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Term Abroad at Gothenburg University

Read Imogen’s experience studying abroad for a term at the University of Gothenburg – one of the MCCS department partners. Includes very helpful tips at the end!

I studied at Gothenburg University in Sweden between March and June 2023. Gothenburg is the second biggest city in Sweden and the only one with its own English name (Göteborg in Swedish)! I am studying BA Journalism at Goldsmiths but studied sociology modules in Gothenburg, which focused on social movements & activism, complementing my home studies well.

This placement was full of incredible experiences but a few that stand out include visiting the 100-year-old Lisberg theme park, lake swimming, a boat tour of the city, pub quizzes with my flatmates and concerts at the city’s 400-year anniversary festival. I also got to experience lots of ‘fika’, a Swedish tradition where people meet friends for a hot drink, something sweet and a big chat. Usually this ‘something sweet’ is a giant cinnamon bun, which can sometimes be the size of a dinner plate!

Summer Study in Korea

Zahraa Basta, a MA Luxury Brand Management student, studied at Yonsei University in Korea over the summer funded by the Turing Scheme.

I sourced the placement myself. I knew I was interested to study in Yonsei University of Korea and keen to learn more about Korean culture with a hands on experience so already had a good starting point when considering applying for Go Abroad funding.

I had a great experience overall. People might think that living in Korea, we will face backlash if we don’t know Korean Language well but I did not face any of those issues. Rather, people were very helpful. The food and the friends I made very definitely a highlight along with all the knowledge I gained from doing the courses in the University.

My daily routine was filled with going to classes and exploring cafes and restaurants in my free time. As well as going to new places that thought me more about my course.

Writing Course in Paris

Alexandra-Debora Negru spent nearly two months of her summer in the magical Paris, France attending a fiction writing course at the American University of Paris.

Blair Waldorf once said, “If you are sad, you might as well be sad in Paris” She was so right.

a young woman in white dress smiling at the camera with the eiffel tower in the background on a sunny day

Going to a summer school in Paris was one of the best decisions I have ever made; it was beyond my expectations and certainly, a life-changing experience. When I first heard about the opportunity to go abroad for the summer, I instantly thought of Paris as it felt closer to my home country. I knew that I wanted to write more this summer, so I found a placement at the American University of Paris. They had a fiction writing course and the option to stay at their dorms, which I found very helpful in making friends and meeting new people.

Selena at Gothenburg’s Summer School (Part Two)

Selena Carty, a BA History with Military History student attending the University of Gothenburg’s Summer School of Sustainability – the second part of her blog.

Week one in Gothenburg, Sweden has created a calmness unfamiliar to me. Walking and the constant connection to nature has been having a tranquil impact on me. The fast pace of London is void here and is allowing me to have more time. I am a mother of a 13-year-old son and a 5-year-old daughter, so being away from them also allows me to have isolated time that is unfamiliar to me. (I call them twice a day, just before school and after school to learn about how they slept and how their days were, all whilst sharing images and my experiences)

The feeling of home isn’t lost on me. As once I feel comfortable, I can navigate without fear or concern and Gothenburg supports this feeling within me.

Our first trip for Week 2 was to the Second-best amusement park in the European Star Awards, Liseberg, right here in Gothenburg, Sweden. Liseberg is celebrating 100 years of providing entertainment and excitement to the citizens of Gothenburg and its visitors.

Selena at Gothenburg’s Summer School (Part One)

Selena Carty, a BA History with Military History student, is currently attending the University of Gothenburg’s Summer School of Sustainability – a coveted spot at a popular summer school.

My applications were successful upon submission, and I planned and prepped for the opportunity to study ‘Teaching Sustainability for a Global Perspective’. The Go Abroad team were very supportive with the knowledge and support given in the countdown to departure. When Monday the 3rd of July arrived, I was finally ready to embark on my newest adventure of attending summer school in Gothenburg, Sweden.

On my arrival I was received by the welcome team, and we were loaded into a coach patiently waiting to take us to our accommodation. The rain fell very hard on arrival, causing me to feel right at home! The air here is so clean, the landscape serene, the space unrivalled. The energy here in Gothenburg is very light and consumes you into submission. It is a very peaceful place.

I packed my creature comforts from home to limit my homesickness and am very glad I did. Gothenburg’s prices are double what they are in England, so budgeting has been interesting. My excitement increased when I located a cheese, chocolate, pastries, and yoghurts that I love, as well as finding an African-Caribbean store, where I have been able to shop for items culturally familiar to me. *HAPPINESS*

Summer Study at the University of Amsterdam

Read Nicola McEvoy’s account of her time doing a short course (Arcane Worlds: New Frontiers in the Study of Esotericism) at the University of Amsterdam over the summer.

