A Blog about Education Abroad

Tag: semester exchange

  • Alexandra at the University of Bologna, Italy

    Alexandra at the University of Bologna, Italy

    Pre-departure:

    The university I had chosen was called the University of Bologna. This is situated in Bologna, Italy. I needed a student visa to study there but that process was relatively quick and easy as long as you make sure you have all the correct documents with you when you go to your visa appointment. Just follow the steps on the Schengen Visa website. My visa took a week, but it can take longer than that usually so plan in advance. Finding accommodation is really difficult for most people going to Bologna so I suggest you do it in advance. Make use of Facebook to find an apartment – the closer to the centre, the better. I rented a flat in a residence called RTM Living Bologna Mover. The staff are really friendly and helpful, and the facilities are great. It is also conveniently located right next to a small mall which has a massive Coop which is where I did most of my food shopping. However, the rental price is quite high, and it is not directly in the centre. It takes about 20 minutes by bus to get to the centre. The bus system is very easy to use, and you can buy a Tper card for 10 euros which then gives you unlimited bus rides for your stay there. Living in the centre, or as close to the centre as possible, would be your best option as most busses stop running at night and it’s much easier to hang out with friends, go for dinners, or go out at night if you can just walk home afterwards. A handy app to download is Taxi Click for calling taxis and Mobike. Mobike is great as you will see a lot of orange bikes around bologna which you can rent with your app and then leave wherever when you’re done using it. Read up about it and use it because it is super easy and convenient.

    Before you leave, I suggest packing in some of your favourite South African snacks as sooner or later you will feel homesick and crave something from home.

    Experience at Host University:

    I couldn’t have chosen a better university/city to attend during my exchange. I had the time of my life. I attended English classes which included: Principles of Management, Introduction to Italian Culture, Innovative Retailing, and Macroeconomics. My two favourite classes were Innovative Retailing and Introduction to Italian Culture. Introduction to Italian Culture can be attended by anyone of any faculty and is a really fun and interesting class to attend. At the end you don’t write an exam, but rather a ten-page paper on an Italian culture topic of your choice. Innovative Retailing was a very interactive and interesting class. I also really wanted to do the Italian language course, but I could not as they only start from level A2 and expect you to already have level A1. I went to Italy having not learnt any Italian beforehand. I recommend studying some Italian and building up that skill so that you have some knowledge to build from and can be accepted into the course. Also, remember to sign up early for the course as the spots can fill up quickly.

    Making friends was quite easy as there are memberships for Erasmus students called Erasmus Student Network (ESN) or Erasmus Land which is basically something you join for about 10 Euros and then you receive a membership card and can then get into clubs and can pay to join the activities and excursions that they host. The membership also gets you awesome discounts such as cheaper RyanAir flights and 20kg luggage if you book 28 days in advance – which you will come to find is a pretty great deal! The Erasmus community is a fantastic way to make friends as you join a WhatsApp group and can meet up with people and get to know some of them. A few days after I arrived, I joined the Whatsapp Group and people were planning to meet by a fountain and I went as well and that’s how I met some of my closest friends. The key is to just involve yourself as much as possible – and that is coming from a girl who is relatively shy.

    Summer/Autumn was really vibey in the centre. There were a lot of live concerts and the town was buzzing. On weekends throughout the year, the main part of the centre is closed off to motorists and the streets become pedestrianised. It is so cute and super fun to walk around. Winter got pretty cold and it sometimes snowed.

    The food is absolutely incredible as one would imagine so I don’t need to add much on that topic – except to try places such as Spacca Napoli and Mercato di Mezzo. Make sure to have a pizza at Spacca Napoli because it is massive, amazing, and cheaper. And make sure to have fresh pasta (I reccommend the spinach and ricotta tortelloni and the Gnocci at Mercato di Mezzo. The gelato was also incredible so make sure to have lots of it!

