Enskilda enkäter för Exchange report

Transcription

1 Enskilda enkäter för Exchange report Person 95 Basic Information 1. Name Johanna Sundberg 2. address: 3. Exchange university National University of Ireland Galway 4. City Galway 5. Country Ireland 6. First semester of your exchange Swedish autumn semester (HT 2015) 7. Academic year 2015/16 8. What subject area/s did you study during your exchange? Mainly geography and sociology 9. Level of studies at the exchange university Undergraduate 10. What are you studying at Uppsala University? Bachelor Programme in Urban and Regional Planning 11. How many years of study had you completed before going on exchange? 1,5 Studies 12. Tell us about your studies on your exchange. If you are stuck for ideas you can for exemple write about: The differences between Uppsala University and the exchange. What were the teachers like? What courses would you recommend (or not) for future exchange students? The relationship between teachers and students. The academic level and quality of your courses. Access to computers. Examinations... Studying at NUIG is quite different from studying in Uppsala. For each semester you choose and apply for your courses as the semester starts and most common is to take six courses with five credits each that you study parallel during the whole semester. This means you could end up having six exams at the end of the semester depending on what courses you choose, so it might be an idea to try and mix courses with final exams and courses with essays and other forms of examinations. In the beginning of the semester when you apply for the courses you also have to look up the timetable for each course on your own and from that build your own personal timetable. This can take a while since there is no general service for this but it usually works out fine. Most teacher I had were very good and helpful. I would say that the level of the studies might be a bit lower than in Uppsala (at least if you do first and second year courses) but on the other hand, my experience was that it was more to do than at home. So, in general the studies demanded some time but wasnt too difficult. The NUIG campus is rather big and it can be confusing in the beginning to understand where all of your lecture halls are located but this also works itself out over time. There is unfortunately not much seating for group studies which was a bit annoying. The library at the campus is okay but at exam periods you have to be there on time to get a place to sit. Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 284 av 440

2 Enskilda enkäter för Exchange report Orientation and reception 13. Tell us about how it was to arrive and settle in. I arrived in Galway with three other students from Uppsala and we had booked a room at a hostel in advance, which we stayed at for a few days before finding accommodation. We arrived a week before the first day of orientation and at that time there were already a lot of other exchange students in Galway who had arrived even earlier. Thanks to Facebook groups I would say that meeting other Erasmus students before the university starts isnt a problem. Galway isnt too big so finding your way around is quite easy. During the two-day orientation we received lots of information and there was some paperwork to do in the beginning as well as finding somewhere to live. The orientation was good in the way that we got a lot of information. However, I found there was a lack of welcome activities for exchange students apart from this which was a bit disappointing. Even so, meeting new people isnt a problem since all exchange students are in the same position of being new in a city and wanting to make friends. Accommodation 14. Describe your accommodation. What type of accommodation did you have, where you satisfied? Do you have any tips for future students? There can be a problem finding accommodation for students in Galway but I got lucky and found a place to live after only a few days. The best thing to do would be to join Facebook groups such as House Hunting Galway (for sound people) and Erasmus groups for Galway. In general talking to many people and other new students also helps. I shared a house with four other students in the area Newcastle. We each had our own bedroom but shared the kitchen and two bathrooms. I was very satisfied with my accommodation and made some great friends among my house mates. The area where I lived was close to the university so getting there was no problem. However, there was a bit of a walk to the city centre but with a bike, the distance is not a problem. All in all, I was happy with my accommodation and wouldnt have wanted to live in one of the university arranged student accommodations since there are mainly young students living there. Your finances 15. Describe the cost of living. Did you find CSN adequate? How was the rent in comparison to your rent in Uppsala? Did you undertake part-time work in addition to your studies? I would say that the costs in Galway were about the same as in Sweden. Rents can be a bit expensive but some other things are cheaper. Also, you probably want to do as much as possible and go on a few trips but I found that the CSN and the Erasmus grant was enough to do all I wanted to do without having to get a job. Free time 16. What did you do in your free time? Did the university arrange any special activities? Where there any activities specifically for exchange students? Were you happy with what was on offer? In my free time I mostly spent time with friends. I went on some trips around the country, explored Galway and had fun at different pubs around the city. There is a lot going on in Galway and also much you can take part in as a student. The university has many different clubs and societies that you can join easily. During my two semesters in Galway I tried (among other things) surfing, karate, fencing and badminton. Since there is so much to choose from you can easily find something you like or try something completely new. Joining Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 285 av 440

