Department
Where did you spend your first semester
Bartlett School of Planning
abroad?
Degree Programme (e.g. BA French and
Australia
Russian)
Type of Placement
BSc Urban Planning, Design &
University Placement
Management
Where did you spend your second
Year in which abroad
semester abroad?
2012/13
N/A - returned to UCL
Before Departure
How would you rate your preparation by your department(s)?
Good
Please give details/feedback and suggest any improvements:
I received very helpful advice and support from my course coordinators for the study
abroad scheme. However, I felt there could be more assistance regarding funding. Also,
even though I was told I would be regularly contacted during the term abroad, this did
not occur as regularly as I would have expected.
How would you rate your preparation by the Study Abroad Team?
Satisfactory
Please give details/feedback and suggest any improvements:
There was little contact between myself and the study abroad team, I felt my course
coordinators had more input.
Did you attend the Pre-Departure briefing organised by the Study Abroad Team in March?
No
If yes, did you find it useful?
Please give feedback/suggest any improvements:
How would you rate your own preparation ahead of studying abroad?
Good
Could you have done more to prepare yourself before leaving UCL? If so, please give
details:
I could have contacted student finance companies prior to arriving in Australia as it
became difficult to do so once I had left the UK.
Could you have been better prepared by UCL? If so, please give details:
Yes, UCL could have assisted somewhat with funding. I also applied for the Travel
Grant whilst I was studying abroad with the hope that I may receive some help since in
my knowledge I am the only student to have traveled to Australia this year, a very
expensive country to reside in. However, I was rejected and I was only informed of this
fact after much later when I had to contact UCL persistently to request a response.
As part of your preparation, did you do any of the following (tick all that apply):
- Contact the Study Abroad Team
- Discuss your options with your Study Abroad Tutor
- Consult your host institution's website
If you contacted the Study Abroad Team, what did you seek advice about? Did you find the
advice useful?
I seeked advice about course units as I was confusing during my application, and the
reply was prompt and helpful.
Prior to departure, were you given clear instructions by your department on what was
expected of you academically during your year abroad?
No
How did you prepare yourself for the academic aspect of your year abroad programme?
I researched on what the specific modules I had chosen entails, and considered any
course materials I may need to purchase and take with me.
What advice would you offer to students prior to making a decision about where to study
abroad?
Take the time to research into the city you are planning to study in, and the university
too. Ensure that you have sufficient knowledge on the expenses that you will be facing,
as well as what the university has to offer you in terms of extra curricular activities to
make your stay enjoyable.
What advice would you give to students preparing to go abroad? What things should they
make sure to do ahead of beginning their year abroad?
Make sure to earn a lot of money and save up prior to arriving at your destination, as
you will not want to have the headache of having to consider taking upon a job while
you are there. Rather you would prefer to make the most of your time travelling and
enjoying the time you have at the city you stay in. Also, try and get in touch with other
exchange students you expect to be meeting
Your Placement - University
Name of your host university:
University of New South Wales
Location (city and country):
Sydney, Australia
Was your university placement part of an ERASMUS or other exchange programme?
No
When did you receive confirmation of acceptance from the host university?
November 2012
When did your placement start?
February 2013
How did you get to your placement? Please give rough details of the journey and costs:
One direct flight from London Heathrow to Sydney Kingsford Airport. This return
flight ticket cost roughly £1000.
Enrolment and Course Registration
Please describe the enrolment process at your host university. What formalities did you have
to complete, and, in particular, what documents did you need to have in order to enrol? (e.g.
carte de séjour, passport, nomination letter). As an international student, were you given any
special help with enrolment?
I had to attend an enrolment day, specifically for abroad students. Here, we were
presented a lecture on everything to expect for the forthcoming term. We were also
provided with starter packs with relevant information on visas, the campus, medical
care etc. I needed to take all my official paperwork with me, including my passport and
student visa evidence.
Were any special orientation events/meetings provided for study abroad students? If so,
please give details.
Yes, we had the pleasure of attending an orientation presentation, where all the
exchange/abroad students were presented with various talks, and presentations from
key figures of the university. Following this, we were provided with entertainment in the
form of an aboriginal dance act and a subsequent barbecue.
Is there any advice you would give to future students ahead of enrolling at this university?
