Bachelors of Commerce/Laws
Back at home, I always wanted to do an exchange study overseas and to see what is like to live and study abroad. I decided to go to the UK to the University of Manchester since it is a very reputable institution. Now looking back at the days I spent in Manchester, it involved a mixture of feelings, but it was a life defining experience which I would recommend to any students who have the courage to explore the outside world.
The University of Manchester offers a very good and comprehensive orientation program, so it is very easy to find your way around and get settled in early. The international student society here also provides a range of activities and support to overseas students, and they have different groups travelling to various parts of the country throughout the semester. I did most of my commerce part of my degree at the Manchester Business School. The teaching method was very similar to UQ, but some of the courses didn’t have tutorials every week so it required a bit more self-discipline. However, the teaching support was very helpful and most of the staff can be easily accessed.
Manchester is a great city, it is very student orientated. There are loads of shops and restaurants and most of them open late at night. The night life here in Manchester is second to none, there are plenty of great bars and clubs near the university. And of course, if you are a mad soccer fan, Manchester and the UK is definitely not a place to be missed. The students and people here were very easy to talk to, so making friends in a short time was not a problem.
The other good thing about coming to Europe is the opportunity presented to travel and experience different cultures. During the holiday times here, I travelled to many countries on a relatively low budget. It is great that in Europe, countries are so close to each other and yet they are all distinctively unique in character.
Studying abroad is a valuable way to improve as a person. It is not simply just a holiday overseas, but rather it is a life learning curve, be it bitter or sweet, in the end you won’t regret it!
Tips:
1. Definitely get a bus/train/underground pass as early as possible, the public transport is very efficient here.
2. Go and watch a live football game inside a stadium, the sheer atmosphere is stunning.
3. Plan early for travelling to get cheap fares (some of the air fares can be ridiculously cheap, i.e. with Easyjet, Ryanair, if purchased early). Get a student’s/young adult’s train pass if travelling by rail.
4. Don’t bring too many clothes with you. None of the jackets in Australia are warm enough for the winter here. There are plenty of shops that sell good clothes for a very cheap price. The fashion here in Europe is much better!
5. Have a pint in a local British pub and go have a chat with the Poms – not to be missed!