Commerce Abroad
Student Profiles
Read about the experiences of BCom students who have gone on exchange. There are more profiles on returned exchange students on the MGM profiles page.
Nicholas Yap, Exchange to Heriot Watt University, United Kingdom – Semester 2, 2008 and Semester 1, 2009
I was honoured to be selected as one of two students to represent the Center of Actuarial Studies, which is part of the Faculty of Commerce, on the year-long exchange program to Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. Having gone through the actuarial programs in the two best actuarial schools in the world, I have had the privilege of taking a diverse curriculum of subjects that no one school can offer. I was also able to tap into the minds of some of the leading figures who are at the forefront of research in their respective fields. To provide a balance to a very demanding academic year, the faculty organized an overnight trip(lecturers included) to a historic mansion known as The Burn where we got really acquainted with one another. Edinburgh, while charming and beautiful on its own, also served as a perfect base for me to do my travelling around Europe (10 countries in total). But what I will miss most about that one year is the friends that I’ve made whilst living in halls and in class. I know that even though I’ve only known them for a year, they will be friends that I’ll treasure for life.
Yongdong Andy Li, Exchange to Peking University, China, Semester 1, 2009
The campus of Peking University is wonderful, especially in February, when the campus is covered with white snow. For me, life in PKU was peaceful but at the same time full of excitement. In the weekdays, I took seven subjects and studied with the local students. In the weekends, I hanged out with the local students. We took every chance to travel around this ancient and mysterious city. I really enjoyed the time spent with these Chinese friends.
After two semesters of exchange in Peking University, I have to say it is a unique experience and has changed my life. The studious atmosphere in PKU is admirable. By looking at the hard-working local students, I found the reason why China could maintain above 10% GDP growth on average in the past ten years - it was due to the Chinese's strong will to revolutionise their current situation. PKU gave me a global view, it let me see things with a different perspective, and it really changed my values.
Stathi Vamvoulidis – Exchange to the University of Southern California, USA – Semester 2, 2008
During the third year of my Commerce/Media Communications degree I decided to undertake an exchange in Los Angeles. I had been contemplating and dreaming of the experience for years and finally decided to put my plan into action. Despite how cliché this sounds, it was such an enriching experience from all possible aspects. I really got to indulge in and appreciate the American college lifestyle, from Greek life to football season, USC was a fantastic choice for an authentic U.S.A college experience.
During my time there I over-indulged in many extracurricular activities the school offered, such as a sailing class where I learnt to sail a boat to Catalina, a special effects cinema class at the cinema school that once nurtured the talent of Spielberg and Lucas. I was also quite fortunate to score two amazing internship in the entertainment capital of the world, one at Sony Film Studios and another at CBS Television City.
I did everything and anything that was not within my reach here in Melbourne, and for that I have memories and friends to last me a lifetime.
Plus a meeting with the one and only Britney Spears.
Galit Aflalo – Universitas 21 Summer School, University of Queensland – July 2009
Over the winter break, I was fortunate to participate in the Universitas 21 Summer School at the University of Queensland on the subject of Climate Change Adaptation. The experience was incredible! Together with delegates from universities across the world, I was able to learn about critical issue of climate change from the differing perspectives of various disciplines including science, commerce, politics and sociology. The conference provided a terrific networking opportunity to meet and gain the insights of other passionate undergraduate students from different countries with diverse cultural and educational backgrounds.