Erasmus and study abroad – Page 3

Top 10 tips for studying abroad

By Udara Cumaratunga

1. It is an absolute must that you research about the country you want to undertake your study abroad year in, as much as you research on the university and the programme offered. It is important to make sure that you would feel comfortable in this new environment and culture, to gain the maximum benefit of the study abroad year.
2. It is advisable that you select your modules for the year before you leave Sheffield. As it would give you the opportunity to consult your tutors and be prepared for a smooth transition into the foreign university.
3. Having a list of what is required of you to complete in order to settle in might be useful (eg: opening up a bank account, registering at the university and health services etc.) , as you can rely on it to plan out your activities and get them out of the way and start enjoying the wonderful opportunity as soon as possible.
4. Frequent communication with your tutors at Sheffield is very important as they will assist in adapting to the new teaching styles and also with module changes.
5. Living on campus especially in your 1st semester abroad can be very useful. You are likely to meet a lot of international students who are sharing the same experiences as you and may help with moving into your new home and settling in.
6. Don’t be shy! Studying abroad is a wonderful opportunity, make sure you make the best of it. It can be a little daunting when you first arrive and meet loads of new faces. You should take the initiative to interact with people and make new friends. You will be surprised at the great new things you learn about your new friends and their cultures.
7. Be open minded to taking up new challenges, may it be an outdoor activity, a new module or even tasting new cuisines. You never know if you will like it until you try it.
8. Things can be different to your home country and you must be alert. (eg: different bank accounts) It is always good to speak to a student who has already been to your country of choice, so you are better prepared in such situations. The university offers a great opportunity for you to meet previous study abroad students during orientations meetings and so on.
9. Making sure you have appropriate clothing to suite the weather conditions is very important. You DO NOT want to fall sick in the first couple of weeks of you arriving in your new home.
10. Take loads of pictures. Start a blog. Great way to share your experiences and record your most memorable moments.

Get great experience with a summer internship

By Hannah Regan

Internships are such a great way to spend your summer break during your time at University. You can use those summers to not only gain professional experience, but also have a great summer, earn money, and travel!

I have had the opportunity to take part in several internship programmes during my time here. My first was based in South Carolina, working at a Disney Vacation Club beach resort. When I arrived to South Carolina I had no idea what to expect, I was picked up by the Disney managers and driven to our apartment where I met the 3 other interns I would be living with. They were all girls from the UK, and we quickly found the other apartments with people on our programme- there were 14 of us in total, 6 from the UK, 4 from Hong Kong and 4 from Mexico. I settled in to the programme really easily, another intern and I were working on Front Desk; our training lasted about a week before we were then out there on our own. Our team was made up of Americans from all over and a complete mix of ages, our shifts varied between 6am and 11pm, typically 8/9 hour shifts 5 days a week. On our evenings and days off we often went to the beach, the shopping malls, or out for dinner at the various restaurants on the Island. Disney provided us with bikes, and most places were accessible by bike, or by taxi, but we also made American friends on the island who had cars and they would often take us to cities slightly further away for us to explore such as Savannah and Charleston! After the internship your visa allows you 30 days to travel, a friend I made on the programme and I decided to travel the East Coast, visiting Atlanta, Washington DC and New York, before flying home.

