By Reuben Kerbes, Features Subeditor
Three years can often feel like a regrettably short time at university, and many students will be considering the decision to take a year abroad across the globe. This can serve as a pivotal milestone in a student’s life journey and can lead many to make more expansive, adventurous decisions about their future.
But is it all that it’s cracked up to be? Is the time, energy, and change worth the experience?
Epigram spoke to students who are currently undergoing or have finished their time away - to further investigate their experiences of the fabled year abroad.
Some students felt a notable separation from their home life, a feeling that may seem obvious but can stick with you throughout the year. In conversation with Ilona, a fourth-year Liberal Arts student who studied in Seattle for her third year, she told Epigram that there ‘were always moments when you miss friends and family.’
Lottie, a third-year Physics student, currently studying in Copenhagen, found that assimilating to the culture and way of life and language has been difficult, explaining that everything was very different, but ‘different in a really good way.’
Adjusting to life in a different country can be hard, but it has the potential to be an incredibly rewarding task, opening new opportunities and outlooks on culture. For Ilona, being in a new school environment was ‘really refreshing’, with new foods, a new city, and new cultural phenomena like the American football games, making a massive impact on her social skills and confidence. Whilst she said that the very beginning can be ‘quite overwhelming’ and the idea of making a whole new set of friends and effectively being a ‘fresher’ again was scary, the whole experience gave her new confidence when approaching unfamiliar social situations.
‘It’s a really good confidence boost doing a year abroad, now in a scenario where I didn't know anyone I would have been okay, but if you had asked me a year ago I'm not so sure.’ - Ilona Hoffmann, fourth-year, Liberal Arts
Similarly, Lottie found that ‘people make a place’ and meeting new and interesting people outside of the UK has been the biggest positive during her year abroad. It also helped her learn to relax, taking a break from the super-competitive, fast-paced nature of her physics course back in Bristol. She says ‘I have much more autonomy on everything [...] I can finally chill.’
Abbie, a third-year Politics student found that ‘taking a step out of “normal” university life gives so much perspective.’ With academic validation and pressure surrounding grades being such an integral part of university, having a break is ‘so important.’
When asked about a key piece of advice for those thinking about or preparing to go on a year abroad, the resounding line was: say yes to everything, don't isolate yourself, and make the most of it. Lottie agreed, but she also holds one more piece of great advice, ‘It can be easy to want to do everything in the city straight away, but take your time, you have the whole year.’
In terms of destinations, you can’t really go wrong, everywhere will have something for someone, however a key thing to remember is to choose a location that interests you. For Ilona, it was the American sports patriotism that enamored her, but for Lottie, it was the ease of returning from Copenhagen for holidays that won her over.
Studying abroad is a popular option for many students and for good reason. If you’re considering spending a period of your studies in another country, this process can be a little daunting, but it’s not impossible if you’ve already enrolled in a course that does not offer study abroad.
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The University of Bristol Study Abroad web page offers lots of useful information depending on your specific situation. Personal tutors can be a crucial source of information and support if you’re looking to get out of the country, so if there’s a specific question you have that’s not answered on the Bristol University page, they’re your best bet.
Wherever you go, it’ll be a success, it all just depends on what your priorities and interests are. Push yourself out of your comfort zone, don’t be afraid to do new things, and above all else - enjoy it.
Featured Image: Epigram / Ilona Hoffmann
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