3 Enskilda enkäter för Exchange report a club or a society is probably also the best way to meet Irish students. There is also a society for exchange students that organises trips and parties. Your exchange on the whole 17. Please sum up your exchange experience. If you have any other tips for future exchange students, or any other comments feel free to include them here. I had a great time in Galway. I found many new friends from different countries and also learned a lot about the Irish country and culture. The university was good and I got to study things I wouldnt have done in Sweden. Ireland is a good country to choose in the way that it is a perfect size for doing small trips, which I definitely recommend since there is so much nice to see, both nature and cities. My advice is to be open to trying new things and meeting new people, and also to find a balance between studies and free time. Even if Galway is quite small its a city with lots of culture and things going on. I will always look back on my exchange as a happy time where I learned and experiences a lot with many great people. Approval 18. Your report will be available for future exchange students in printed form at the International Office and will be sent by to individual students requesting it. Do you also approve the publishing of your exchange report on Uppsala University s website? Yes 19. Do you have any photos you would like to upload and include in your exchange report? Please tell us a little bit about the picture/s Publishing of pictures - Thank you for submitting your exchange report! Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 286 av 440

4 Enskilda enkäter för Exchange Report 2015/16 Person 184 Basic Information 1. Name Agnes Valdemarsson 2. address: 3. Exchange university National University of Ireland, Galway 4. City Uppsala 5. Country Sverige 6. First semester of your exchange Swedish autumn semester (HT 2015) 7. Academic year 2015/16 8. What subject area/s did you study during your exchange? Criminology, English, Irish, culture, philosophy 9. Level of studies at the exchange university Undergraduate 10. What are you studying at Uppsala University? Law 11. How many years of study had you completed before going on exchange? 3 Studies 12. Tell us about your studies on your exchange. If you are stuck for ideas you can for exemple write about: The differences between Uppsala University and the exchange. What were the teachers like? What courses would you recommend (or not) for future exchange students? The relationship between teachers and students. The academic level and quality of your courses. Access to computers. Examinations... My intention going abroad was to study less than I do at home, and that plan succeeded. I chose to study two courses about Irish culture, and one course in the Irish language, to really get to know the country. All those courses were for exchange students, and very interesting. I had a great teacher in Irish and really enjoyed that course. I also studied three regular courses, and I liked those as well with the exception of one course in practical ethics. Some courses were lecture based, which meant that there were no seminars or possibilities to interact with other students/the lecturer. I found this a bit weird. Some of the courses were examined through essays, and some through exams. I chose courses to get some of both examination methods, which I recommend since it can be really hard to have only essays/only exams. Orientation and reception 13. Tell us about how it was to arrive and settle in. There was a big orientation meeting for all international students where we got a lot of information about the courses and campus. I found it a bit hard to understand how to apply for courses and it was tricky to create your own schedule, but we got a lot of time to try out courses, so in the end we all made it work. Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 535 av 545