My next internship with The Walt Disney Company was based down at Walt Disney World in Florida. This is a much larger programme, with between 150 and 200 people from all over the world participating in the programme. Our arrival was a lot less personal, as over 200 of us arrived on the same day, but took a similar format. I was placed in an apartment in a large apartment complex owned by Disney in Lake Buena Vista. On this programme we were working with people from Australia, Hong Kong, France, Morocco and Italy. I was working in Parade Audience Control, so my job involved working the parades and fireworks in Magic Kingdom, ensuring guest and performer safety. I absolutely loved my job, there was a really big team of us and we all got on so well and had so much fun at work. On our days off we spent a lot of time in the parks, or in the outlet malls, but we also had plenty of time to explore the restaurants and nightlife in Orlando. Again after the programme we had time on our visa left to travel, and so I spent 5 weeks travelling the West Coast, me and a friend drove from San Diego to San Francisco and then flew up to Canada to travel the Rocky Mountains.
Finally, I undertook a professional internship in Canary Wharf at the Financial Conduct Authority. This internship was completely different and gave me an entirely different experience. I gained so much professional experience, built up contacts, and gained an insight into my future career, whilst earning a decent wage! I was working in Authorisations and dealing with shareholders buying additional shares, gaining control, or takeovers of firms. I was given so much responsibility and from day one I was dealing with businessmen owning huge firms, and at no time was I treated like an ‘intern’ or my competence doubted. I was allowed to shadow other departments, and get involved in as much as I wanted to gain the additional experience I needed. One of my favourite things was also getting a taste of graduate life in London, and the social scene that accompanies graduate jobs!
At the end of our internship we had to give a presentation to a room of managers, and had an additional interview. From this I was offered a graduate role with the company starting in September after my graduation. The internship was so valuable, from the application and assessment centres being great practice, all the way through to the actual job and people I met, I really had a great summer and it meant I went into third year not having to deal with graduate applications and could focus on my exams!

A year in Queensland, Australia

By Udara Cumaratunga

As a BA International Business Management student of the University of Sheffield, I had the opportunity to study abroad for a year at Griffith University, Queensland, Australia. Having the opportunity to live in one of the biggest tourist capitals in the country, I was excited for my next adventure, but little prepared me for the life changing experiences and the biggest roller coaster ride of my life!
On my first morning in Australia, I was awoken by the loud chirping of birds from the tree right outside my window – this was to become my natural alarm for the next 12 months. Despite being jet lagged, I dragged myself out of bed eager to explore my new home. After collecting a map from the reception I headed down a footpath with the warm sun beating down on my skin.
As I entered the University I felt a rush of excitement as smiles from other students were quick to greet me, and I was shown around the campus and directed towards the International Office.
Within a week of having arrived in Australia, I had settled in and my life changing journey had begun. Having attended many orientation and other events during the first week, I had made more friends than I ever imagined. Every day at Griffith I seemed to meet someone new and learn something exiting about the world, cultures, personalities and other fun facts.
At Griffith I was instructed to undertake 4 modules per semester, which included 1-2 hour lectures and tutorials. Lecture groups were most often smaller than those in Sheffield, and demanded a lot of engagement from students. The lectures acknowledged our diverse academic backgrounds and embraced the different views we had to offer.

I studied modules such as International Marketing, Public Relations, Inter-Cultural Management, Organisational Behaviour, Human Resource Management, Business Processes, International Accounting and Market Structure and Business Strategy that not only improved my knowledge of the business processes and working environment within Australia but also of other countries around the world. I was able to enhance my knowledge of the different accounting systems of countries such as China, Japan, Germany, USA and Australia, understand the different marketing strategies practiced in Australia and learn the importance of managing cultural diversities around the world. All these subjects were very important to me when understanding the contexts in which international businesses operate.
There was never a dull moment in the Gold Coast, the city is packed with amazing activities to suit every interest. Lying on soft sandy beach of Broadbeach every Sunday with my friends was probably my favourite activity whilst I was there. My friends and I were all adventurous and found ourselves most often venturing around the city. Whale watching, visiting Currumbin Wild Life Sanctuary, spending days at the many theme parks and exploring the waterfalls were just some of the activities we occupied ourselves with. As food lovers we were attracted to the different cuisines that Gold Coast had to offer. We dedicated one night every two weeks to try out a unique dish from the many restaurants and we were frequent customers at Pancake Parlour and Max Brenner.
My friends and I seized every opportunity to travel around the country and Sydney was one of our first spectacular adventures. Despite the close proximity to Gold Coast, Sydney was totally a different experience, groups of people rushing around to work and tourists trying to capture the perfect picture next to the historic monuments. Despite the hustle and bustle we sat on the grass besides the harbour bridge in perfect harmony with nature and watched the blue sky turn from orange to purple as the sun set into the ripples of the ocean.
Melbourne offered a truly culturally and artistically diverse experiences with the many museums and artistic monuments that were located around the city. As we stood on the deck of the highest residential building in the southern hemisphere, our gazes were mesmerised by the amusing architecture below us.
Just before the end of my year in Australia, my group of friends and I spontaneously piled up in a van and headed down the coast to Byron Bay. On our last night there we drove up to the light house and cuddled up next to each other, as we waited for the sun to rise. As I sat there in the shivering cold next to my friends, who giggled away, I realised the magnitude to which this opportunity had changed my life. I had not only made friends to last me a life time but also learnt new things about the world, cultures and business environments.

