Enjoying the present moment

Claudia Allen shares how studying at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh, Scotland, helped her grow and gave her plenty of time to explore everything the city has to offer.

Claudia Allen

Why I chose my host uni:

Queen Margaret University had courses available in psychology and as I investigated the university website, I felt drawn to the fact that it had a person-centred focus. I was also drawn to the modern looking campus, ease of access to public transport and the location to the main city. Student accommodation was also on site, so getting to class was only a five-minute walk.

How I found applying to my host uni:

The application was very easy with a lot of help from AUT’s exchange team as well as the host exchange team. I was looking for elective courses, which made it a lot easier to choose any courses I was interested in.

The only difficulty I had was with the time zone difference – but because everyone was very helpful it wasn’t too bad, but good to keep in mind when applying for exchange, especially in the UK.

I needed to provide my transcripts, and a copy of my visa to confirm I was eligible to be in the country, but it was very straightforward.

I’m in my final semester and plan on returning to the UK at the end of the year. I applied for a youth mobility visa, which allows me to study, work and live in the UK for up to two years. The application process for this was stressful and took over three weeks to complete. I wouldn’t recommend this if you’re in your first or second year of your degree as it is costly.

How I found learning in a different academic system:

I found the university system in Scotland a lot easier than New Zealand. A full semester is typically three courses, compared to four. So, one less class made it a lot better to adapt to my new surroundings. Not to mention, each course had one assignment, which was a shock to my system in a really good way! The spare time allowed me to grow and explore what Edinburgh had to offer.

What I gained from this experience:

Personally, I learned how to be independent and put myself first. As an introvert, I was very sceptical about making new friends or heading out on my own. Being forced into a situation where I just had to jump in and do it, made me grow and be more comfortable with giving new things a go!

Academically, I learned to relax about assignments and developed a better study-life balance. I also learned that small steps on assignments really do help with the bigger picture. I was a terrible procrastinator, but with a lighter workload I was able to keep on track.

Overall, I learned to slow down and enjoy the present moment.