Balgowlah HSC Coach Angus returned from a University Exchange in Sweden recently and has very kindly shared his experience and some photos below.
University Exchanges have boomed in popularity over the past 3-4 years and we absolutely love hearing the stories, adventures and growth that our Coaches go through during the experience.
If you are a HSC student or University student considering an exchange this article is for you!
What you are studying, and how and why you ended up going on exchange?
I’m currently studying Commerce at University of Sydney, majoring in Finance and Marketing. I went to Lund, Sweden on a semester exchange program when I was in semester 2 of my second year. I always wanted to travel after finishing school and I figured exchange would be a good way to do this without putting my degree on hold. It also just seemed like a good opportunity to step outside what I was used to and try something different.
Why Choose Lund?
When I first started looking into exchange, I was set on going somewhere in Scandinavia. I originally looked at Copenhagen and spoke to someone who had done exchange there. Her feedback was that because it’s a larger city, the experience can be quite independent, and at times a bit isolating. She actually recommended Lund instead and put me in touch with someone she knew there. After speaking to him and doing a bit more research, it was pretty clear Lund was exactly what I was looking for: a more social, close-knit environment where it’s really easy to meet people.
How was it?
Without exaggeration, it was the time of my life. The exchange itself was around 5 months, but I did the classic “Euro Summer” with mates beforehand, then went straight into exchange, so stayed for a total of 7 months. During these 7 months, I visited 21 countries and 42 cities and had some of the most amazing experiences.
Because Lund is a smaller university town, there are heaps of international students all in the same position, which made it really easy to meet people. One of the best parts of Lund is the “nations” system. These are essentially student-run clubs that host events throughout the week. Everything from casual lunches and study spaces to themed nights, Swedish dinners, balls and socials. There’s always something on, which makes it really easy to meet people and get involved without overthinking it. I also took part in “Novische Week” at the start of semester, which is like an introduction week for new students. It was a mix of events, games and socials, and it made settling in and meeting people early on a lot easier. By the end of exchange, I had friends from Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.
Subjects on exchange are also Pass/Fail, so while you still need to stay on top of your work, there’s a lot more flexibility. That made it possible to travel pretty much every second weekend, which is a big part of what makes the experience so good.
Day-to-day life was a mix of studying, socialising and planning the next trip. You’re constantly surrounded by people who are also new, which makes it easy to build friendships quickly. At the same time, you’re figuring out everything yourself from travel logistics to budgeting to just managing your time. It’s a pretty steep learning curve, but that’s what makes it rewarding.
Where there any challenges?
It definitely wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows the whole time. Things go wrong all the time when travelling and I’ve definitely had a fair share of mess ups. Living with new people can be tough at times, especially when you’re all from different backgrounds and have different expectations.
Being away from home for that long can also get to you, and you have to get used to handling things on your own. Money is another big one: you’re constantly balancing wanting to travel and make the most of it, with staying somewhat responsible.
But honestly, lack of sunlight in winter was the biggest challenge for me and the other Australians. The sun would rise at 9am and set at 3pm and it would be a really rare sight if you saw the sun poke out from the clouds. Definitely affected our moods more than we expected but really got you to make the most of it if it was sunny.
But these challenges are also what force you to grow. You become a lot more adaptable and better at dealing with uncertainty.
What were the Pivotal Moments?
- Ran with the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain
- Jumped off the Mostar Bridge in Bosnia (25 metres)
- Hitchhiked through Albania
- Hiked to the peak of Montenegro from a small town called Zablijak – also where I happened to meet my current girlfriend.
- Went to a festival in Malta
- Attended Oktoberfest in Munich
- Saw the Northern Lights in Lapland
- Hiked through the Lofoten Archipelago in Norway
- Skied in Northern Sweden
- Travelled to Lithuania for a weekend on a $30 flight.
What is your Advice for anyone considering a University Exchange?
You realise how many different paths people are on and how much bigger things are outside your immediate environment. It makes you more open-minded and a lot more comfortable with uncertainty.
For anyone in the HSC right now, it probably feels like everything revolves around marks and exams. But opportunities like this are a direct result of the work you’re putting in now. Getting into uni and saying yes to things early on is what opens doors like exchange later.
If I had to give one piece of advice, it would be to stay open. Work hard now, but don’t lock yourself into one rigid path too early. Take opportunities when they come, even if they’re outside of your comfort zone. That’s usually where the best experiences are.
Thank you Angus for sharing your experience! If you have any other questions about University Exchanges or moving interstate for University, jump on the Ask a Coach every Monday and Thursday and chat with our fabulous team of coaches!
Sarah Gardiner
Business Manager HSC CoWorks
