Poppy – University of Leeds
Semester 2, 2024
Bachelor of Business / Bachelor of Communication
Okay, firstly, do exchange. It’s one of the best things that QUT offers. It is so incredible for personal growth and opens your eyes to the world. I went to the University of Leeds and had such a fun time. I made fantastic friendships; I gained so much more independence and also developed my confidence. I really learnt to like myself.
I feel like I can’t really tell you too much more that you don’t already know but I do have some spitfire advice to offer, so here we go:
- If you’re going to Leeds (you should), then stay in Montague Burton – its pretty much on campus, it’s a really reasonable price, it has such a community vibe and is so good for making friends AND has a washer and dryer for FREE!!!!!
- Join a society – great way to make friends and a fun way to get involved in university life
- Make the most of your weekends – travel and see either the rest of the country or neighbouring places (especially in Europe) and party/enjoy your location during the week so you can get the best of both worlds.
- Cook food. It’s so much cheaper (SO much cheaper) and eating out isn’t really worth it
- If you’re going in winter and somewhere that snows, bring shoes with good grip(!)
- Don’t overpack, seriously you honestly end up wearing the same outfits really frequently anyway. Plus, the thrift-shopping is really good.
- A classic: say YES to all the opportunities you can BUT there’s no shame in saying no or staying in if you’re tired or not 100%, you need to live sustainably after all.
- You really have to just keep putting yourself out there with friends. Become a “pop-in” person. You have to keep making plans and being the one to text first. And, yes, it can be frustrating and exhausting but you WILL find your good friends. It just takes a little time.
- If you’re going in Sem 2, spend Christmas with your friends.
- SUNDAY ROASTS ARE A SCAM! So expensive. Just make it yourself.
Final words: while exchange is the best time ever, you’re still living a life. You still have all your emotions and sometimes exchange can be lonely, and you can get FOMO from home, and you can get sick and blah blah blah – don’t be ignorant like me and think that this won’t happen to you. BUT, its also such a fantasy land in the sense, you don’t have so many responsibilities like you do at home. Just uni and hanging out with friends. Everything else is choose-your-own-adventure and it is just so much fun.
Find out more on how you can apply: Student Exchange
