A Blog about Education Abroad

Author: timothy

Sandri Smit at KU Leuven in Belgium

Pre-departure:

Leuven, Belgium. My home for 5 months. 13 434km away. What an exciting yet daunting thought!

In the time leading up to my semester abroad, a question that came to mind was “How do I fully prepare for my exchange; packing up my life here in South Africa and starting over in some foreign place for 5 months?” Looking back, I can assure you that the answer to this question is: you can’t. I don’t mean this in a negative light, but you will never really know exactly what to expect in terms of saying your goodbyes, finding your feet in an unfamiliar place, and studying at a university that operates differently to what you are used to. The most important thing to remember prior to and during your exchange is that, IT IS OKAY. If things don’t work out as you planned, don’t worry, because there is always a solution and everything will work out in the end.

The administration process prior to your exchange should not be taken lightly. It requires a lot of time, effort and organisation. It may be discouraging at times, but trust me, it will be worth it in the end. Regarding your visa application: start as early as you possibly can! Especially with the police clearance required for Belgium. At the Belgian Consulate in Cape Town they accept clearance certificates from an agency called Nevetec. I would recommend this service because it will save you a lot of waiting time and effort and will eliminate the inconvenience of using the police services. However, it is a little more expensive. Note that the Consulate in Johannesburg did not want to accept Nevetec certificates.

Another important administrative factor to keep track of is the application dates for the Priority Country Programme. I was lucky enough to receive this scholarship, and it really contributed to the enjoyability of my semester abroad. It allowed me to pay my rent, food and do some travelling. Therefore, my exchange did not cost my parents anything more than what it costed them when I was living In Stellenbosch. The application for this scholarship is quite tedious and requires a lot of effort, but it is 100% worth it.

Applications for KU Leuven’s residences are also important if you would like to live in a student residence. This process is not very complicated. If you are unsure about applying for residence, I would encourage you to do it. My best friends from the exchange were my residence mates and seeing that I lived in the international hallway of my residence, it allowed me to meet and experience people from many different countries and cultures. The rent is also much lower than private accommodation. I can recommend my residence, the American College, as it is situated well, modern on the inside yet very rich in history and architecturally ancient on the outside.

In terms of travelling, I would recommend Emirates for your flights to and from Belgium as they allow 2x 23kg suitcases, as well as a hand luggage bag and a personal item (like a backpack). I found that rolling your clothes takes less space than folding and piling them. Make sure that you have a good raincoat, umbrella and warm jacket. I knew that it would be very cold, but I did not anticipate how much it would rain (almost every day in winter), and how grey it would be. So prepare yourself for not seeing the sun for long periods of time, and consider taking Vitamin D supplements (which I did).

Experience at Host University:

My semester at KU Leuven was one of the best times of my life. Leuven is the perfect town for a student. It is small enough that you do not need to use public transport; everything is accessible by foot or bicycle. Yet it is big enough to offer everything you may need. It is very similar to Stellenbosch in terms of being a “student town.” When the Belgians go home over weekends and holidays, the town is rather quiet. But due to the large international student population, there is always still some events happening over weekends to keep you busy. I recommend that you join the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) as they offer many activities and discounts for international students. A KU Leuven Culture Card is also worth investing in, offering free entry to many cultural events around town. The social and night life in this town is also prominent if you enjoy going out. Seeing that the Stella Artois beer brewery is situated in Leuven, you will definitely get your fair share of Belgian beers in. And, it goes without saying that their fries, waffles and chocolates are not to be missed.

A tour at the Stella brewery

All of this is fantastic, but let’s not forget why you are actually going on exchange: to study. KU Leuven is a world top 50 ranked university and was established in 1425. Therefore, you should really consider yourself privileged if you get the opportunity to study there. I took 5 courses worth 6 ECTS each, namely Digital Marketing, Organisational Behaviour, Industrial Organisation, Capital Investment Policy and Development Economics. Digital Marketing and Development Economics were theory-based courses. Organisational Behaviour and Industrial Organisation involved a lot of group work and presentations, which allowed me to interact with classmates from all around the world and improve my presenting skills. Capital Investment Policy was the most difficult for me, involving some investment-based calculations and theory. Overall, the workload was manageable and the exams actually ended up being easier than I expected. I would say that the standard is quite similar to that of Stellenbosch, perhaps even a little easier. One thing that was a bit difficult to adapt to was the duration of their classes, with each class being two or three hours long.

