My year abroad was really formative for me in deciding how I wanted to approach the rest of my studies back home, and what I want to do with my career.

Why did you decide to study abroad?

I intentionally opted for a degree with a mandatory year abroad so that I couldn’t change my mind if I ended up a little nervous about it. I wanted to put myself outside of my usual comfort zone and do something I might never have the opportunity to do again. Even though I'd always been quite independent, it was still important to me to be able to develop that further, and experience life outside of the UK. I’m also a pretty keen traveller so the ability to be able to move around countries with relative ease from within Europe was a big factor, too.

How did you adapt to life in a different country?

Honestly, just being open to other cultures and people from all walks of life rings true for both living in a different country, and living in the UK. Lose the fear as soon as you can that you’re being judged for being a tourist or a foreigner. If you’re respectful then the majority of people truly do not care where you’re from, if anything they find it interesting and it’s a pretty good talking point. 

For me, I didn’t need to learn the language because everyone was great with English and totally happy to speak it, but this is something that needs a little research in advance, not all places (even in the big European countries) are English proficient like that.

What were your top three highlights whilst studying abroad?

My biggest highlight was the travelling opportunities. Not just within Slovenia, but also further afield. Slovenia itself is a beautiful country, and so easy to navigate. Highlights include the Alps in the North, Lake Bled, the Mediterranean coastal towns in the South, and of course its capital Ljubljana, which is incredible. I also had the opportunity to visit France, Germany, Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia, and Italy whilst I was there. If you’re located well, this can be extremely cheap to do. 

Second for me was actually the University of Ljubljana itself, and the opportunity to study modules I wouldn’t have been able to do back home. 

Finally, meeting people from all around the world was pretty interesting. If you get involved with Erasmus-type programmes at your host university then you’ll have the opportunity to meet people from absolutely everywhere. 

What did you gain from your year abroad that has helped you in your studies since you returned to Sheffield?

For me, I gained a lot of confidence both in myself on a personal level, and in my academic ability. My year in Ljubljana was really formative for me in deciding how I wanted to approach the rest of my studies back home, and what I want to do with my career moving forward post-graduation. My final year has been a whirlwind, and I definitely wouldn’t have opened myself up to the same opportunities if I’d never spent a year away in the middle of my studies. 

How do you think your experience will help you in your future career?

You gain a lot of transferable skills spending a year outside of your comfort zone - independence, organisation, confidence, adaptation, communication. Personally, I hope to be able to move into a career either in international law, or adjacent to it. 

Spending a year studying and living alongside people from different international backgrounds and cultures is a great introduction to hopefully spending the rest of my career continuing to do just that. 

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

It’s nerve-wracking and scary, for sure, it’s normal to feel that way, but just take the plunge and don’t second guess yourself. You’re considering it for a reason, and with a little self-confidence, research, and commitment, it’s an experience that is almost impossible to regret taking a chance on. Speak to people who have been there and done it for support. There can be some admin work but don’t let that put you off, there are a lot of people at the University ready and willing to guide you through it. 

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

In general, nothing significant, but I wish I’d realised how quickly it would fly by. I need to go back to Slovenia to finish doing all the things I wanted to, but somehow couldn’t fit into an entire year! Other than that, just make sure to do your research, I spent a lot of time looking into things like how well places spoke English, cost of living, availability of accommodation, ability to travel, local transport accessibility, climate, visas, residence permits and so on, so I didn’t feel underprepared when I got there. Do this, and you’ll be golden.