For three weeks, I was studying in Amsterdam — in the only department in the world that specialises in esoteric studies. It is an intensive course that introduces the academic field of esotericism: the current approaches, where it is going and how it can be improved. We had lectures on different topics including chaos magic, alchemy, Sufiism, and Jewish mysticism, with many guest lecturers. The close-knittedness of the very small community made the experience invaluable, and the camaraderie of the course made my time there enjoyable.

I attended the preliminary programme last year with help from the Go Abroad scheme, so when I received an email from the University of Amsterdam Summer School department that there would be a more advanced programme, I could not pass up the opportunity to attend in person.

Pisa Summer School

Read the blog post of Lydia Hiraide, a BSc Politics and International Relations student who attended a summer school at the University of Pisa. Lydia received funding by Santander Universities.

I am very keen on travelling as a way to enrich my research, so I often spend a lot of time looking online for opportunities abroad. I was thrilled when I found the Politics Ontologies Ecologies summer school at the University of Pisa whilst searching on Google for summer schools relating to my field. I thought this would be a fantastic chance to discover a new city whilst engaging in some of the most urgent conversations and discussions ongoing in the field of my research.

My experience abroad in Pisa will be one that I always remember. It was my first time ever visiting Pisa and my first time attending a summer school in person – I was very pleasantly surprised with the great balance between attending really challenging but interesting classes and being able to discover this magical city.

Lydia, a young woman, sitting on a short brick wall with the leaning tower of Pisa in the backdrop. Everyday, classes started bright and early. Every morning I prepared myself a hearty breakfast before walking down the beautiful riverside to the University of Pisa. Once I arrived, I always found a few minutes to chat to others and settle in before the first session. Each session consisted of a presentation from some of the top academics in my field before some discussion. Then, with plenty of time for lunch, I tried a new spot to discover the local cuisine everyday. The food in Pisa was delicious – so different from the food back home. And there were so many different dishes to try!

One morning during the summer school, each of the student participants shared our own research project which we discussed collaboratively. This was a great chance to practice communicating research whilst getting to learn about other peoples’ ongoing projects. It was very exciting.

Some of the highlights of my experience in Pisa included discovering the town and its culinary delights in my spare time. The Leaning Tower is magnificent – a sight that photos simply can’t do justice! I also really enjoyed the opportunity to be in a room full of students and scholars working on similar topics to me. The discussions were extremely stimulating and I felt very lucky to actually meet some of the scholars whose work has been very important for my own research. It’s a special experience to be able to put a face to a name you’ve been reading for months.

Language Learning in Paris

Samia Khatoon, a BSc History student went to Paris and attended a French language course with Alliance Francaise thanks to funding from Santander Universities. Read her blog below.

For my placement abroad, I completed a language course at Alliance Francaise in Paris for four weeks. It was always a dream of mine to learn French and to experience studying in Paris and I was able to do that through this opportunity. I first heard of Alliance Francaise from a careers advisor at Goldsmiths who recommended this school for learning French. From that point, I did my own research and read reviews from other students which finally made me decide to choose

Three people smiling at the camera

this for my opportunity abroad. My time at Alliance Francaise went fantastically, I not only learnt French and improved my level, I also made wonderful friends. The best part for me was that I learnt French but also learned about the culture and history of Paris. This was primarily through visiting museums, walking the streets, visiting bookstores and cafes.

Summer School in Korea

Hannan Nassir-Deen, a BSc Psychology student was awarded funding by Santander Universities to study at the Yonsei University summer school in Korea. You can read about her experience below.

I found this opportunity online. I think I just searched up summer schools in Korea, something along those lines. I had already heard about the university (Yonsei) beforehand, so I was comfortable pursuing studies there.

I explored the area around the university.

After daily lectures, I would explore the campus, finding places to study and admiring the buildings. The campus had so many areas to study and relax. They even had dedicated napping areas!

Copenhagen Q&A

Daniel Deefholts, a BA Politics and International Relations student, reflects on his term studying in Copenhagen.

Q: How did you feel when you found out that you had been awarded a place on the Study Abroad programme?

A: I was thrilled. Managing to secure a place months before the frightening reality of Brexit began to fully kick in was a big deal for me.

Q: How did you feel about your host university before you left?

A: It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study at the University of Copenhagen. Growing up, I studied at one of the lowest performing high schools in Croydon so the chance to study at one of Europe’s top-ranking research universities was a rare opportunity.