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<\/p>\nIf you\u2019ve ever considered going on exchange, take this as your sign to go for it! This year, I spent a semester studying at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, and it was one of the most rewarding and transformative experiences of my life. Sweden is an incredibly unique and beautiful place to live. From arriving in January and witnessing the sun set at 3pm in the depths of winter to enjoying long, golden evenings that stretch until 11pm in summer, life in Sweden feels like a world away from Brisbane. I embraced local traditions like fika (a Swedish coffee break ritual), tried eating reindeer, went dog sledding, and even saw the Northern Lights. These are experiences I never would have had at home and ones I will never forget.<\/p>\n
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The Swedish university system is quite different from what we\u2019re used to at QUT. At the University of Gothenburg, some classes had as few as ten students, which created an intimate and supportive academic environment. I usually only had to be in class once or twice a week, but the university always had events, so there was a real sense of community on campus. The learning environment was relaxed, independent and collaborative. Plus, because the academic calendar is structured differently, I completed four subjects, one at a time, between January and June. As a dual degree Business and Law student, I had four free electives that I chose to use on my exchange program. I chose units from the Faculty of Humanities and studied:
\n\u2022 Scandinavian Film and Media Culture
\n\u2022 Scandinavian Design
\n\u2022 Translation Theory
\n\u2022 Religion in Scandinavia<\/p>\n
These courses gave me the opportunity to fully immerse myself in Scandinavian culture. I came away with a deeper understanding of the society I was living in and a few very niche fun facts to share back home!<\/p>\n
Of course, exchange isn\u2019t just about academics. It\u2019s also about pushing yourself to adapt, grow, and thrive in a completely new environment. In Sweden, although most people speak English, all signs, menus, and everyday systems are in Swedish. You also pay for everything in SEK (Swedish Krona) which took some time to get used to! One of the best decisions I made was getting involved in the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) through their Welcome Week events. This is where I made most of my closest friends (a group that stayed together throughout the semester and beyond). Even though I wasn\u2019t a European student, the ESN community was incredibly inclusive and welcoming. Thanks to those friendships, I travelled not only across Sweden (including the magical Lapland region) but also to Norway, Denmark, Czechia, and the UK during the semester. Once the semester ended, I kept travelling with my new friends to Italy, France, Portugal, Greece, Germany and the Netherlands. I\u2019d initially planned to travel solo post-exchange but instead found myself surrounded by a group of people who had become like family. It amazed me how quickly we connected; exchange students really do share a special kind of energy and openness!<\/p>\n
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I won\u2019t sugar coat it; exchange can be expensive but it\u2019s absolutely worth the investment. However, QUT offers bursaries, and the Australian Government offers OS-Help loans for eligible students. If you\u2019re thinking of studying in Sweden, the University of Gothenburg also offers scholarships for international students. I was fortunate to receive two scholarships from the Axel Adler Scholarship Fund during my time abroad.<\/p>\n
Exchange is more than just studying overseas. It truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity to grow personally, academically, and culturally. I returned from Sweden more confident, independent, and open-minded. You don\u2019t realise it while it\u2019s happening, but the experience changes you in ways you\u2019ll only understand once you leave. If you\u2019re thinking about exchange, I wholeheartedly recommend taking the leap. Say yes to everything, get involved, and embrace the unexpected. You never know who you\u2019ll meet, where you\u2019ll go, or how the experience will shape your future.<\/p>\n
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