Program at UQ: Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical)
Deciding to go on exchange for the 3rd/4th year of my chemical engineering degree has possibly been one of the best and most rewarding experiences of my life. I’ve enjoyed becoming a more independent person and meeting people from many different countries, as well as having the opportunity to study in London at one of the top universities in the world, Imperial College.
Studying abroad has provided me with the chance to take subjects which aren’t available at UQ, e.g. Nuclear Chemical Engineering. It’s also been beneficial to experience two different academic institutions. In many respects Imperial College and UQ are quite similar; however, Imperial College is more theoretical than UQ and a lot of the assessment is exam based. Additionally, as I was taking 2nd, 3rd and 4th year subjects I did have quite a few lecture clashes, so it did make learning the content quite challenging. Apart from these few things though, I found that I settled into uni life fairly quickly.
London is certainly an amazing city to live in and the first thing that struck me was the public transport system, it really does put Brisbane’s one to shame! I’ve loved being immersed in such a historical and cultural city, where there always seems to be something going on. By being in London, you’re also only a short trip away from places like Bath, Canterbury Cathedral, Hampton Court Palace and Leeds Castle. And whilst I haven’t done much travelling outside of London I have taken the opportunity to visit a variety of museums and art galleries as well as seeing lots of musicals and plays performed on the West End. Throughout my time here I’ve also met some wonderful people, both fellow exchange students (some even from Australia) and Imperial College students. Everyone has been really kind and welcoming, and made this exchange one of the most enjoyable things that I’ve ever done.