At the end of your time abroad, it is really fulfilling to know that you made the most of the opportunity and you tried to experience everything you hoped to.

Why did you decide to study abroad?

As I had decided to not take a gap year before university, I had always been interested in studying abroad as part of my degree to get in the travelling and experiences I felt I had missed. I also believed that taking more time to explore different branches of history would help me to work out what focus I wanted for my final year and my dissertation. Studying abroad would give me access to new teaching and subjects that I would have otherwise missed, and would allow me to develop my language skills for future job prospects. It would also give me the chance to travel and try new things before I would hopefully enter full-time work after I graduate.

How did you adapt to life in a different country?

It was a bit difficult at first, but I found that throwing myself into all the university welcome events was a great way to get used to new environments and meet lots of new people. Doing plenty of research ahead of time and making note of what was available from my host university made the entire process a lot easier, as I already knew what to expect when I arrived. I also took full advantage of my host university's ‘buddy programme’ that matched me with a local student who was able to help me get used to the university systems and local area. I tried to book any bureaucratic appointments ahead of time to reduce stress upon arrival and make the transition easier.

What were your top three highlights whilst studying abroad?

1. Getting to travel so much, not only all around Germany but also to other parts of Europe that I had never been to before. I was able to travel to seven different countries outside of my studies, with Austria being my absolute favourite. As someone who had never travelled without family, I really enjoyed being able to plan things for myself and prioritise what most interested me.
2. Actively using my language skills whilst out and about. I picked up so much of the local language both through classes and just everyday exposure. It felt really rewarding to have my work pay off everytime I understood someone in public or if I could have entire conversations with strangers in German!
3. Being able to visit so many different museums and galleries across Europe and learning so many new and interesting things. The best museum I visited was the ‘Pig Museum’ in Stuttgart, they had over 40,000 different pigs of lots of different varieties, including a pyramid made of cuddly toy pigs. Although it was very unconventional, it made for an interesting trip with friends and is something I will never forget.

What did you gain from your year abroad and placement that might help in your future career?

Studying abroad definitely helped me with my independence, as I had to do most of the planning and organisation myself. I was solely responsible for ensuring that everything was approved before I was able to leave, and to make sure that tasks would be completed whilst abroad. This could definitely be applied to most work environments where regular deadlines are expected. Furthermore, because it was an entirely new environment, I had to become more confident and outgoing to meet new people. It helped me to improve my networking and social skills, as well as my ability to interact with members of the public. It also helped me to develop my language skills as I deliberately chose a country where English was not the official language so that I would have to work to adapt to the culture. Because of the year abroad, I have grown to feel much more prepared for future work and opportunities.

What would you say to someone unsure about spending a period abroad?

As someone who suffers from anxiety, I can understand reservations about going abroad, however I think it is a once in a lifetime opportunity that I would truly recommend. Spending time studying abroad is a great way to be able to fully experience another culture and gain lots of new experiences whilst having a support network in the host university if you ever require it. Any difficulties that might arise can be helped with by your host and home university, which takes a lot of the pressure off. Also, although it can be a bit intimidating studying somewhere where English is not the official language, I feel that this added challenge helps to motivate you to leave your comfort zone. You can take language modules before you go or once you arrive to ease the process, but it is truly very rewarding. I would recommend that anyone who is nervous to spend time thoroughly researching to make sure that it is something that they truly want and can afford to do. I would also advise that you should not let your worries hold you back from doing something really exciting and worthwhile.

What is the one thing you wish you had known before you left the UK to study abroad?

You should not let your anxieties stop you from trying new things. You do not need to rush into doing lots of travelling or exploring, it is important to get settled first. You should also make lots of time for yourself outside of studying to enjoy things and try something new. Even if you cannot find people to go with you, you should try new things anyway (provided you will be safe), as waiting around for other people will only lead to you missing out on something fun. There is no shame in trying things by yourself. I, of course, thoroughly enjoyed travelling with friends but I also really appreciated the times where I tried to push myself to do things alone. At the end of your time abroad, it is really fulfilling to know that you made the most of the opportunity and you tried to experience everything you hoped to.