Go Abroad Ambassadors | Study Here | The University of Aberdeen

Go Abroad Ambassadors

Meet our team of Go Abroad Ambassadors - Aberdeen students that have studied or worked abroad, and are keen to share their experiences with you!

Zuzanna Wojcicka

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Degeree: Business Management - International Relations

Exchange Programme: International Exchange

Destination: Curtin University, Australia

My Experience Abroad: Studying in Perth, Australia was one of the sunniest, fun and most rewarding trips during my studies. From learning about Australian and Aboriginal cultures and art to snorkeling at the Great Barrier reef – I had a chance to travel around the land down under and meet friends for life. The university campus is full of palm trees, exotic birds, hammocks and after classes everyone spent their afternoons at the beach – no wonder Aussies are so laid back and friendly!

My advice for you is to get out of your comfort zone, apply for your exchange abroad and go! Australia or not, every location has so much to offer – you’ll discover a new place, meet great friends and make amazing memories!

Calum Mackinnon

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Calum is our Go Abroad Champion for LGBT+ Students, ask Calum about his experiences abroad.

Degree: Modern Languages & Translation & Interpretation Studies

Exchange Programme: European Exchange

Destination: University of Granada, Spain & Free University of Brussels, Belgium

Top Tip: Never lose sight of the skills you're gaining and friends you're making whilst abroad - both are invaluable and will reward you long after your exchange has ended. See as much of your host country as you can - go on all the trips! Definitely take a disposable camera (or two!) abroad with you, to capture those special, once in a lifetime moments - there's something so special about getting those priceless photos developed.

Eloise Topham

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Degree: Law with European Legal Studies

Exchange Programme: European Exchange

Destination: Aarhus University, Denmark

Top Tip: Hello! I am a fourth-year law student, and last year I spent the year in Aarhus, Denmark learning all about European Law. My biggest tip to make the most of your experience is to be as open to trying new things as possible. During your time away you will be given opportunities to go places, try different foods, meet new people, and explore different cultures. By keeping an open mind and giving everything a go, you are less likely to feel you have missed out or leave your exchange with any regrets. You might just discover your new favourite thing!

Will Milsom

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Degree: History

Exchange Programme: European Exchange

Destination: Utrecht University, the Netherlands

My Experience Abroad: Living and studying abroad was an amazing, transformative part of my university experience. Immersed in new cultures, I met people from diverse backgrounds who expanded my world view in ways that I could never have imagined. It wasn’t just about learning academically, but also growing personally. I would encourage everyone to study abroad - the opportunities open to you are endless!

Varun Sahani

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Varus is our Go Abroad Champion for South Asian Students, ask Varun about his experiences abroad.

Degree: Business Management - Finance

Exchange Programme: Summer School

Destination: Copenhagen Business School, Denmark

Why I Went Abroad: I went abroad because I wanted to develop my academic, professional, and personal skills. It was a great opportunity to step outside my comfort zone and appreciate different cultures while working on career progression. I have quite fond memories of Copenhagen during my time at CBS. Denmark is a very cycle-friendly country, and I decided to take up cycling based on my experience commuting to the business school and exploring the city by bike. Top tip: Be open to new cultures, languages, scenery, food, and drinks, but don't forget to focus on your studies during your time abroad. Keep Safe!

Mazz Cummings

Mazz is our Go Abroad Champion for Mature Students, ask Mazz about their experiences abroad.

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Degree: Ecology

Exchange Programme: European Exchange

Destination: University of Tromso, Norway

My Experience Abroad: Studying in Tromsø was a great experience, I met loads of incredible people, both as part of my studies, and through volunteering at the international film festival in January. Seeing the Northern lights and the midnight sun was incredible, and watching the reindeer racing was definitely a highlight! I was worried about being away from my husband for 6 months, but having done a year abroad himself 10 years ago, he didn't want me to miss out on the opportunity, and ultimately, neither did I! I really enjoyed sharing my experiences with him when he visited me, and even teaching him to cross country ski!

Matt Wrobel

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Degree: Civil Engineering

Exchange Programme: Summer School; MITACS Internship

Destination: Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Quebec, Canada

Why I Went Abroad: As the years pass, I realise the necessity of exposing yourself to a new environment such as studying abroad. It is an amazing opportunity to understand the diversity around the world, expose yourself to a new culture, meet new people or grasp a new language. The environment we are adjusted to puts us in the comfortable zone but in order to develop on an emotional, personal and educational level, it is important to put yourself into the unknown. Studying abroad made me appreciate the stability of the life I have in the UK, but simultaneously ignited the forever-burning spark related with travelling and exploring the world. After coming back from abroad studies, I realised that everything is possible if you can focus your mindset on your goals.