5 Enskilda enkäter för Exchange Report 2015/16 Accommodation 14. Describe your accommodation. What type of accommodation did you have, where you satisfied? Do you have any tips for future students? It was a bit of a housing crisis in Galway when I was there, so people seemed really desperate in all the house hunting groups on facebook (for example House hunting Galway (for sound people) ). I managed to find accomodation through Niland houses. They have nice but terribly overpriced apartments in the city centre, and it s a good option if you re willing to spend around 400 for a shared room. I don t mind sharing, and i loved living so central, so I can recommend it. We lived 6 people (Swedish, French and American) in one apartment which was sometimes annoying, but mostly really fun. Your finances 15. Describe the cost of living. Did you find CSN adequate? How was the rent in comparison to your rent in Uppsala? Did you undertake part-time work in addition to your studies? As I said, the rents were quite high, especially where I lived. I would say the prices on food were almost the same as in Sweden. However, I did not find it hard to get on with CSN and the Erasmus money. Free time 16. What did you do in your free time? Did the university arrange any special activities? Where there any activities specifically for exchange students? Were you happy with what was on offer? I did a lot of things when I was in Galway, and was away almost every weekend of my exchange. The Erasmus society arranges a lot of fun trips, and there are many bus trips available to Cliffs of Moher, Aran Islands etc. Something I really liked about NUIG was the large range of sport clubs and societies that you could join. It s possible to do almost any sport as a beginner or on a more advanced level. I tried karate, which was really fun, and I also joined a choir. The sport clubs and societies are a nice way to meet Irish students if you don t want to only hang out with internationals. Your exchange on the whole 17. Please sum up your exchange experience. If you have any other tips for future exchange students, or any other comments feel free to include them here. I had a really good time in Galway. It felt very uncomplicated to go there and the time went by so fast. It didn t rain as much as I feared, it was usually a bit of rain and a bit of sun every day. Galway is such a nice city, and the fact that Ireland is so small makes it a good place to go on exchange, as you get a chance to really get to know the country. I recommend everyone to go to Galway! Approval 18. Your report will be available for future exchange students in printed form at the International Office and will be sent by to individual students requesting it. Do you also approve the publishing of your exchange report on Uppsala University s website? Yes 19. Do you have any photos you would like to upload and include in your exchange report? Please tell us a little bit about the picture/s. - Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 536 av 545

6 Enskilda enkäter för Exchange Report 2015/ Publishing of pictures - Thank you for submitting your exchange report! Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 537 av 545

7 Enskilda enkäter för Exchange Report 2015/16 Person 75 Basic Information 1. Name Sara Enlund 2. address: 3. Exchange university NUI Galway 4. City Uppsala 5. Country Sverige 6. First semester of your exchange Swedish autumn semester (HT 2015) 7. Academic year 2015/16 8. What subject area/s did you study during your exchange? Occupational therapy, Psychology, Anatomy 9. Level of studies at the exchange university Undergraduate 10. What are you studying at Uppsala University? Fysiotherapy 11. How many years of study had you completed before going on exchange? 3 Studies 12. Tell us about your studies on your exchange. If you are stuck for ideas you can for exemple write about: The differences between Uppsala University and the exchange. What were the teachers like? What courses would you recommend (or not) for future exchange students? The relationship between teachers and students. The academic level and quality of your courses. Access to computers. Examinations Orientation and reception 13. Tell us about how it was to arrive and settle in. Galway felt friendly and welcoming right away. It was no problem to settle in to the city itself. It was more trouble about settling in with all the modules and decisions that had to me made the first week. To get a bike (recommended), to find your way around, to make friends, to choose modules, where to live etc. The first few weeks were very intensive but good fun. Accommodation 14. Describe your accommodation. What type of accommodation did you have, where you satisfied? Do you have any tips for future students? I lived at Dunaras village which is a student complex. I wanted to live with other students and this was the only place still left when I got in. My room and the apartment was great but the facilities in big and the location was not as good. It was 2,2 km to school and 2,5 km to town which was okay with a bike but if I could do it again I would definitely live in town. I had my own room which was very nice though and I enjoyed that. Usually it s hard to find an apartment with your own room in town. But if you don t mind sharing room, definitely live more in the city. Many people came and looked for apartments before school started and that worked out fine for most of them. Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 210 av 545

