UQ Program: Bachelor of Environmental Management
I am a third year environmental management student who is still homesick now for Leeds two weeks after returning which might give you an idea how much of an amazing time the past six months were. I cannot think of a single negative thing to say about the city, the university or the people. If you’re considering Leeds I could give you countless reasons why I am so happy I made the decision that I did. The people are incredibly friendly and I made wonderful friends who had a huge impact on the time I spent there. Leeds University Union was voted best in the country and guaranteed there was always something going on. I miss how close everything was, I loved walking everywhere and not being dependent upon a car and I will also miss the changing seasons – a real winter and a real spring.
I didn’t find studying in Leeds too different and the support was great. The modules I took were second and third year modules from two different schools so I met a wide variety of people. I went on two field trips for coursework which were definite highlights, one to Ennerdale Valley in the Lake District and one to the south coast of Devon. I learnt a lot about the UK environment which as you can imagine is extremely different to Australia in almost every way. I gained valuable knowledge that was unique to that part of the world and experienced a certain way of thinking that was different due to culture, location and history.
The whole exchange experience was incredible so for those considering Leeds I one hundred percent recommend it. For those who have already decided to go to Leeds here are a few tips which might not make a lot of sense now but it will be clear once you are there. Make sure you do an Otley Run, go to Fruity at least once, enjoy a Mediterranean platter at The Clock Cafe in Hyde Park, purchase an Orange sim card for Orange Wednesdays, go to as many gigs as possible - the Cockpit and O2 Academy are sweet for live music. Samba Carnaval at the Faversham, Monday nights are cheap at the Library, go to the Forbidden Corner and spend at least one afternoon walking in the Yorkshire Dales – I suggest a coffee and cake at The Retreat in Grassington also.