Virgo – Sheffield Hallam University, School of Business
Semester 1 2024
Bachelor of Business (PR)/ Fine Arts (Drama)
Hi! I’m Virgo and I recently completed a semester abroad at Sheffield Hallam University and loved every second! I have always wanted to travel the world, and this was the perfect way to experience new cultures and get a taste into travelling while also understanding what it’s like to ‘live’ in a new country.
Preparation for the trip
Preparation was definitely one of the hardest parts, including saving money! My biggest tip would be to save, save, save! I took about $25,000 and could have easily had more. It got me what I wanted, and it worked well but England, especially, is more expensive than it looks. It costs a lot to set up your place (and your life). I also prioritized travelling, as I went travelling for three months after! If you are not travelling as long, you don’t need as much!
All the paperwork and applications can be time consuming, but it is soooo worth it! Also make sure you do your own research into the town and places you want to see before the trip. I made a list of places I wanted to see and activities I wanted to do to make sure I didn’t miss anything.
Studying in Sheffield
Sheffield was a great place if you want to live that ‘uni’ lifestyle in England. It had an awesome (and cheap) nightlife (Wednesday nights were uni night and let me tell you the 2-pound double shot vodka red bulls were a hit for everyone!). It was so nice to explore the peak district and go on hikes around all the lovely greenery and mountains.
The weather was a major shock with most days when we got there being 0 degrees (bring layers!). They have some great stores so also bring room in your suitcase (I made this mistake and had to send 8 kilos home). But by April, it was getting warmer, and we would often picnic in the parks and go for long walks around farms.
Accommodation
We opted for the accommodation suggested by the university and trust me do this! It wasn’t the greatest of places, but every study exchange student chose the same – Charlotte Court Accommodation – and it meant the common room was the place to be. We would catch up for pool and drinks in the common room and there was always someone there. A few friends chose other places which meant they would have to always uber there and back if we had an event on.
Making friends
I instantly made friends with another Australian from Melbourne as we bonded over the bad English coffee and then I met two Canadians, two French girls and a Swedish girl and we were all best friends. We would always go to flat 47 and have drinks or play games or have movie nights and it was always so much fun. We were friends with all the other exchange people and would have parties and would all go to university together or the pub. As everyone wanted to make friends and experience new things, it was so easy to make friends. I was surprised as my friends mainly consisted of the other study abroad students and I only had a few English friends. I wouldn’t change it for the world, the friendships I made were amazing and I am already planning a trip to Canada to go visit my friends!
Activities and Student life
My group of friends were always down to do everything, and we would try all types of things. We went to comedy nights, beer festivals, mini golf, hikes, day trips to English towns and much more. I highly recommend trying anything someone suggests, no matter if you like it or not. It was interesting and we got to see different parts of England.
Travelling
Travel! Travel! Travel! One of the best parts of study abroad was getting to see lots of places. I had planned to do a euro summer after (which I highly recommend) and got to visit places like Italy, France, Greece and more! It was perfect and you can be ready for Sem 2 after having the perfect summer!
We also travelled in the semester with the friends we made to France and Spain. A few of us were not going home for Easter so we decided to go to a small beach town called Sitges. We got a nice Airbnb and had the best week, doing easter egg hunts, going to the beach and having Aperols on the rooftop. I never thought I would go to Spain with 3 people I had only known 2 months, but it was one of the best trips of my life. I highly recommend travelling with the people you meet and saying YES to every opportunity that came along.
Homesickness
One of the biggest surprises for going on exchange was the homesickness and challenges I faced. I was constantly told it was the best trip of your life and you will love it every second so when I started to feel homesick, I thought it wasn’t normal. But it is! There were days where I would just want to see my family or cuddle my dog or go to my friends 21st. And that was hard but it really helped having other people going through the same thing. All of the exchange students would talk about it and I never felt alone. It was also a big challenge moving to a country I had never been to, sorting out university and finding my way around. I had some days where I wouldn’t know where I was and would try and get home safely (I always worked it out). It was hard but it was so rewarding and after this trip, I believe I can do anything!
Advice
Leave room in your suitcase, you will buy lots!
Bring more money than you think, life is expensive, especially with no income.
You will be homesick but make sure to plan catch ups with friends and coffee to help.
Plan and research everything – being prepared really does help.
Choose the accommodation the uni provides and make sure its walking distance to everything. Location is everything.
Find out how you can apply for exchange via the QUT Student Exchange website