About me
I am studying BSc (Hons) Psychology at Bournemouth University. I chose to study at Bournemouth because I was brought up in London and I wanted to study away from home. Bournemouth was the ideal distance away and had the best course for me. The close proximity to the beach and the town was also a big influence!
I embarked on my exchange during the second semester of my second year at the Memorial University of Newfoundland in Canada.
Application Process
I have always loved travelling and as soon as I heard about the opportunity to study abroad for a semester, I immediately looked into applying. Bournemouth had a large number of worldwide partners, so there was a vast selection of countries to choose from.
The process of applying for the study exchange was challenging as there were a number of tasks to complete and it was hard knowing that only a small number of people would be accepted, so I was very fortunate and surprised that I was chosen!
I chose Canada as it is an English-speaking country and therefore there would be no language barrier and it was reassuring to know that I would be able to communicate with everyone. I knew straightaway what a big learning experience this would be and living in a new country really enhanced my self-development and independence.
The arrival
I was very nervous to be moving to another country for 4 months but as soon as I arrived at the airport I was excited for the new experience. The university provided accommodation very similar to the Bournemouth halls of residence and I was given the names of my roommates ahead of my arrival so I had communicated with them before. They were very friendly and welcoming and were excited that I was from the UK.
Grenfell Campus
Despite the fact that I was situated on the smaller campus outside of the main city St Johns, the staff and students were very welcoming. Grenfell campus had a large number of international students from around the world and I was introduced to a range of cultures. All of the international students met during the orientation day and from this I created an amazing group of friends that I still talk to all the time, they made this experience really special I can’t wait to see them again in the future.
Adjustments I had to make
One adjustment that took a while to overcome was that the campus was situated in a small community and therefore things like the grocery shops and the town centre was further away. Being use to city life where there are endless buses and trains and most things being within walking distance was a big change. To get downtown and closer to the shopping centre we had to take a taxi because the buses were infrequent. However, this was all worth it as we got to explore the area and get used to the community.
A piece of advice that I would have told myself at the start of the experience is to not be as nervous and apprehensive as I was at the beginning. It took me longer to approach the other students and even the Professor’s and I know now that I had nothing to worry about as everyone was very approachable and willing to go above and beyond to help.
Highlights
One highlight of this exchange was experiencing the local Newfoundland traditions such as snowshoeing.
I had never heard of this activity before and the university arranged a snowshoeing trip where we travelled to the mountains and wore special shoes in order to walk through the deep snow. It was really fun and it was an activity that I would never have done.
How Santander helped make my study abroad possible
I was fortunate enough to receive a study grant from Santander to help with my finances during my exchange. The money that I received from the grant I put towards my flight costs and the remaining money on things like souveniers and a ski pass. The grant was really helpful and I can't thank Santander enough to be selected!
Academics
In regards to the academic environment, the courses were very similar to Bournemouth and I chose units that I would have studied in my second semester at Bournemouth so I would not be at too much of a disadvantage in my final year. This included the units of: Social Psychology, Cognitive and Developmental Psychology and a final unit of Research Methods and Statistical Analysis. The class layout and the exams were almost identical to Bournemouth which made me feel more comfortable during the lectures.
The Challenges
Naturally, there were moments where I felt homesick but I had friends that supported me through it. Fortunately, the UK was only three hours behind where I was in Canada which made it very convenient for my family and I to arrange a time to talk.
Another thing that helped me settle in was the exchange co-ordinator at Memorial University. From the first welcoming email, they were really friendly and helpful and by the time I arrived and met them in person it seemed like I already knew them. Throughout my exchange, they would constantly check up on all of the new students and make sure we were settled and even treat us to Tim Hortons during our meetings!
The impact of COVID-19 on my exchange
Unfortunately, my exchange experience was cut a month short due to the Coronavirus pandemic. As a result, I was unable to finish the last few weeks of classes and had to complete my exams online back home in the UK. As soon as the virus started to spread, both my host university and Bournemouth strongly encouraged us to try and return home whilst flights were still available. We were reassured that there would be no academic disadvantages by us returning home early and we were easily able to adapt to finish the semester and complete our final exams.
Why you should study abroad!
Although I was sad to leave my exchange university, I knew that this experience would make my final year at Bournemouth even better. I have become so much more confident in new situations and approaching new people. This experience has been unique and will stand out in future job applications as I can talk about the challenges I had to overcome and the new experiences I had. It has also improved my networking skills and I have made international contacts for the future.
I could not recommend studying abroad enough and if you have the opportunity to do so you should definitely take it, you won’t regret it! Although it may be scary moving to another country temporarily, the new experiences you go through and the people that you meet make it all worth it!