I studied for a year at the University of Lausanne in Lausanne, Switzerland. The opportunity to have this type of experience alongside my degree was really appealing, and it definitely helped with my studies. But overall, it helped me as a person.
Studying abroad gave me a massive boost of confidence that I now have within myself. I know I can move to another country and make it my home for a while. It’s incredibly freeing. I was also able to develop my French, which was a really nice bonus.
Valuable experiences and human connection
As I was only staying for a year, I wasn't given student accommodation by the University, so I had to find it myself. This is the case for everyone who was staying for a year instead of a single semester.
During my first semester, I stayed with an older woman who was renting out a room. She had previously had other students staying with her, and it was good to be with someone who knew the area well. In the second semester, I moved into an apartment closer to campus with one of the friends I had made, which was another great experience.
The campus was beautiful, so I didn't mind being there for most of the week. Just waking to the University was breathtaking. You can see the mountains, which are one of a kind, and opposite the library is the Lac Leman or Lake Geneva as we know it so in the summer, I would study for a bit and then walk down and sunbathe - what a life!
Being based in Switzerland meant I was close to France, Italy and Germany. I loved exploring these areas. Within a few hours on the train, I could be in another country! Geneva airport is also close by, so I was able to go to Spain too.
Back in Southampton
The credit system in Switzerland is slightly different – a module gave three credits, so I took many different ones to make up the 60 credits I needed each semester. I had the chance to cover more topics than I would've been able to in Southampton, which was amazing. Some of my favourites were Visions and Revisions of Snow White, looking at old English in the Green Knight, Love, Desire and Lyric Poetry, and Hemingway's short stories. There was a bit more to do in terms of reading but every week there was something new to get stuck into.
Some classes were essay-based, while some were graded on presentations, which allowed me to get lots of experience in both. For my second-wave feminist class, I gave a presentation on Bridget Jones, exploring whether Bridget Jones is as feminist as we believe her to be, considering that her story revolves around finding a man, which was really fun and creative.
The English course is really varied; there are lots of different modules to choose from and I’ve really enjoyed being given the freedom to delve into different texts. It’s opened my eyes to other perspectives and it’s gratifying to discuss something with like-minded individuals who are open to debate. All the lecturers and tutors are welcoming and available to help when you need it.
The University’s facilities are great, and the campus is a great place to be – especially Avenue Campus. It’s so green and relaxing. There are lots of societies to get involved with. They’re always great fun.