Most of us go through our entire university career in one place. Every semester, we end up on the same campus, with many of the same people, often in the same classrooms (I had at least six psychology classes in D105 in the span of two years). If you’re like me and routine makes you antsy, take some time to check out UFV’s Study Abroad website.
The idea behind Study Abroad is that, for one semester, you jet off somewhere new and take courses through one of UFV’s partner universities. Some of the choices are for specific programs, such as schools that specialize in business or visual arts, though most are “open,” meaning it doesn’t matter what your major is. You can go anywhere from Essex, England to Bengaluru, India, and on top of experiencing a new culture, meeting interesting people, and trying new foods, you get to satisfy your travel bug while still working toward the end of your degree while simultaneously pushing yourself out of your comfort zone.
Above everything else, the application process is simple (advisors are there to guide you the whole way through), and you’re eligible for some pretty hefty bursaries (see: free money) depending on where you decide to study. Still not sure? Go check out UFV’s Study Abroad blog or set up an appointment with an advisor.
Itching for a chance to uproot yourself and study somewhere new for a semester? Me too! Here are a few of the cool perks you’ll get if you take the leap.
1. Get out of your comfort zone
Nothing slaps comfort in the face like uprooting yourself from your home and depositing yourself in a new country for a few months. But really, who wants to be comfortable all the time anyway? Nothing fun ever happens there!
2. Meet new people
When you’re in a degree program, it’s likely you’ll see a few (see: a lot) of familiar faces during those classes. But overseas, you’ve got a fresh slate – the perfect chance to meet new people who know nothing of the time you called your professor mom.
3. Learn valuable life lessons
Sometimes you learn these the easy way, like through your new-found friends. Sometimes you learn it the hard way, like sitting with your legs crossed over one another in Japan or sitting with your legs spread apart in France, lest you offend someone. (Clearly, don’t sit anywhere you travel and you’ll be fine.)
4. Architecture
It’s general knowledge among the architecture-obsessed that most places overseas have really cool buildings. Go ahead and Google photos of Barcelona or Poznan and you’re met with some really neat stuff, including candy-colored row houses and phenomenal Gothic cathedrals. And have you seen the University of Aberdeen (or, you know, any university in the UK)? Don’t you want to attend Hogwarts for a semester?
5. Try new food
Ever fancy yourself trying out authentic haggis, bibimbap, maultasche, snails, lohikeitto? No? Too bad, try it anyway! Trying new foods is the best part of travel. Just make sure you know what you’re putting in your body beforehand if you have allergies.
6. Learn a new language
If you end up in a country where English isn’t the first language, you’ll get the chance to practice a new language. Even if English is spoken as a second language in that country, locals will be more than happy to help you practice their language.