Motivation
To study in a different country and environment, do some travelling, and meet new people.
Personal Development
Made a lot of friends during my exchange and became more independent as I am living by myself. Living on campus is also a very different experience from living at home, so this exchange program has also allowed me to participate in more uni events and connect better with other students that are also living on campus. While travelling around Singapore and being away from my home for so many months, I also became more appreciative of the things around me and took less things for granted.
Academic Development
Learning in a new environment was more refreshing and exciting for me than it was challenging. I enjoyed studying in new libraries across NUS and learning from classmates and lecturers who have different study/teaching styles than students and teachers at UQ do. Overall, the new learning experiences I had at NUS was very beneficial to me as I have now broadened my studying styles. My workload at NUS was similar to a typical semester at UQ, except it was more challenging as I also spent a lot of time during the exchange semester travelling.
Advice/Top Tips
Consider taking at least some courses that are relevant to your field of study even if they are general electives, since learning about your industry in a different country can be an invaluable experience. If you are planning to do a lot of travelling while on exchange like I have done, consider underloading or taking lower level courses in order to make the experience less stressful.
Even if you aren't very outgoing, take this opportunity to connect with more people and make new friends. Other exchange students tend to be more friendly and easier to make friends with since you are sharing the same experience. But also try to connect with local students as they can tell you more about the uni and places to visit while you're overseas.
