Nadia Herbst

3rd-year student, Bachelor of Business in Marketing

The people and places she got to see were what she loved most about her student exchange, says Nadia Herbst who is studying a Bachelor of Business in Marketing.

“For my student exchange I went to the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida, USA. I had always wanted to travel, so AUT’s student exchange programme seemed like a good opportunity to not only see another country but to experience the teaching style they have in the US, as well as make friends and connections with people in other countries.

“I’ve easily made lifelong friends with people from countries ranging from the UK, France and Germany, to Guatemala and more. These people left such an impact on my life, and I’ll always cherish those memories. While I was in the US, I was also able to see different cities and countries on weekends, uni breaks and after the semester ended.”

An easy decision
Nadia says she has always liked business studies, so deciding to study marketing at university was easy.

“I was good at business in high school, but I wanted a pathway that allowed me to be creative. Marketing seemed the best option. I chose AUT for my studies because I had heard good things from former students and liked the learning style at AUT. When I graduate, I’d like to have a career in marketing, most likely in digital marketing or in social media.”

The campus life is one of the things she has enjoyed the most about her time at AUT.

“I’ve enjoyed meeting new people and making friends on campus. There’s always something happening, and the facilities and campuses are great.”

Advice for other students
Now in the final year of her studies, Nadia has some great advice for other students.

“Make the most of university. Unfortunately, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, about half of my degree was online, but I luckily got to make up for some lost experiences with my exchange. I wish I had gotten more involved with AUT’s communities when I got a chance.”

Her other piece of advice is simple: consider going on a student exchange while you’re at AUT.

“If it’s something you are considering to do, go on a semester abroad. It’s scary and intimidating to do, but it’s so worth it.”