Every aspect of the Exchange experience is one that cannot be traded for anything.  Studying in Boulder, Colorado for one semester was one of the best experiences of my life - my only regret is that I didn't stay for two semesters!  Nothing compares to the chance to study at another university, in a different country, living on campus, getting involved in the student life and having the opportunity to live in a bona fide university town. 

 

In between studying, I jumped at every opportunity to see different parts of the US, organizing road trips and even making it to Mexico!  I loved getting involved in the American college atmosphere, attending all the football games, celebrating Halloween, snowboarding in the nearby Rocky Mountains and experiencing my first white Christmas.  My academic experience at the University of Colorado even influenced my decision to transfer from an Arts degree to an Arts/Science degree when I returned to UNSW.

 

 

 

I was an exchange student at Purdue University, West Lafayette in America for one semester and the experience was simply fabulous.
 
Being a professional flight student at UNSW, I had a chance at Purdue University to fly my very own carbon fibre rocket that we made in class, as well as to talk to an astronaut who had done space walks. Moreover, I had the chance to meet up with people who are a part of aviation history, of which I think is remarkable.
 
Going to the other side of the globe may sound frightening at first - but never again. During the course of exchange, I have been to Hong Kong, Los Angeles, New York and Chicago - all on my own. Going on exchange did not only provide me with an excellent opportunity to study in another university; it has also provided me with a very valuable opportunity to see the world differently. I have met a lot of new friends from all over the world - including America, China, Germany, Japan, Khuzestan, Korea, Netherlands, Poland and more - literally from all over the world.
 
Being an exchange student has been an important chapter of my life. It is something that you would definitely not want to miss as a part of your university life. I am very glad that I took part in the programme and I would like to say a big thank you to the UNSW International Exchange Programme.

 

 

 

Studying a degree as specialised as 'Photovoltaics and Solar Energy Engineering' meant that I didn't have as many choices in a Spanish speaking country. It was Madrid or Valencia and Valencia is on the coast!  It also hosts 'Las Fallas', the biggest party in Spain in terms of pyrotechnics and tax-payers money.
 
Valencia is definitely a fun place to go to as an exchange student - Polytechnic University of Valencia boasts the largest intake of exchange students in Europe and it has an awesome nightlife. There are an amazing variety of activities to get involved in and you will soon discover that socialising is very popular there. Valencia's reputation means that there is huge population of exchange or Erasmus students and in Valencia you'll find a lot of Erasmus friends, social activities and Spanish Apartments.
 
So go to Valencia if you too can't bear the cold and/or you want a fun international experience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was not sure what to expect when I chose to go to Taiwan for my one year exchange as part of my Bachelor of International Studies. I had been to China and many countries in South East Asia before but none of these places compare with Taiwan.

 

I stayed in Taipei for a year and studied at National Taiwan University (NTU). The University has a beautiful campus with palm trees and historical buildings. Established as the first university in Taiwan, NTU has the most comprehensive educational resources and is playing an essential part in Taiwan's progress. NTU has more than 30,000 students and about 100 exchange students every semester. As an exchange student you get to know the other exchange students very quickly, creating lasting friendships and your own small community within NTU. I had a blast meeting so many people from all around the world and participating in the social activities every week-end. Restaurants are very affordable in Taiwan so you find yourself eating out every night.

 

Taiwan is a very different and interesting place. The people are so nice and welcoming. The environment is very tropical so the sceneries around the island are spectacular. Taipei is a busy and fast paced city influenced by China, Japan and the USA. Nowhere else in the world can you find a place where people speak and write traditional Chinese as well as being fluent in English. Taiwan or should I say Formosa is the place to be in North East Asia and it is a great base to discover and travel around the region. I travelled to Korea and a lot of my friends also went to other countries such as Japan and the Philippines. Make sure you don't miss out on such a unique and amazing opportunity.