Introductory video

About this Module

Moving to a new place on exchange always brings with it new challenges, and while these often present learning and development opportunities which can be very beneficial, they can also cause considerable anxiety. From getting into the right courses to making friends in a new country, there are some problems experienced while on exchange which are common for many students.

In this module we address six of the most common issues students face when settling in to an exchange experience, and we provide you with practical steps and further resources to help you overcome these challenges. It is important to remember that mobility experiences are different for each person; you may face all, some, or none of these challenges.

You may want to familiarise yourself with the material presented here before you go abroad to prepare yourself for some of the challenges you might face, but you should also bookmark this page/save this information to return to it as and when you need to. If you do experience any of these common problems, we would encourage you to complete the quiz at the end of this module after the problem has been resolved and you feel comfortable reflecting on it.

Time needed

1 hour

Learning outcomes

After completing this module, you will be able to:

Identify solutions to many common problems experienced while on exchange
Explore resources that can help resolve issues
Develop skills to overcome stressful situations
Manage expectations and limitations

Module structure

Step 1 - Course Selection
Step 2 - Accommodation
Step 3 - Budgeting or Financial Issues
Step 4 - Culture Shock
Step 5 - Language Issues
Step 6 - Making Friends
Step 7 - Reflection

Keywords

Partner University / Host Institution: the university you are visiting on your mobility
Home Institution: the insitution where you are carrying out the majority of your studies and that will provide you with your degree
Course: sometimes called a class or a module, it is a series of lessons on a particular subject which counts towards your degree.

About the Developers

Lisa Kehoe (University College Dublin)
Mhari McIntyre (University of Edinburgh)
Randall Reinhard (University of Edinburgh)
Shane Lordan (University College Dublin)
Eduardo Alias Gómez (University of Granada)
Lindsey Pamlayne (University College Dublin)
Claudio Santagostini (University of Pavia)

About License and Version

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 international license

The European Commision's support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Comission cannot be held resposible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Version 1.0.0