Studying abroad – the course content

By Udara Cumaratunga

Studying at Griffith University, Queensland, Australia, I was able to undertake a number of unique modules that explored a wide variety of disciplines within business. Some of the modules that I took over the two semesters were: International Marketing, Organisational Behaviour, Inter-Cultural Management, Public Relations, Human Resource Management Principles, Market Structure and Business Strategy, International Accounting and Business Processes. These modules were structured in a similar way to the modules that I undertook at the Management School in my first year in terms of the delivery of the subject content and assignments. Most of the modules included a group work assignment component that allowed me to engage with other students from across the world and gain from their knowledge and experiences.
One of the most memorable group assignment I completed was for International Marketing, for which I was allocated to a group of 6 people and delegated the task of preparing an advert for a Horticulture Convention that was to be held in Brisbane, Australia later that year. My group members were of different nationalities, with students from France, America, the UK and Australia backgrounds. During the course of the assignment my group and I explored our creative flair and incorporated different marketing techniques presented to us during the module and also from the techniques practiced in our home countries, to develop an advert that was then presented to a representative of the Horticulture Convention, a lecturer, a tutor and other students undertaking the module. This experience was really motivating as I now have a better understanding of the different marketing techniques practiced in different countries of the world for variety purposes.
A module that I was very interested in was Inter-Cultural Management. In this module we explored the impact of cultural differences across countries on business operations. The lecturer and tutors had lived in many different countries and were able to reflect on their personal experiences of negotiating business proposals and adapting business operations to different cultures. These examples were fascinating, as they highlighted the relationship between the smallest of differences, such as the perception of punctuality, to have the biggest of impacts on business operations.
During tutorials we were assigned a case study and several questions. The lecturers selected a random group of students to prepare and present their arguments and opinions on the situation within the case. This was an opportunity for us to apply the theoretical perspectives that were explored in lectures to operations of the business discussed in the case study and develop effective solutions. Having undertaken a summer internship and many part time jobs I have been able to identify the cultural differences that have influenced the operations of these business.
I have also been able to apply the knowledge and experiences I acquired from the modules that I took during my study abroad year to the modules that I have since taken at the Management School in my final year. I am able to better understand the operations of international businesses, the influences on their strategies and operations when diversifying operations across national borders, I’m able to develop effective solutions to the challenges of operating internationally.

Choosing your overseas university

By Dominique Von Oppell

Choosing where to go abroad for your 2nd year as a student on International Business Management is a tough decision. I had never been to –the USA, Canada, Hong Kong or Australia, but had always wanted to visit all four. As I was going to be living somewhere new for a year, I wanted to be sure that I picked a country and a university that suited me.
The first thing I did was attend the Study Abroad Open Day, this gives you an opportunity to talk to fellow students who were from or had been to those universities. It allowed me to ask them questions about their experiences and gave me sense of what it would be like to live at each university and in a different country. Even after this, I still had difficulty choosing where I wanted to go, as all the universities offered opportunities that were unique and that I wanted to experience.
I decided to take a more rational approach to decide where I wanted to go. I wrote out all the points that I thought were important to consider when going abroad and ranked them accordingly. These included: language barriers, the cost, what job opportunities were available, societies and clubs that were on offer, the modules that were available and the weather.
Although all the teaching is in English, wherever you go, I wanted to go to an English speaking country, as I felt that going abroad was going to be a big enough challenge for me so this ruled out Hong Kong. The cost and job opportunities were other points to consider, it is well known that students don’t have much money so I would like to be able to get job while I am out there to help with living costs.
This gave me an interesting dilemma: Australia has higher living costs compared to Canada and the USA, however, it is easier to get a job in Australia. I also looked at the societies, clubs and modules that were on offer. The climate of each country had an effect on my choices, as I really wanted to go to a hot, sunny country. This is probably because I grew up in South Africa, so I have missed the heat and sunshine living in the UK! All these points helped me to refine my list of potential universities.
Eventually I decided on Monash University in Melbourne, Australia as my first choice. Luckily I have now secured a spot at Monash, so I am very excited to be heading off down under in July. I am really happy that I put effort into researching each university, as even though this took some time, I am now thrilled with my decision. Now all that is left is to take my summer exams, pack my bags and board a plane to my new adventure!