    The Bologna nightlife is really great. I recommend a bar called Cucchiaio d’Oro which translates to ‘The Golden Spoon’. This is where we would generally meet for drinks as it is fun, fairly cheap, and the bartender was really cool. It was just a fun space to be in. Two of our favourite clubs are Soda Pops and Hobby One. Our favourite study places were ITIT café and Scuderia on Piazza Verdi.
    There are obviously a few iconic things you should definitely see and do in Bologna including: Climbing the Due Torri (Two Towers); Walking up to San Luca; Seven Secrets of Bologna and Walking Tours (Make sure to find out the tale of the 3 arrows), etc.

    I travelled so much around Europe while I was there. Like I mentioned before, you can receive RyanAir discounts and benefits which made travelling so easy. Travelling with friends is great and easy when you can rent an AirBnb and split the price. I suggest making some friends and travelling as much as you can.

    Return to Stellenbosch:

    Returning home after spending 5 months in Italy was exciting but also very hard. I missed my family and friends a lot. But it was really difficult to leave the life and family I had made in Bologna. Once I was home, I felt like everything I had experienced was a dream. I experienced a little bit of PSAD which is Post Semester Abroad Depression, and yes, it is a thing. As much as I was excited to be home, I felt a little bit like my other life was taken away from me, and that was quite hard to deal with. But out of all the things to be sad about, I am grateful that it was about missing the country and the people that had made such an impact on my life. I’m so grateful for the experience that I had. I definitely recommend going on exchange to the University of Bologna!

  • Marianca at Reutlingen University, Germany

    Marianca at Reutlingen University, Germany

    If you have ever wondered whether it is good idea to do an semester exchange abroad, let me tell you – there is nothing to wonder about, it is a must do! As most other students studying at Stellenbosch University, I absolutely love it. I have great friends, walking down Victoria street is one of the most beautiful views one will ever have and it is just a good old student town with a “lekker” vibe. So why would I want to leave all of this behind to go to another university, not even in South Africa, but a country abroad? This puzzled me for quite a while, but in the end I decided to take a leap of faith and commit to doing a semester exchange in Germany at the ESB Business School of Reutlingen University.

    Pre-departure:

    First of all, I cannot stress enough the importance of admin related to planning a semester abroad, and we all know: no visa = no travel. So if you are planning on doing a semester exchange, it is important to consider all your options and decide on the most suitable exchange for you. This is of course bearing in mind what you want to achieve during your semester abroad. Is it for academic reasons, just to travel of a little mixture of both? After this, all the paperwork starts. It is important to take note of all the required documents from both the International Offices of Stellenbosch University as well as your host university. And also be sure to meet all the required deadlines. It becomes a juggle between university administration and then visa application requirements, as one often needs documentation from your host university in order to be able to apply for your student visa.
    It is important that you make sure you are aware of all the documentation required by the consulate of the country you are planning to visits, as it might differ and some are stricter than others. And I cannot stress enough how important it is to start this process as early as possible, just as a prerequisite to avoid unwanted stress before you leave (P.S. I got my visa one day before my flight departed and I can tell you, it was stressful). I have found the website of the German consulate quite helpful, except the details regarding the financial requirements that will allow me to stay in Germany for 6 months. It is important to fully understand all the detail surrounding the requirements and if you are not 100% sure, just call and ask for assistance rather than rocking up for your visa appointment, leaving disappointed and having to go back for another appointment because of insufficient documentation. And while we are on this topic, make sure you have 2 copies of all the required documents just in case (and usually the information provided by the consulate will state how many of each document is required for the visa application process). Also, before leaving South Africa, make sure all your travel documents is backed up on the cloud.

    Flight bookings can also be quite a challenges, as they often cost a pretty penny. My advice is to check flights online every day well in advance of your expected departure date. You will easily pick up the trend of flight costs and be able to spot a good one when you see it. It is important to note that airlines have different limits to the amount of baggage and the weight of baggage allowed. Keep this in mind when planning what you going to pack.
    Visiting Europe during winter can be quite challenging, as the weather is completely different than South African winter weather. Be sure to prioritise the clothing you are planning on taking along, as I have realised I have packed way to much clothing items. Important to note that layering of clothes is the way to go when traveling to Europe during winter, as most building have heating inside and even though it is freezing cold outside, once you enter a building you often overheat if dressed too warmly.

