UQ Program: Bachelor of Communication
I’m a third-year Bachelor of Communication student (which did make sorting out subjects quite difficult, but it worked out well enough in the end). I can safely say that my exchange to Leeds University is without a doubt the best experience I’ve had during my two and half years at uni. It wasn’t always fun, it completely ruined my degree plan, and it certainly wasn’t cheap, but the experiences, friends, and lessons learnt have made the last semester worth a thousand times the pain, effort, and money it cost.
Being an exchange student is just so much different from backpacking or any other kind of overseas adventure you’re likely to have that it’s all I can do to say this: you’ll be kicking yourself for years to come if you let an opportunity like it go by.
Now Leeds isn’t Paris or London, but the exchange experience isn’t all about the place; what makes it so special is the impact it has on your life –you’ll end up doing things you’d never think of otherwise. That said, Leeds definitely isn’t the place to go if you’re looking for the ultimate cultural slap in the face, days upon days of clear blue skies, or a decent cup of coffee. It does have its upsides though: it’s an awesome base from which to explore the rest of the UK and Europe, it has excellent nightlife, and there are loads of groovy bars and places to eat (once you explore past the usual chains and package pubs). Most of the student flats are well within the city proper, and pretty much everything is walkable.
Where I was living –Clarence Dock –at first seemed a bit far from the university and the more-studenty areas, but in the end proved much better for it. Apart from being a nice area, it made for quite a pleasant walk along the canals and through the city centre, and was much closer to the better bars and restaurants along the waterways (the bars nearer the university can be a little seedy/skanky and have about as much character as a brick wall). The area’s only downside is its distance from The Eldon. You should definitely, definitely head to The Eldon on Tuesday evenings (it’s International Night!). I’ll miss that place... Oh! And if you are going to need a good dose of quality caffeine, by far the best coffee in the city is at ‘La Bottega Milanese’ just up from the canals around Clarence Dock (towards the Corn Exchange).
Academically Leeds University was fairly similar to UQ. The main difference was in the workload, which was definitely lighter, but was accompanied by a lot of reading. And while having three subjects seemed extremely relaxed (especially as there were only two pieces of assessment for each), the weighting of an assignment or test was obviously much higher than I’m used to. On an assignment-by-assignment basis it was a bit more stressful, but far from overwhelming. In terms of class structure and per-subject hours it was pretty much exactly the same. All in all I learnt plenty, so the system obviously works!
On the whole, going to Leeds for the semester has probably been the best decision I’ve ever made. All the pain of organising the exchange, all the money spent, and all the hiccups along the way add up to nothing in face of all the fantastic memories I’ll have for the rest of my life.
"I know I may not look that happy here, but I assure you I'm ecstatic!"
For the second: "Rome is still awesome when it rains!"
And for the third: "This was the warmest of seven days spent in Switzerland."