Broaden your horizons with a semester abroad

By Francesca Hall

At the University of Sheffield you will be encouraged to not only excel in your studies, setting you up with a degree from one of the top University’s in the country, but to take on a host of extra activities and opportunities that will set you even further apart in the competitive world of employment.
As I enter my final term at the University of Sheffield on my three year Business Management course I can safely say my University experience has exceeded all my expectations. I remember clearly the first day I arrived into Sheffield, a car full of clothes, bedding, and empty notebooks, and with it a tonne of nerves and excitement. Having read every student review about the University of Sheffield that I could get my hands on (thank you ‘whatuni.com’!) I had high hopes for what lay ahead. Two and a half years later, I have not been disappointed.
What has surprised me most -beyond the hospitality of the locals, the quality of teaching and facilities, and how there is a society for every activity you could imagine- is how the University itself has gone above and beyond duty, offering me so much more than just classroom learning. I have found myself frequently inundated with opportunities to do exciting new things, and taken-up many, but the one which has had the most profound effect on my life is studying abroad.
In my second year, with ‘YES’ as my go-to word, I embarked upon a five month adventure studying a semester at Copenhagen Business School as part of the University’s Erasmus programme. Towards the tail-end of January I once more packed my life up into suitcases, and boarded my flight into the unknown territory of snowy Copenhagen. The first week was terrifying and overwhelming as I realised the magnitude of what I had signed myself up for (5 months and over a thousand miles from home) but my nerves quickly dissipated as the floods of new faces became friends and this alien city grew to become home.
Studying at Copenhagen Business School -one of many prestigious universities the Management School is partners with, and living in Denmark’s capital was an incredible experience. Whilst I wasn’t so keen on the three hour classes or the four hour exams, I seized the opportunity to immerse myself in a new way of learning, grateful to explore my passion for business through a different array of modules. Trying to settle down and study with the sunshine and city calling your name was definitely learning curve, but with a work-hard, play-hard approach I had the most wholesome experience I could have asked for. Copenhagen itself is a stunning city, vibrant, packed full of culture, with so much to see and do. I have an abundance of fond memories, from city strolls and bike rides, canoeing on the canal, and enjoying the Tivoli gardens and Lousiana, to partying at Kulørbar, eating Smørrebrød at Torvehallerne, and enjoying good company by the canal on a warm evening. However, whilst I can’t imagine a city more fantastic to study abroad in than Copenhagen, if it’s not your cup of tea, you can take your pick from the University of Sheffield’s other partner universities across Europe, in Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands or Sweden. Not to mention, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong and the USA if you choose to study International Business Management!
To say that studying abroad changes your life is no understatement. I have made life-long friendships with an array of amazing people from across the globe, experienced life in another culture, and studied with a further fantastic university. With it, I have returned to Sheffield with more self-confidence, patience, awareness, and as clichéd as it may sound, I have grown as an individual beyond measure. I feel eternally grateful to the University of Sheffield and the Management School for giving me the opportunities that I have had, and without their continual support it would not have been possible.
I hope you too will have a fantastic time studying at the University of Sheffield. If I had to give you one piece of advice it would be, to say yes often, and push yourself to do something new. If you do that I guarantee you’ll be leaving University with more than just a degree to show for it!