    My time abroad:

    Being in a foreign country for 6 months is not always just fun and games, especially with a bit of a language barrier! So my first advice would be, know a few basic German words that can help you to get your way around.
    Being from South Africa, I think the thing that was really the greatest but also challenging to get used to was the public transport system. It is a very convenient (not always the cheapest) way to get around and most important routes are covered. Longer distances can easily be travelled by train or a cheaper option would be the Flix bus. However, since the day I have arrived I have always caught myself running to catch the train or bus. So be sure that you know what time the connection is you want to take and also make sure you know where you have to be (i.e. the station bay or platform number). In Reutlingen, the semester transport ticket is quite useful as it allows you to take all busses and train for free within the region, everyday all day. This was a useful tip I got from some local students I met when moving into the dormitory where I stayed. This brings me to my next point – make new local friends as soon as possible. This is quite useful when settling in as they provide good tips on where to buy the things you need and they often also share some other useful tips.

    Dorm life was great! I don’t know about you, but I have been in res for 3 years in Stellenbosch and coming to Germany the accommodation setup works completely different. I lived in a dormitory with 7 floors, each floor accommodating 18 people. Most challenging thing – we shared one kitchen. Living with 17 other people from all around the world (including Pakistan, Bangladesh, USA, Malaysia and Australia) as well as local Germans gave me the opportunity to get to know so many new people, all having different culture and learning me so much about life. Even though it was sometimes challenging to live with so many people, I have made great friends and will not trade this experience for anything in the world.  On a more academic note: Reutlingen is a hochschule, which means it is more orientated on applied sciences and industry focus. Most people completing their full time studies here have to do a compulsory semester exchange of some sort and also work within their respective industry during their studies. All my lectures were offered in English, and as it was on masters level, the classes were quite small (around 8-12 people). All the courses are very industry orientated and really helped me to expand my academic views and knowledge. Another useful add-on was the German course I enrolled in. Even though it was just German A1.1 (which is the easiest and most basic German course), it was really helpful to learn a bit more German as I could understand a lot more during German conversations and I was even able to speak some German here and there.

    There is never a dull moment when you are abroad as there is always something to do or a place to see. Reutlingen itself is a very centrally located town, as it is near to Stuttgart, Munich is easily accessible as well as the Alps and the Black Forest. There are a few shops and pubs to visit and Tübingen, which is only 10 minutes by train, has a great night life. As for daily activities, Reutlingen is great for sports and nature. It has a sports park located directly behind the hochschule. Here you find some nice running/walking routes and even a forest exercise trail. Doing sports during cold winter months can be quite a challenge, but having great scenery makes it worth it. The best time was during autumn, as the whole forest turns into a colourful scene of beautiful reds and oranges – the most beautiful thing I have ever seen! Germany is also known for all its castles (schloss in German), which is great for sightseeing when visiting German town. I must say, my favourite was definitely Schloss Heidelberg as the castle’s ruin towers majestically above the rooftops of the old town.

    Of course winter is exciting too, I mean seeing snow falling for the first time creates huge excitement. I can truly say that being in a totally different winter climate than we have in South Africa was great. Just remember to grab some gloves, a pair of good leather boots and a warm jacket when going out in the snow. Winter time in Europe is also a great opportunity to try out skiing or snowboarding. They say: “Skiing is easy to learn, but hard to perfect. Snowboarding is hard to learn, but easier to perfect”. However, I tried skiing and it was not that easy to perfect, but surely a lot of fun and one of the best sporting experiences I have had. There are a lot of ski resorts located within the Black Forest region as well as towards the Austrian border, where one find the Alps. Depending on your level of competency, there are resorts that are cheaper but have easier slopes and vice versa. For beginners, smaller resorts are perfect and one can hire all skiing equipment at the resorts.

    One cannot come to Europe and not travel. Doing a semester exchange is a great opportunity to see more of Germany as well as other European countries. I had a great time traveling to France and also spend my time here to see more of Germany. If you are in Germany over the Christmas period, all the Christmas markets are a must do! There is a Christmas market in almost every town, some bigger than the other. It is truly a great experience – small stalls with authentic German food, some sweet treat and of course glühwein which is basically hot wine with some spices in and a perfect hot drink when strolling through the Christmas market in the freezing cold weather.

