What You Should Know
ALL ABOUT INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM
BEFORE APPLYING FOR AN INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE
HOW TO APPLY FOR AN INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE?
TESTIMONIAL
Name of Partner University: State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo
I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to gain international exposure while pursuing my degree at Monash University Malaysia. I especially appreciate my parents’ selfless love and financial support throughout this unforgettable exchange journey.
During the exchange, I travelled to the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The people I met were kind, helpful, and open-minded, with an inspiring passion for life. One of the highlights was participating in “Oozefest,” a beloved tradition at the University at Buffalo—playing volleyball in the mud as a fun way to de-stress before exams. Everyone dressed up as their favourite characters, and the team spirit was incredible.
This experience made me more open-minded and independent. Most importantly, I built lasting friendships with people from all over the world. We’ve even made a pact to visit each other again someday.
Robotics Day is held once a year at the University at Buffalo, where PhD students showcase their projects, and you can see a variety of robots. It was enjoyable to discuss the latest developments in robotics with them and learn more about the field. I am glad I had the chance to visit Silicon Valley and catch a glimpse of some of the world’s biggest tech companies, such as Google, Amazon, Meta, Tesla and more.
Some might say that going on an exchange program means stepping out of your comfort zone. For me, it was the most comfortable “out of comfort zone” I’ve ever experienced. It was a refreshing break from academic life. Yes, challenges can be intimidating, but once we face them, they become cherished memories.
This is how I would sum up my exchange experience. So, take the leap, step out of your comfort zone, and apply for the exchange destination that excites you the most. You won’t regret it!
Name of Partner University: University of Reading, United Kingdom
If you’re reading this and you’re on the fence about doing a semester exchange abroad, take this as your sign to do it! To me, studying abroad for a semester was about immersing myself completely in a culture from a completely different part of the world. The week before I was set to leave for the UK, it truly hit me that I was going to live completely alone, without anybody I knew, halfway across the world for six months. However, I can tell you now that going on this exchange has been the best experience of my life (and I really am not exaggerating).
I had always lived at home, meaning I never had the chance to experience living independently. During the semester exchange, one of the most enjoyable aspects was living independently and doing everything on my own. It really gave me a sense of freedom I had not felt before.
You can’t experience life abroad without making connections with the people there, and I was incredibly lucky to find an amazing group of friends. It was great fun getting to know these people and learning about the different intricacies of their lives and where they live. They truly made me feel at home in Reading despite not knowing anyone there previously. I learnt so much about all their different cultures and even picked up some phrases in their languages!
The best part about the exchange experience was definitely the people I met. You will encounter many new places and enjoy new experiences, but the most meaningful part will always be the friends you make along the way. So, be as open and friendly as possible!
During my semester abroad, I travelled as much as I could (while keeping up with studies, of course)! As you’ll see in the pictures, there are so many beautiful places out there, and I even got to experience snow for the first time in my life! Travel as much as you can within your budget; it will absolutely be worth the memories.
These six months abroad really taught me that at this age, there’s so much left in the world to see, so I really need to make the most of any time I have. The semester exchange might seem a bit tedious to plan, but I guarantee it’s the best decision you’ll make. Take the leap and you won’t regret it!