I would advise students to not be overwhelmed by the immense scale of the university
and to be prepared to walk a great amount whilst on campus. Also, I would recommend
to get in touch with exchange students before arriving so you have some acquaintances
already. For elective modules, try and choose first year modules or modules likely to be
taken by other abroad students as it is inevitable that you will have a hard time fitting
in with a year group who have all been well acquainted with each other for some time
already. Make sure to join as many clubs and societies you can so that you can socialize
and make the most of your time meeting new people!
Registering for Courses
How easy was it to finalise and register your course choices?
Quite easy
Please give details of the procedures and how to choose or change courses:
In reference to choosing modules for the first time, this task is completed whilst making
the initial university application through the service 'endeavour'. To change modules
after enrolment, use the service myUNSW. However there is a limited time to do this
during the first few weeks.
Was obtaining information about courses and timetables difficult or simple?
Simple
If difficult, what advice would you offer on how to obtain the information?
During O Week (Orientation Week) you can collect this information from various stalls
across campus. Or you can access this information on the service 'myUNSW' after
logging on.
Academic Life
At your host university, who helped you with the academic or administrative aspects of your
year abroad? Please tick all that apply:
- International Office / Erasmus Office
Please give names of helpful individuals if possible:
Suzan Dhankha (Global Education Office Advisor for Europe and South Africa)
Please indicate what kind of help you received (e.g. with course registration; general
academic advice; specific assistance with coursework; specific assistance with dissertation
preparation; instructions concerning coursework; instructions concerning assessment):
Suzan helped me during my application with sections I was unsure of how to complete.
Please comment on the number of classes you took and how many hours a week that
constituted in the classroom. Please also mention the amount of work you had to do outside
class on average:
I took four classes for four modules, which made up a total of 17 teaching hours
altogether. This consisted of 4 hours of tutorials, 10 hours of lectures, and 3 hours of
studio design work.
Please describe the nature of the classes (i.e. large lectures, smaller seminar groups etc.) What
was the average lecture/class size?
The average lecture size was about 70-300 students, but it really depends on the course
you are taking. The average class size was about 25-50 students.
Please describe the mode of assessment for the courses you took (e.g. written/oral exam,
essay/project etc.) and its timing (e.g. mid or end of year). Were there coursework
requirements (presentations, essays etc.)?
For my language module: oral, written, listening and reading exams.
For my humanities module: One literature review and one final essay.
For my social science module: Class quizzes, reading summaries, a class presentation
and one final essay.
For my design module: class tasks, one group design project and one individual design
project.
Please comment on the availability and approachability of teaching staff at your host
university:
Primary contact that is preferred is through email, however they are easy to approach
after and before classes, and it is possible to make appointments to see them in their
offices.
How would you rate the teaching at your host university:
Good
How would you rate the selection of courses offered:
Very good
How would you rate the intellectual level of the material covered:
Good
How would you rate the difficulty of the courses at your host university compared to UCL:
The same as UCL
Please give details:
Surprisingly, I found a lot of the content overlapped and appeared similar to my
modules at UCL.
If you attended a university where the language of instruction was not English, did you
experience any language difficulties?
Did your tutors make allowances for your not being a native speaker?
No
If yes, please give details:
Facilities
Library provision:
There is a main library, where study space is provided as well as rooms which can be
booked.
Access to computers, internet etc.:
There is wide access to computers all around in the main library and law library as well
as cluster rooms. Although, more easily accessible is the wifi connection which is
available all around campus.
Clubs and societies (type, range, and cost):
Clubs and societies are very active at UNSW. The opportunity to join is provided
during O Week, where membership is discounted if
Sporting facilities (type, range, and cost):
There are various sporting societies available to join.
Other:
I found printing facilities very useful. There is a company based on campus called 'print
post plus services', where printing is quick and reasonably priced.
Summary
Why did you choose to spend your year abroad at this university in particular?
I have always wanted to visit Australia and chose to take this opportunity to do so
whilst travelling abroad. UNSW offers courses which are closely tied with the course I
study at UCL so I thought the teaching would be relevant and the experience would
help me in the future, especially in terms of career prospects.
Are you glad that you did so?
Yes
Would you recommend this university to future UCL students?
