way to meet people and also takes the hassle out of finding accommodation privately.  The student run Xchange association definitely helps you settle into your Lausannois life and provides opportunities to meet new people and explore Switzerland.  The friends you make on exchange will come from all around the world and will become your lifelong Swiss family!  You’ll study, eat, travel, ski, hike, live and party together.

You cannot leave Switzerland without exploring all it has to offer.  My favourites are: Hiking in the Valais Canton and to the Matterhorn, Skiing in Verbier and Crans Montana, Canyoning in Interlaken, Cycling through Lavaux Vineyards, Sailing on Lake Geneva, BBQs by the Lake and indulging at the Caillier Chocolate Factory.

Even if you're a little unsure about applying for exchange, you should definitely submit the application!  Let yourself get outside your comfort zone: meet new people, speak the language you're not 100% comfortable with, sign up for activities you never dreamed of participating in. Some days you may feel absolutely exhausted and think that there is no way you could possible go out hiking or skiing, or socialise at a wine festival or train it to yet another totally different Swiss town or attend another extra-curricular seminar given by an invited lecturer who is a specialist in the field. But guess what, you should! Other days you'll wake up and still not believe that you are actually living and studying in Switzerland. Exchange is an opportunity that not everyone is able to experience; so don't take one second for granted.
 

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