8 Enskilda enkäter för Exchange Report 2015/16 Your finances 15. Describe the cost of living. Did you find CSN adequate? How was the rent in comparison to your rent in Uppsala? Did you undertake part-time work in addition to your studies? The rent was higher than in Uppsala. But with a higher loan from CSN it was not a problem. Food prices are about the same as home if you shop in the cheaper stores like aldi and lidl. Free time 16. What did you do in your free time? Did the university arrange any special activities? Where there any activities specifically for exchange students? Were you happy with what was on offer? There is a lot to do with your spare time in Galway. I joined a lot of sports clubs since I love training. But there is also societies for almost everything if you prefer that over sports. I played volleyball and went in two tournaments with the team. I did karate and managed to grade from nothing to a yellow belt in one semester. I did kayaking, sailing, windsurfing and surfing. You might not have thought so, but Galway is actually great for water sports. Get a wetsuit on and get in the water. It s good craic (expression of fun in Ireland). I went on a surftrip up north in Ireland with the surfclub. We had a really good time with surfing and partying. I also played Gaelic football, it was fun to try an authentic Irish sports. The college sports are totally free and it is easy and very welcoming to try sports that you have not tried before. It s a good opportunity to try new sports. NUIG also has a good gym with a swimming pool. Make sure to go to sports day and Society day to see what interests you. Except for all this which is usually in weekdays (unless there is a trip) there are a lot of nature to be seen around Galway. I would recommend to rent a car and drive around or otherwise you can take the more touristic buses to the main attractions. And of course there are the bars. I loved the atmosphere and the music at the bars. Yes, there was a lot of beer but it s fun just going out for an hour or so too, it always makes you feel better. Galway has a small city centre bit it has a really good selection of shops and bars. I was out a lot but still did not manage to visit all bars. There are three main nightclubs. I would recommend Halo on the weekends if you are over 23 or otherwise electric. But the main attraction is definitely the bars (where you can also sometimes dance). It s easier to meet people at the bars. Most Irish people will be friendly and talk to you if you are waiting at the bar to order for example. The cost of one beer is usually 5 but at the college bar and roisin dobh there are usually a bit cheaper beer. The food at the bars and the restaurants are really good but very calorie rich so to on overspend in money and calories I would recommend to make lunch boxes to bring to school. There a re only three microwaves at school, held by the student union. The least que is probably at kingfisher (the gym) but most Irish students buy their food in the cantine. Accommodation is expensive in Galway. You can be looking at paying 400/month for a shared room in town or even more for a single room. It s definetely more than my rent in Uppsala, bit I rented out my apartment in Uppsala to help fund it. Your exchange on the whole 17. Please sum up your exchange experience. If you have any other tips for future exchange students, or any other comments feel free to include them here. Despite a confusing start of the semester with choosing modules and that I have not been totally satisfied with my accommodation I really loved my time in Galway and at NUIG. Studying here was fun and even though it was really tough during the final weeks with the exams I feel that I got new energy and motivation to finish my studies in Uppsala. The quality of the education is good and if you choose subjects that interests you I think you will enjoy it too. Try to Keep up with the studying and reading, just doing a little bit everyday will help you very much when Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 211 av 545

9 Enskilda enkäter för Exchange Report 2015/16 final exams are approaching. It was very stressful during final exams. I had 5 exams and one essay to complete within 2 weeks. But try to enjoy your last weeks in Galway even if there is a lot to do. Sit in the library during the day and do things in the evenings during these weeks. I would also recommend to stay a couple of days after your last exam even if you are longing home. It is nice to have some fun after you are done and really enjoy Galway for a few days so that is what you will remember rather than the walls of the library. The weather in Ireland was actually not so bad. Yes it was rainy and windy from time to time but never for to long and its much warmer than in Sweden. So if you are prepared for a little bit of rain, some studying, to meet great people and to have a LOT of fun I think you will love Galway. Overall I had an amazing time in Galway and I think you will to if you choose to go there. Approval 18. Your report will be available for future exchange students in printed form at the International Office and will be sent by to individual students requesting it. Do you also approve the publishing of your exchange report on Uppsala University s website? Yes 19. Do you have any photos you would like to upload and include in your exchange report? Please tell us a little bit about the picture/s. Cliffs of Moher + Galway 21. Publishing of pictures I approve of my pictures being published and used in Uppsala University s marketing of international exchanges Thank you for submitting your exchange report! Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 212 av 545