Yes
Please explain why:
I did enjoy my time at this university, liked the people that I met and enjoyed the
modules I studied. However considering advice I have received from others about
Melbourne, this may be a better city to reside in rather than Sydney, as it seems more of
a developed city overall.
How would you rate the placement overall?
Good
How would you rate the placement within the context of your degree programme?
Good
Is there any specific advice you would offer to students considering a placement at this
university?
Accommodation
What type of accommodation did you obtain?
Private accommodation
Is there any other advice you would like to share with future students looking for
accommodation in your host town/city?
Be aware of having a train station near your place of accommodation as bus service can
be very slow and frustrating at times. Consider investing in a 'mymulti' unlimited travel
card for three months. If you have the money enjoy your time here and make the most
of natural views when looking for apartments, flats etc. !
Which parts of your host town/city would you recommend living in. Are there any parts of
the town/city which should be avoided?
on campus as public transport is very slow.
What type of accommodation would you advise future students to look for (private flat,
shared flat/house, stay with local family etc.)?
private flat
If yes, please give the address of the residence and, if possible, contact details for the owner:
n/a
Would you recommend this accommodation to future students?
No
Did you live with locals, or with other foreign students? Were you able to practice your
language skills and interact with local students in your accommodation?
n/a
What was the average monthly rent? What was included in this cost (e.g. bills, internet, food
etc.)? Please give as much detail as possible about the costs associated with your
accommodation:
I did not need to pay rent since I was residing with family.
Please describe the type of accommodation you stayed in, its location and level of comfort.
Did you live in a shared flat/live with a local family/other? Did you have a single or double
room? What were the kitchen and other facilities like? What was or wasn't provided (e.g.
bedding, kitchen utensils)? Did you feel that the accommodation represented good value for
money?
I lived in a house accommodation with family.
Please give details of how you found your accommodation. When did you start looking, and
where did you look? Please list any websites, agencies, newspapers or other resources which
future students might find helpful when looking for accommodation.
I stayed with family.
Did you stay in temporary/short stay accommodation while you looked for something
permanent? If so, please give details:
n/a
How long did it take you to find accommodation?
Not long at all, this was immediate after knowing I would be studying abroad.
How easy was it to find accommodation?
Very easy
If you stayed in private accommodation, please indicate whether this was a personal choice,
or whether you did so because accommodation was not provided by your host institution:
Personal choice
Finance
How much money did you need on arrival (e.g. for housing deposits, rent and other start-up
costs)?
$500
1. Cost of Living
Rent (per month):
n/a
Bills (electricity, gas, water, internet, phone etc.):
n/a
Books (overall amount spent on books during your stay):
$70
Food (weekly):
n/a
A (simple) meal (in a cafe or restaurant):
$15
A coffee (in a cafe or bar):
$5
A beer (in a cafe or bar):
n/a
A cinema ticket:
$9
Local travel (weekly):
$55
Entertainment (weekly):
$30
Any other regular costs:
In total, how much did you spend per month on average?
$100
How would you rate the cost of living in your host town/city when compared to London?
Much more expensive
Please give details. Were there certain things which were more expensive than in the UK, and
others which were cheaper?
Everything in general tends to be a lot more expensive, this is noticeable especially when
going to shop for clothes, food or other necessary items. You will soon come to
appreciate the cost of items in London very much.
2. Working
Is supplementing your income through part-time work a viable option?
Yes
If yes, do you have any advice about what type of work to look for, or where to look? Please
give the names of any employers or agencies you worked for, and any newspapers, websites
or notice boards you would recommend:
On campus jobs
Does your host institution help with finding part-time work?
No
3. Banking
Did you open a bank account in your host country?
No
No: If no, why not? How did you access money while abroad?
I could access my UK account from Australia using my card.
Would you recommend opening a local bank account? If so, which bank(s) or account(s)
would you recommend?
No
General
1. Social Factors (Opportunities and Ease of Meeting People)
How much interaction did you have with local students?
I found interaction with local students difficult especially those in second year and
above as they seemed to have already developed their own social circles. However they
were very friendly.
How much interaction did you have with other international students?
It is easier to bond with other international students as you are going through the same
experience. It can be fun to explore a new city together and it is lovely to meet others
from all around the world.
In your experience, what were the best ways of meeting people?