I did better in the exams than I planned for and expected, managing to get distinctions in all my courses. At KU Leuven they do not write semester tests. You only have to do some assignments and presentations during the semester, and then write the final exams. This is nice as it allows you to travel over weekends, but if you do not work consistently throughout the semester it will put you under a lot of pressure for exams. It was also very strange for me to have to worry about exams over the Christmas holidays. I was fortunate enough to have my family come visit and travel with me for these holidays, so I did not study much during the holidays. Seeing that I still managed to perform well academically, I would say you should make the most of your “winter wonderland Christmas,” and then be prepared to study hard the moment you get back.

Heart-filled winter christmas with some new friends

Throughout the semester I did a lot of travelling over weekends and on free weekdays. This was a highlight of my experience abroad, and I managed to visit 10 countries and 33 towns and cities. If you are diligent and work hard during the week to stay up to date with your academics, this is perfectly possible and if you plan well, you can easily do this on a student budget. Also make use of your International Business classmates, even if you were not close friends with them before. They can be excellent tour guides of their cities and provide you with free accommodation.

There will also be some testing and difficult times during your semester, whether it be missing home, having difficult group members etc. Remember that this is okay; it is part of the experience. Although it may not always be pleasant, it will help you grow and develop as a person and you will learn a lot about yourself in such times.

Return to Stellenbosch:

The end of my exchange and post-exchange experience was more difficult than anticipated. During exams I felt ready to go back home, but as soon as exams were over and my stress was relieved, I wanted to stay longer. I became very close with the people living in my residence, which made saying goodbye really difficult. All of us were in tears after saying goodbye, and I cried all the way to the airport. It was harder for me to say goodbye to them than what my goodbyes in South Africa were, because I don’t know if I’ll ever see them again, and they contributed largely to my incredible exchange experience.

When I got back to South Africa and saw my family waiting for me at the airport, my heart was filled with happiness. I really missed them during my time abroad and it was so good to see them again. But, a while after arriving back home everyone continued with their normal activities and I felt somewhat insignificant. To be honest, it was a bit of an anti-climax. I looked forward to going home for such a long time, and then it ended up being a bit of a let-down. Because I video-called my family often while abroad, I had already told them most of what there was to tell. But the fact remained that I had just returned after 5 months of new experiences and a different way of life, and I didn’t know how to express all of this. It was then that I came to the (obvious) realisation that life continued back here while I was away, and my absence did not influence their course of life.

I was home for a week before coming back to Stellenbosch, during which I had to make the decision of what modules I want to major in this year. Because I did not have a clear preference in any of our previous modules, I found this quite challenging. Readjusting to the heat was also a challenge, going from a maximum of 4 degrees Celsius to 34 degrees Celsius. But I could not complain about it, because it was something I longed for while I was in Belgium.

When I got back to Stellenbosch, it was time for another adjustment. After being in res for three years, I moved into an apartment. I am enjoying it, but I miss the convenience and effortless social life that comes with living in a residence. I was extremely happy to see all of my friends again, but once again I experienced difficulty in expressing my experience. Everyone asks, “How was your exchange?” and then you have to answer them in two or three sentences, which obviously isn’t enough to convey the past five months of my life.

In conclusion, I can definitely say that this exchange was life changing and an experience that I will always cherish. I am considering doing my master’s abroad, but this exchange made me realise that I really love sunny South Africa, and I would not want to live abroad permanently.

February 18, 2020
Lizanne Visser at Vrije Universiteit of Amsterdam in The Netherlands

Pre-departure:

The first 6 months of your exchange year goes by way faster than one thinks. This is, however, a crucial period where most of the planning and administration of your semester exchange is finalised. It is very important to make sure that you have a “game plan” drawn up to ensure you get everything done in time because before you know it, you will be sitting on the airplane, taking advantage of the free wine ready to kick of your semester abroad.

I decided to work towards qualifying for semester exchange from my first year of law after hearing about it from a friend who was leaving on her exchange later that year. So, be aware that your pre-final year marks are what gets you into the exchange programme and you must meet a minimum requirement. At that time, she was in the pre-departure phase and I remember her advising me that if you are not a “list” person now, be sure to acquire that skill before you embark on your “build-up to the exchange”.