Katie Brodie

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Degree: Politics and International Relations

Exchange Programme: International and European Exchange

Destination: Yonsei University, South Korea & University of Lapland, Finland

Top Tip: Be open-minded! Try things you might never have considered before, meet lots of new friends and be prepared to step outside of your comfort zone. After all, adventure and travel are some of the best ways to learn. This advice was given to me before I left on my first exchange, which I enjoyed so much that I took advantage of the opportunity to complete a second exchange. If I hadn’t listened to this advice I wouldn’t have experienced seeing the northern lights in Lapland or backpacking across South Korea and Japan.

Lily Hambly

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Lily is our Go Abroad Champion for Neurodiverse Students, ask Lily about her experiences abroad.

Degree: Psychology - Sociology

Exchange Programme: MITACS Internship

Destination: Quebec, Canada

My Top Tip: Embrace Every Moment! Take every opportunity you can by saying yes to things and immersing yourself in the local culture. Also, stay open-minded. The most unexpected adventures became some of my favourite memories. Spend time with locals and fellow students as building friendships was a foundational part of my experience. Also, try and document your journey by taking lots of photos and maybe by keeping a diary/ creating a scrapbook, so you can look back on your time abroad. Remember, it's okay if every day isn't perfect. Embrace the ups and downs - they're all part of the experience. Most importantly, have fun and make some memories!

Laura Heeb

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Degree: English - Spanish and Latin American Studies

Exchange Programme: European Traineeship

Destination: Meddeas, Spain

My Experience Abroad: Spending a year in Palma de Mallorca was nothing short of amazing. It was a transformative journey that not only introduced me to the vibrant local culture but also enriched my understanding of myself. The friendships I forged during my stay are some of the most cherished in my life, and the memories remain deeply ingrained in my heart. Immersing myself in a different culture opened my eyes to new possibilities, allowing me to evolve and discover my true self. Mallorca's beauty, the enriching culture, and the warmth of its people left an indelible mark on me, leaving me yearning to return to the place I called ‘home’ for the past year.

Marie Goninet-Teissonniere

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Marie is our Go Abroad Champion for First-Generation University Students and students with learning differences, ask Marie about her experiences abroad.

Degree: Neuroscience with Psychology

Exchange Programme: MITACS Internship

Destination: Quebec, Canada

My Top Tip: Document everything! Take loads of photos, keep notes of the fun moments, and put all your ticket stubs, receipts, stickers into a box. At the end of your time abroad not only will you have a lovely reminder of everything you’ve achieved, but you can also use it all to make a fun scrapbook or collage frame as a keepsake.

Becca Elias

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Degree: Physiology

Exchange Programme: International Exchange

Destination: University of British Columbia, Canada

My Experience Abroad: I went abroad to experience living and studying in a different country. I had an amazing time in Vancouver: I have met some of my closest friends through exchange, got to try cool sports like surfing and experience the North American college culture.

Anastasia Goelitz

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Anastasia is our Go Abroad Champion for LGBT+ Students, ask Anastasia about her experiences abroad.

Degree: Marine Biology

Exchange Programme: International Exchange; MITACS Internship

Destination: University of British Columbia, Canada; Ontario, Canada

My Experience Abroad: For my exchange, I was able to combine a semester at UBC and a Mitacs internship, and spent 8 months in this beautiful country. This allowed me to experience different aspects of the academic culture, studying and working; to see many parts of the vast land; and to explore the amazing country. During my time at UBC and in the month before my internship, I went all over British Columbia, enjoying wildlife and nature with an enhanced understanding I had gained from the courses I took there. My internship took me to the remote place of Churchill, where I did not only gain a great new skillset in field research, but also saw Northern Lights and polar bears, and went paddleboarding with belugas!

Katie Aspinall

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Degree: Law with European Legal Studies

Exchange Programme: European Exchange

Destination: University of Bergen, Norway

My Top Tip: I would say my top tip for going abroad is being able to manage your mindset well. Going abroad is, for most students, a once in a lifetime experience where you will be exposed to new people, new places and new opportunities. Of course, this also means new challenges! I found that being able to frame the way I thought about my time abroad before I went really helped me navigate the experience once I was there and get what I wanted out if it. For me, this was simply to push myself out of my comfort zone!

Get in Touch

Contact the Team

Have a question for the Go Abroad Team?

One-to-one virtual appointments

On Tuesdays 10:00-12:00 and Fridays 14:00-16:00 we offer bookable one-to-one virtual appointment slots with a member of the team - Go Abroad - appointment booking form. You will receive a confirmation email once your slot has been booked, followed by a calendar invitation to an MSTeams Online Meeting for your time slot (you do not need login details to join the meeting). If you can no longer attend your meeting, please make sure to cancel the via the booking email or by emailing GoAbroad.Outgoing@abdn.ac.uk.

Email

Otherwise, the best way to contact the team is via email – GoAbroad.Outgoing@abdn.ac.uk. Our email is monitored Monday to Friday 09:00-17:00.