Joining clubs and societies and attending the events of these.
If you were studying in a country where the local language is not English, how often did you
speak the local language?
2. Mobile Phones
Would you recommend getting a mobile phone with a local tariff as well as/instead of your
English mobile?
Yes
Please give details. Are there any mobile providers you would recommend?
Optus.
Transport
Was local transport good or bad? Please give details of local transport you used:
I was very disappointed with local transport, there is much to improve. Everyday I had
to walk to the train station in fifteen minutes (as it is quicker to walk rather than wait to
catch a bus) catch one train to the city, which was a twenty minute journey. Following
this, I took a twenty minute bus ride, using the university bus at peak times, to campus.
This took considerably longer during traffic. Also be sure to check train and bus times,
although these are inaccurate most of the time, so that you avoid missing a service and
have to wait another half an hour for the next one.
What was the cost of local transport? Are there any special deals or discounts for students?
Student discount is half rate, however international and exchange students are not
eligible for this unfortunately. If you apply for a travel card through the university
office you can receive up to 30% discount.
Did you travel more widely within your host country or within the region? How easy was it
to travel, and was it expensive to do so?
Yes I did, as some of my modules required field work. This was not expensive per se, as
I have already invested in an unlimited 'my multi' travel card, which also covers ferry
travel.
Life in your Host Country
Please comment on the social life and entertainment in your host city/country, or any other
aspects of life there which you would like to share:
Shops tend to close much earlier than London, around 4pm, and this is the same on
weekends. However, thursday nights are for late night shopping, until 9pm. On
Tuesdays, you can purchase discounted cinema tickets. Taronga Zoo is definitely worth
a visit.
Is there any advice you would give to someone preparing to live in your host city/country?
Be prepared to spend a lot of money for things you would not have to spend much for in
London.
Did you experience any problems/difficulties while living in your host city which you would
like to share with the Study Abroad Team?
I had to fund myself, and would have appreciated the study abroad team to provide
more information on funding if they could not help themselves.
Study Abroad - Summary
Did you find your year abroad rewarding academically?
Yes
Please give reasons for your answer:
I found that I had to work throughout the year, as there were various tasks expected of
me academically, with continuous assignments and quizzes. I found this rewarding
because this made me put in a lot of effort. I hope that the term abroad will help me to
stand out in future job applications too.
Did you find your year abroad rewarding in non-academic respects?
Yes
Please give reasons for your answer:
This was rewarding in the sense that I found it a challenge and was glad to be able to
manage my time well whilst also fitting in in a new country. It was a rewarding
experience to be able to explore a new city also, as I have formed many new memories
which I will cherish.
How would you rate your year abroad experience overall?
Very good
Please give reasons for your answer:
It was a very challenging yet rewarding experience. I have gained a lot of memories and
have become more independent.
Do you feel that you have developed skills which will be of use to you in future?
Yes
a) My cultural awareness:
Has increased greatly
b) My language proficiency:
Is the same
c) My independence:
Has increased greatly
d) My self confidence:
Has increased greatly
e) My intellectual development:
Has increased slightly
f) My personal development:
Has increased greatly
g) My ability to make decisions:
Is the same
h) My ability to explore and create opportunities:
Has increased slightly
i) My ability to cope with difficult situations:
Has increased slightly
j) My ability to solve problems:
Has increased slightly
How would you rate the support you received from your department at UCL during your time
abroad?
Good
Please give details/feedback and suggest any improvements:
Staff should ensure to keep in touch more regularly as I felt there will a lack of contact
during my term abroad.
How would you rate the support you received from the UCL Study Abroad Team during your
time abroad?
Satisfactory
Please give details/feedback and suggest any improvements:
I did not hear much from the study abroad team, and was surprised to learn there was
a newsletter. Prior to this I did not receive any form of invitation asking if I would like
to contribute or become involved in this project.
Are there any other comments you would like to make?
I feel this questionnaire has been made unnecessarily long as it is has been extremely
time consuming and many of the questions seem repetitive. This is inefficient since less
of my answers will contain depth to them if I am having to rephrase the same answers,
and more of a general survey would have been more evaluative and profitable to
everyone. I also see little incentive to partake in this questionnaire, aside from the fact
that it is compulsory.