    Reflection:

    Completing a semester exchange abroad was truly one of the most amazing and exhilarating experiences. It has made me grown on so many levels – my academics, my character, my “street knowledge” and many more. I have proved to myself that I can adapt to a different lifestyle, connect with people from different cultures and most of all, I have established just hope lucky I am to be a South African. Experiencing Europe was wonderful, but 6 months away from home, away from my family and friends and everything else that is dear to me, made me realise how privileged I am to live in South Africa and study at Stellenbosch University.
    Never be scared to broaden you horizon and experience the world in a different perspective – take a leap of faith and apply for an exchange semester abroad!

  • Francois at KU Leuven, Belguim

    Francois at KU Leuven, Belguim

    Pre-departure:

    Francois and friends holding the South African flag
    Francois and friends holding the South African flag

    Before I start, there is one thing that should be understood by anyone thinking about going on exchange…you’re going to have to do A LOT of admin during pre-departure. It is thus important that you prepare yourself for it and listen to Sarah to stay within deadlines. I thought Stellenbosch University organises everything for you and you just have to go show your face for your visa application, but boy was I wrong.

    After doing all the motivation letters and videos required by Stellenbosch University and being accepted to one of your chosen partner universities (which was KU Leuven in Belgium in my case), you have to get a few things in order before you can make an appointment for you visa application. These include police clearance and the booking of your flight ticket, amongst others. I just name these two since I deem them to be the most time consuming and important.

    With regards to the plane tickets, I recommend that you start looking as soon as possible. There are a lot of different platforms where you can enter the dates you wish to fly out and return on, indicating that you would like to receive notifications when the prices are low. Or when there are one-night specials. Examples of such platforms are Cheapflights.com and Facebook. I got lucky with a weekly student special at Qatar Airways when I started looking, leading to me paying half the amount than some of my peers. I don’t know how it works with other consulates, but at the Belgian consulate you can’t apply for your visa without having a plane ticket. And since you should already be applying for your visa 2 months before departure, I recommend that you get on that computer ASAP and start looking for cheap flights. Once you start paying in Euros, you will be glad that you saved some money on your flight tickets. Europe is NOT cheap!

    With regards to the police clearance, you should note that it is a very time-consuming process since they first have to send it to Pretoria for approval and then courier it back again. I nearly didn’t get mine in time, leading to a lot of unnecessary stress. So, get on that ASAP as well!
    The visa application is fairly straight forward. Just make sure you have all the necessary documentation (which is clearly indicated on their website) and that you make your appointment within 2 months before your departure. After all of this is done, it’s time to start packing! Europe really is very cold in the winter, so make sure you pack a very thick jacket. I bought a snow jacket before departure, and I have never been fonder of anything in my life, especially when I went to Russia. Besides for all the warm clothes you should pack, I would also recommend taking some summer clothes as it was still quite hot in the first few weeks after I landed in Belgium. So, pack those shorts and plakkies, but don’t be alarmed when you receive a few curious looks. Plakkies certainly isn’t as popular in Belgium as in Stellenbosch!

    Experience at the Host University:

    Upon arrival in Leuven, you will obviously experience various emotions, and everything will be very exciting. KU Leuven has an extremely comprehensive welcoming program, and I will recommend that you try to attend as many events as possible. One event that you certainly can’t miss, is the pub crawl on the first night of orientation week. It is here where I met almost all the people who stuck with me throughout my exchange experience.

    Francois and Alexandra
    Francois and Alexandra

    Alexandra (also studying Bcom International Business at Stellenbosch University) and I went a few days before orientation week to get our affairs in order, and during this time, we met up with a South African called Pieter. He showed us around and answered some of the many questions we had, proving to be a big help and helping us to settle in nicely in a more informal manner. He is busy with his third year of medical school at KU Leuven, but still goes home to South Africa over holidays. If you’re thinking about going to KU Leuven, I definitely recommend that you meet up with him (I can give you his number). He is always keen to go drink a beer with some South Africans and help out where he can.