10 Utbytesrapport Basic Information Name: Madeleine Torslow address: Exchange university: National University of Ireland, Galway City: Galway Country: Ireland First semester of your exchange: HT 2015 (Swedish autumn semester/ht 2015), Swedish spring semester/vt 2016) Academic year: 2015/2016 What subject area/s did you study during your exchange? Irish, Economics, Law, Philosophy and Indigenous Arts Level of studies at the exchange university: (Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Mixed undergrad/postgrad) Undergraduate What are you studying at Uppsala University? Economics How many years of study had you completed before going on exchange? 3 years Studies (Tell us about your studies on your exchange. If you are stuck for ideas you can for example write about: The differences between Uppsala University and the exchange. What were the teachers like? What courses would you recommend (or not) for future exchange students? The relationship between teachers and students. The academic level and quality of your courses. Access to computers. Examinations...) The classes were pretty similar to the ones I have taken in Sweden, but one of the biggest differences was that they were only 50 minutes long. It felt very short compared to what I have been used to, and sometimes annoying. You also built your curriculum for yourself, which meant that you had to find classes that did not clash (which was sometimes nearly impossible if you wanted to study several areas). Another difference was that you had all exams at the end of the semester which was nice at the first half of the semester but stressful the other half. Orientation and reception (Tell us about how it was to arrive and settle in.) Since we were over 1000 exchange students during the fall you felt like you belonged with everyone and there were many activities just for us exchange students. Especially for all the Erasmus students, that had their own society at the university which arranged trips and parties. It was easy to connect with other exchange students in groups on Facebook where several ads for accommodation were available.

11 Accommodation (Describe your accommodation. What type of accommodation did you have, where you satisfied? Do you have any tips for future students?) It was hard to find accommodation before departure, but I heard early on that it was common to arrive one week before school started to search for accommodation. I guess I was lucky, but I found an apartment in the city centre only one day after my arrival. I lived with four other exchange students and I believe that it was easier to find something when we were a group searching together. I shared room with another Swedish girl, which was surprisingly easy to get used to and fun. Although I would prefer to have my own room it was a fun experience and we became very good friends. The standard of living is not quite the same as in Sweden, but I got used to it pretty quickly. It is badly isolated in a lot of houses/apartments, therefore it was both cold and bad circulation in our apartment. My tip is to bring warm socks or slippers! Your finances (Describe the cost of living. Did you find CSN adequate? How was the rent in comparison to your rent in Uppsala? Did you undertake part-time work in addition to your studies?) I payed 417 each month in rent, which is quite the same cost of living compared to Uppsala. I found CSN adequate, the cost of food and restaurants was pretty much the same as in Sweden. Since I also got the Erasmus grant I had some extra for trips around Ireland. Free time (What did you do in your free time? Did the university arrange any special activities? Where there any activities specifically for exchange students? Were you happy with what was on offer?) The first month we went on a trip every weekend. It could be just for a day or over the weekend, a very fun and exciting way to travel around and get to know some new friends. The university had a lot of societies and clubs which all arranged different kinds of social events and trips for students. The Erasmus society arranged trips and parties that I participated in a lot. I was happy about what they had got to offer. Your exchange on the whole (Please sum up your exchange experience. If you have any other tips for future exchange students, or any other comments feel free to include them here.) It was a very fun experience and something everyone should do before finishing their studies. Even though every exchange is different, I believe that they all share that common feeling of excitement and maybe even a certain enhanced confidence of oneself. The main reason why I chose Ireland was that I felt that everyone there showed such hospitality and kindness, and I was not proved wrong. Although they might walk a bit slower, drive on the wrong side of the road and drink a bit too much sometimes, the Irish are very friendly and especially in Galway with its international perspective and hospitality of exchange students.

12 Approval (Your report will be available for future exchange students in printed form at the International Office and will be sent by to individual students requesting it. Do you also approve the publishing of your exchange report on Uppsala University's website?) Yes Do you have any photos you would like to upload and include in your exchange report? Sorry, no. Please tell us a little bit about the picture/s. Publishing of pictures I approve of my pictures being published and used in Uppsala University s marketing of international exchanges (Yes/No) I approve of my pictures being published only in this exchange report (web/printed) (Yes/No) I approve my pictures being published (print only) (Yes/No) Thank you for submitting your exchange report!