Emma Lewis, Bachelor of Business/Laws
University of Leeds, United Kingdom (Semester 2, 2017)
Living overseas was something that I always wanted to do but I just was not sure when I wanted to do it. The student exchange program through QUT gave me the opportunity to take this step whilst also being supported by the QUT Global team with specialist knowledge of overseas university courses and accommodation. I chose the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom as my host university based on the glowing recommendations of my friends who had attended this university in the past. My cousin, who has not lived in Australia for over 10 years, also lived nearby in Harrogate and I wanted to be able to spend time with her and her young family.
I chose to use my four general electives within my law degree in order to study overseas. This meant that I was able to undertake any subject (within certain parameters) so long as I have not and will not complete equivalent subjects in my degree at QUT. As I wanted to expand my academic horizons, I sought to do subjects that I would not normally be exposed to at home. I did three subjects at Leeds (a full course load) including Medieval Literature, Britain and the EU and 20th Century British History. These may be perceived as left-field choices but they greatly benefited my understanding of British political culture and hot topic issues in international affairs.
In Leeds, I lived in an apartment with four other international students who were studying at the same university. We were from all different corners of the globe – Australia, Denmark, Norway, United States and Chile. We shared our favourite meals, music and TV shows with each other and became such close friends. It was only a five minute walk to class from my apartment and that was a blessing, especially when the days got even more cold and dark. There is a vibrant student culture on campus with events, markets and sports games on every week. The student union also organised regular trips around the country which I would encourage anyone to take advantage of!
During this experience, I traveled Europe and saw places that once only existed in pictures. It expanded my world view and exposed me to the most interesting people who have continued to shape the way I perceive different cultures. From my little bubble in Brisbane, I opened myself up to all the beauty and history of the UK and beyond. Exchange provided me with a rich education which extended further than academics alone. I believe I returned as a more well-rounded, resilient and passionate individual ready to take on the next stage of my professional career.
