My name is Max, and I am an undergraduate, studying International Relations at the University of Surrey. The university I attended on my study exchange was the University of Central Florida, which is located in Orlando, USA. I decided to go on this exchange because I always like to put myself in unfamiliar territories, meet new people and learn new cultures. 

How did the workload compare to your workload at the University of Surrey?

The workload was different, in my experience it was that at UCF there were a lot more frequent tests/assignments than at Surrey, mostly weekly, however varying from module to module.

Were there any other opportunities/trips you really enjoyed?

Yes definitely! Forever it was one of the things on my bucket list to visit New York, and I finally did it. Flying from Orlando to New York is a lot shorter and a lot cheaper therefore it was a no brainer for me to go and visit the city that never sleeps. 

Overall, did you find it was more or less expensive than living in Surrey?

Grant funding was unbelievably useful in helping me purchase the essentials for this exchange such as books, flights, insurance, visa, etc…  It helped to put the weight off my shoulders because the things listed above are incredibly expensive.  

Money wise, Orlando wasn’t that much different to Surrey, accommodation, food and transport were all similar in pricing. However, there were a lot more attractions, such as Disney and Universal, which do cost a fair bit, so overall I definitely spent more than what I would if I lived in Surrey, but that is just due to there being more things to do and experience, not with the actual living cost. 

Why should Surrey students take advantage of the opportunity to go on a study exchange abroad?

I truly believe this past exchange year has been one of the best years of my life, both academically and socially. I had already been in contact with one other student who was coming to UCF from Surrey now and I only encouraged them to go there, because of how great of an experience it was for me. Study exchange allows you to get acquainted with a completely different way of learning than what you’re used to at Surrey and the amount of people you meet from different cultures and backgrounds is mind blowing.