The ‘planning’-phase happens on top of a very full final year programme. In this period, you must apply for your VISA and/or passport and secure your accommodation. Deadlines are very important. Get a huge calendar to put on your wall so that you can manage your time effectively between your academic work and your preparation for the exchange. Do this to ensure you do not miss any crucial deadlines that could possibly stifle your exchange prospects.

The first exciting step is finding the right partner university for you. The most important things to keep in mind is your personal interests, your budget, the language, if the host-university provides financial assistance and the accommodation options available. Vrije Universiteit was my first choice from the start. The reason being that they offered courses that fit my background in science and technology. They also offered financial assistance in the form of a “housing stipend”. The reality of the exchange is that it is very expensive. Housing is extremely expensive and scarce in many of the European countries and without the financial assistance offered by the VU, I am not sure I would have been able to take part in the exchange. Another bonus was that the VU helps you find and secure accommodation, something I know not all partner universities do. This really makes the process of finding suitable housing easier. They offer a variety of options that corresponds to your budget.

There are other costs involved that you will be responsible for e.g. your visa and passport application and administration fees to the host institution. In preparation for the costs I decided to take up part-time work for the 6 months I was still in Stellenbosch. In this way I could finance most of the expenses. With regard to the VISA application, VU also assists you with the initial steps of the application. They handle the application from their side and you only submit all the necessary documentation to them through an online portal that guides you step-by-step.

Experience at Host University:

As I indicated above, I chose Vrije Universiteit based on the courses they offered. I chose courses in the area of technology law. The semesters are also structured somewhat differently to ours back home. One semester consists of three periods. In the first period I chose Internet Governance and Robot and Artificial Intelligence. The third course was a master’s course in technology law that stretched over period 1 and 2. An important consideration when choosing your courses (and your host university) is WHEN you return to South Africa. I had to return in January which means I had to take all my courses in period 1 and 2. Period 1 would run from September – October and Period 2 from October – December. In addition, you must also give yourself enough time to be able to do the self-study work for Company law and Law of evidence.

As the names of these courses suggests, the content very relevant and dynamic. Classes are in the form of seminars which means you always need to be prepared and come to class with an informed and defendable opinion. In contrast to classes of 200 students, here you are in a small room with a maximum of 40 students, so at some point you are going to have to speak up or be asked something. Unlike at Stellenbosch, most of the subject matter dealt with in class, is from prescribed academic articles. So, you spend loads of time reading. I found this refreshing and stimulating because you are exposed to many different perspectives on the topics covered. After a period, there is a week of exams where you then “write-off” the particular courses. This structure was very beneficial because it meant after period 1 exams in October, we could solely focus on Law of Evidence and Company Law exams.

VU is a very modern university. The architecture of the buildings is a stark contrast to the Old Dutch style at Stellenbosch. Modern art and sculptures are exhibited all over campus and this provides a very inclusive learning space.

Lizanne cycling through campus

Living in the Netherlands exceeded all my expectations. The moment I got my bicycle (the main form of transport in the Netherlands) you get a sense of independence you cannot easily find in SA. Finding parking or having to pay for parking is never a problem. The fact that a global city like Amsterdam is accessible with a 20 min bike ride still blows my mind. The city is organised and efficient and I will really miss how safe and easy it was to get around in town. Whether by bike or public transport, the city is at your fingertips 24 hours a day. It was one of the most beautiful things biking through the canals of Amsterdam 2 o’clock at night marvelling at the lights and old buildings that surround you. You could either buy a second-hand bike in the Netherlands at a reasonable price or in most of the cities you can rent a bike from “Swapfiets”. A very successful start-up in the Netherlands that rents out bikes and provides you with roadside assistance when you break down or experience difficulties though a simple app on your phone.

Another remarkable aspect of the Netherlands is the fact that you can reach many other European countries with a 3-hour train ride. During my stay I had the privilege of seeing parts of Germany, Belgium and had an incredible weekend in Paris. We mostly made use of a cheap bus service, Flixbus that offer trips to many destinations at very affordable prices.

Lizanne enjoying a cheezing Dutch experience

Return to Stellenbosch:

Experiences like this are not without its own difficulties. I had to get used to living with 11 other people in a house where we had to share facilities. This took me out of my comfort zone. However, I feel this really equipped me for my future as I learned a lot of patience, how to deal with multiple personalities and the importance of effective communication. You experience a lot of individual growth which I think is very important as you embark into the next adult phase of work life.

