My name is Kai, and I currently study international relations as my degree at Surrey. I took the opportunity provided by the University of Surrey to go on a year abroad as an exchange student at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia. I studied a range of modules different to my degree such as psychology, business etc., which I really enjoyed. I chose Melbourne because it is known for its strong academic reputation as well as wanting to live a unique experience in a city that is consistently ranked as one of the most liveable cities in the world. 

One of the main reasons that I think Surrey students should consider studying abroad is the chance to immerse themselves in a different culture from a once in a lifetime opportunity and experience studying in a foreign country. Living in Melbourne allowed me to experience Australian culture first-hand, from the laid-back lifestyle to the diverse scene. The exchange really helped me grow as a person and academically, whilst also enhancing my global outlook and adaptability in new environments.  

I was fortunate to receive a scholarship from the Santander grant* that Surrey offers as well as Turing.  These grants significantly eased my financial burden which allowed me to focus more on my studies and fully enjoy the experience without constantly having to worry about expenses. So I would recommend future students also looking into these grants. 

For future students planning on attending the same host university, I would highly recommend thoroughly researching accommodation options. I found my housing through Swinburne’s accommodation website where any student attending the university can apply. The University’s accommodation is on campus, so it only takes around 5-10mins by foot to attend classes depending on where the classroom is. Therefore, staying in an accommodation on campus is very convenient. The area where the classes and accommodation are, is also very peaceful and filled with many different shops and cafes which makes it a nice area to live as it is all within walking distance.  

I would also recommend being prepared for the structure of the workload such as assignments as it is different to Surrey. I would say that there are many more exams or assignments compared to Surrey however, the word count is much shorter which makes up to be a similar amount of overall work needed to be done in general compared to Surrey University.  

The environment of Swinburne University in Melbourne was such a nice, friendly and laid-back environment which is something I will really miss once I come return to the UK. I made lifelong friends with memories I will cherish forever and extremely grateful for all the support and opportunity Surrey has provided for this year abroad so, I would recommend this experience to anyone seeking a year abroad experience as an exchange student.

*Please note that Santander grants are no longer available to students going abroad but there are other scholarships and bursaries that students can apply for. See the Funding page for more information.