UQ Program: Bachelor of Laws
It is often a claim that people who go on exchange overseas use apparent cliché comments such as ‘It was the best thing I have ever accomplished in my life’ or ‘I made so many great friends that it’s hard to leave them’. Well I can definitely claim, that it is not a cliché and that everything you wanted from an exchange comes to fruition, if not even more so.
I decided to study at the University of Exeter, in the lovely South West coast of England in awe-inspiring Devon. Before I left I had no idea where Exeter was, was it was like or indeed what to expect, but all I can say is that it was the best decision I could have made. I studied Law whilst at Exeter and although some of the courses and the administrative side of the process seemed to be little behind UQ’s online learning, the courses seemed to be fulfilling.
Whilst at Exeter I stayed in student halls at Christow in the St German’s Complex. This was the unsurpassed the finest experience of the year with my flatmates becoming well and truly family. If it wasn’t for them, the constant construction that appeared to be encroaching on our house and the fire alarms at all hours of the morning would have made the experience much more harrowing. The campus itself is stunning, with sweeping gardens, lakes and farmland, making it appear like it’s the postcard image of England. As advice for those wishing to go, the best thing to do for the first weeks on campus is to join a society, there are so many to keep you entertained from Engineers without Borders, the Poker Society to things like Exeter Snowsports! This is the best way to meet people and I cannot stress the importance of meeting fantastic people through these clubs and their events.
Exeter itself has an amazing student atmosphere with the entire economic fabric of the city almost aimed at the student lifestyle. For such a small city, there are so many pubs, bars and clubs to keep the even most hardened party animal entertained! However if that is not your scene, Exeter has a large array of shops, cinemas, underground caverns and riverside walks to keep those who are not nocturnal amused. Like all cities in Europe and the UK, Exeter is easily accessible to other major centres of interest all over the continent. With flights relatively cheap doing weekend trips is highly recommended.
The best experience is defiantly the people you meet! Exeter has a vast array of students from all over the world with people coming not only from the UK but also France, Spain, Italy, Germany and America. The people you meet will remain with you forever and make the whole exchange worthwhile. So all in all, Exeter is such an amazing wonderful place where precious, hilarious and invaluable memories will be forged. Whether it’s hitchhiking to Amsterdam, being chased by horses in the middle of the night or walking home in the cold air of the early morning, Exeter is the place to be! You will not regret it!