    The student clubs in Leuven also hosts cantus, which was one of my highlights. For €15, Stella Artois provides unlimited beer and you can enjoy the night with fellow students singing folksongs, including many South African songs. Me and Pieter had to go stand in the front of the cantus of about 200 people and sing along to the song Sarie Marais, which was quite a humbling experience. Before I get to the academics, another big tip is ESN membership. This is an absolute no brainer, since you get amazing deals for only €15 once off. These include great traveling specials, which is vital, since traveling quickly becomes very expensive. You will find their stall at Pangea during welcoming.

    Then, academics (since that is the main reason for going on exchange). Since only 2/3’s of your subject choices has to be related to our course, I decided to take subjects I find interesting and which wouldn’t be too time consuming, since I had big traveling plans. I thus chose two history subjects, one subject which only required an open book test and debates (Organisational Behaviour), another which we only had to do 3 projects and debates (no exam) and then one master subject (International Business Strategy) to challenge me a bit. This allowed me to brush up on my debating skills, as well as learning a bit about European history and human behaviour, all whilst leaving enough time for travel.

    Upon comparing the standard of Stellenbosch University courses to the exchange courses at KU Leuven, one thing became very clear. Stellenbosch University really does have impeccable, world class academic standards. KU Leuven is rated much higher that Stellenbosch University on World Rankings, but in many situations the work was much less challenging. The group projects are also much smaller and less time consuming. One thing that was more difficult was their metric system, since the exams only counted out of 20 marks, and they indicated the required depth of your answer by lines, not marks. The subjects I took also placed a big importance on debates and debating skills, which is something I haven’t learned that intensely at Stellenbosch University.

    With regards to traveling all I can say is do as much as you possibly can. It is so cool to see all the different places and see how the different cultures goes about their daily lives. I am going to need a lot more than 500 words to tell you about all my traveling. So, if you want some traveling tips or just hear how it was, you can contact me.

    Francois and freind riding horses in a desert
    Francois and friend riding horses in a desert

    Return to Stellenbosch:

    I believe that my return to South Africa was less emotional than some of my peers. The reason for this is because by parents and some of my best friends came to visit over the December holidays, meaning that the amount of time we didn’t see each other was halved. This definitely helped with the missing of loved ones and contributed to my exceptional exchange experience.

    It was, however, so strange to return to South Africa and see everyone again. After I recovered from the jetlag and first few nights out (and caught up on all the gossip obviously), things started to return to normal for me, or at least as close to normal as it is going to get. This is understandable as I had this great, eye opening experience whilst all my friends went about their normal lives as always. It was very comforting to learn that things don’t change whilst you’re overseas. It is, however, important to note that I stayed in touch with (almost) everyone through WhatsApp messages and video calls. I believe it is extremely important to stay in touch with friends and family whilst abroad, even though you’re going to have SO MUCH things going on. Take the time to reply that message or make that call.

    One thing that has become abundantly clear after my exchange experience, is my love for South Africa. It really is such a beautiful country with the best, friendliest and most accommodating people I have ever met. Since we grew up here, we take everything South Africa has to offer for granted and we focus on the problems. My exchange experience taught me that every country has its problems and South Africa is no different. We have such a wonderful country and it is sad to see people immigrating overseas in search of greener fields. When taken into account that I visited 9 countries and 19 cities in my time abroad, I feel that it’s safe to say that this is an educated opinion based on a lot of different experiences.

    Don’t get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed my time abroad and all the life experiences I gained, and I regret nothing. But my exchange did influence my future plans in some ways. I now know that I DEFINITELY don’t want to immigrate or even go work overseas for an extended period of time. I guess it’s safe to say that my experience made me even more patriotic towards my country than I was before. This doesn’t mean that I will never go abroad again. Europe is still a beautiful place and there is so many places I still want to see. I would, however, never again go to Europe in the winter for holiday. The only way I will go back to Europe in the winter is if my job requires me to do so one day or if I go do my post-grad there next year. But the jury is still out on that one. For now, I am just enjoying everything South Africa has to offer to the fullest.