As my exchange ended, I really looked forward to returning to South Africa. I missed my friends, I missed Häzz and I missed the familiarity of my hometown I love so much. I also had a lot to look forward to upon my return. My adjustment back home was therefore not as challenging as they warned.

At this point in time I am happy with staying in South Africa but the prospects of moving to Europe for a few years is not off the table. Life is about exposing yourself to as much as possible and living abroad opens your eyes and broadens your mind by challenging all your preconceptions of the world. Each country experiences their own difficulties and social issues and by engaging with local people you learn a lot about how these countries function and deal with their respective problems. I believe a semester exchange is very valuable in shaping your opinions about your own home country and really makes you appreciate what you have back home.

I encourage everyone who finds themselves constantly curious about embarking on this wonderful journey. Not only do you get a unique educational experience, the skills you learn go much further than just equipping you for life in the legal world. You come back an informed, well-rounded individual and with new energy to take on the next phase of your adult life.

Lizanne taking her little sister for a night out

February 17, 2020
Stephen Temitope David at Humboldt University of Berlin in Germany

Pre-departure:

I was in Germany for a three month research stay at Humboldt University, Berlin. Berlin is a city of memories, from the intimate blend of the old and new – evident in the way cobblestone roads kiss their much younger, tarred counterparts to constantly remind one of the debris of memory interred in the womb of the city – to the imposing dome of the Bode museum which is sternly guarded by the TV tower at Alexanderplatz, the city presents itself as one huge archive. It is to this magnificent city of cultures and memories that my stay abroad took me. Although I couldn’t visit every part of Deutschland, the whole of Germany – and the world – came to me in bits and exciting pieces in Berlin. More importantly, I couldn’t have picked a better period for my stay; it was right in the heart of summer!

Before leaving Stellenbosch, I and a crop of bright-eyed would-be explorers were taken through a robust course on the demands and pleasures of being ‘glocal’ citizens. We were prepped on how to handle culture-shock and a myriad of other issues (the session was so well resourced that I started thinking Sarah should be moonlighting as a psychologist).

Experience at Host University:

I was hosted by the Institute for Asian and African Studies (IAAW) at Humboldt University Berlin. Beside the high global reputation which the institute enjoys as a Mecca of sorts for African scholars seeking the commune of other scholars of Africa (I met with a truly pan-African cohort of visitors when I arrived), the institute hosts a remarkable crop of students and researchers who are truly passionate about Africa and her epistemologies. My stay in the institute was intellectually nourishing: I presented a chapter of my thesis and got insightful comments and feedback. I also enjoyed the collection of rare books owned by the institute’s library – I wish I had more time to explore the secrets of those shelves.

The University library (Grim library) held even more literary gems, so I made it my home (yes, it’s named after the Grim brothers); I hunted for old books on Unter den linden street, attended seminars at FU Berlin and Haus der Kulturen der Welt – where I met Paul Gilroy (author of The Black Atlantic). But I also found time to drink a new brand of beer with friends after each long hibernation in the capacious womb of the Grim library (Germany has over 5,000 beer brands!); I sat beside the Spree to watch dancers learn new steps under a brightly lit wooden shed which projects images of the dancers onto the river in a cornucopia of colours. Oh, and there was the diver who hopped into the depths of the river from a bridge amidst muffled screams of worry from onlookers, only to clamber up the slippery bank of the river with his hanging belly dripping water as he left the scene laughing. I also visited Dresden where the magnificence, opulence, and consumerism of medieval Europe remains evident despite the destruction wrought on the city by Allied bombing during the second world war. Of course, the scars are still evident, but they feel like battle scars which evidence survival.

Visit in Dresden

Return to Stellenbosch:

Travelling abroad was a truly rewarding experience; I have forged transnational academic networks and friendships that have awoken me to my importance as an interlocutor in global debates and cultures. Also, the different energies birthed in the truly cosmopolitan mix of bodies and cultures of Berlin propelled me through the final but arduous stages of my thesis. In my wanderings around the multiple sites of Berlin’s offerings of knowledge and fun, I might not have found the cure to violence in Africa – as I had set out to do at the ingénue state of my research; but what I did find is that the we are making some progress in telling African stories beyond the worn narrative thread of hunger and privation. I am grateful to Stellenbosch University International Office (SUI especially Sarah) for the support they offered, IAAW at Humboldt University for making my stay truly memorable, and to DAAD for making me feel that my research might be truly important after all.

September 12, 2019