Studying abroad – Student testimonials from University of Sao Paulo, Brazil

As part of our new blog series, we have compiled some testimonials from students about their experiences studying abroad and with the Global Mobility Office. The testimonials are sorted by region and cover a wide range of subjects, departments, and universities in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Oceania

 

University of Sao Paulo – Brazil (Faculty of Medicine) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Student: Jessica

Subject: Medicine

 

Jessica, a Medicine student at KCL, had a unique opportunity to visit and study with the University of Sao Paulo’s medical department and hospital for two weeks as part of her degree.  

 

This offered her great opportunities to learn about and expand on her passion about women’s health through, among other experiences, clinical placements, medical theatre visits, lectures, and seminars. She was also able to take part in health economics lectures, which she found really interesting and let her draw comparisons between medical care in the UK and Brazil. She also found the series gave her great opportunities to network and collaborate on research projects.  

 

By the end, her time definitely made her passionate about women’s health on a global scale, and Jessica found the entire experience a fantastic way to explore her interests and had much to consider for her future career. A particular highlight for her was getting to see her first neurosurgery ever, and she found the entire experience an outstanding way to learn about medicine on an international scale. 

Studying abroad – Student testimonials from Sorbonne University, France

As part of our new blog series, we have compiled some testimonials from students about their experiences studying abroad and with the Global Mobility Office. The testimonials are sorted by region and cover a wide range of subjects, departments, and universities in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Oceania

 

Sorbonne University – France

Student: Jessica 

Subject: Modern Languages (French and Spanish)  

As part of her Modern Languages degree, Jessica was required to spend time studying in a French-language institution, giving her a chance to put her learning into practice. She made the most of Sorbonne University’s vast academic offerings, taking a class on Paris in the 1600s and the history of France’s royal family. Jessica felt she was easily able to tailor her year abroad experience, getting chances to learn more about subjects that interested her, particularly French history and culture. 
  
In her spare time, Jessica took advantage of Sorbonne University’s location and explored Paris, visiting the Catacombs, the Pantheon, the French War Museum, the Paris National Opera, the Louvre, and many other exhibitions and institutions dedicated to famous French figures.  
 
This experience left her feeling extremely glad to have been able to study abroad, and thoroughly recommends the experience to anyone interested in learning more about other cultures and nations. 

 

Studying abroad – Student testimonials from Utrecht University, the Netherlands

As part of our new blog series, we have compiled some testimonials from students about their experiences studying abroad and with the Global Mobility Office. The testimonials are sorted by region and cover a wide range of subjects, departments, and universities in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Oceania.

 

Utrecht University – the Netherlands

Student: Nicole 

Subject: Liberal Arts (Film and Philosophy) 

 

Nicole initially applied to study abroad as she had previously visited Utretcht to study an Art and Design course and found that an exchange to Utretcht was a perfect opportunity to learn more about her passions in the art world. She studied 17th  century Dutch Art, attending lectures, visiting museums, and took part in classes, art field trips, and guided tours to various  galleries across the Netherlands, including in Amsterdam.  

 

Nicole found this exchange was a great opportunity to travel and meet new people, and grow her confidence as someone who had never solo travelled before.  She used her free time to explore Utretcht and other cities, and highly recommends studying abroad to all students who are interested in her experience.  

Studying abroad – Student testimonials from University of North Carolina, USA

As part of our new blog series, we have compiled some testimonials from students about their experiences studying abroad and with the Global Mobility Office. The testimonials are sorted by region and cover a wide range of subjects, departments, and universities in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Oceania.

 

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (UNC) – USA 

Student: Sophie  

Subject: Politics 

 

Sophie described her study abroad experience as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. She’d always loved the idea of studying in another country, and at UNC, she took multiple classes on her particular interest in American Politics. Her courses ranged from deep-dives into American democracy’s operation to insights into different governing systems worldwide. She also found studying abroad was a great way to develop her confidence and networking skills, and she has returned to the King’s with new knowledge in the mix of fields she studied, including history, politics, and public policy.

 

 In her downtime, Sophie took full advantage of North Carolina’s location on the East Coast and took trips to, among other places, Washington  D.C and New Orleans, exploring everything the cities had to offer, including sights, museums, and cuisines!   

 

She also spent plenty of time on the beautiful campus, where she found UNC’s campus life to be incredible, and felt a real sense of community, especially during the university’s sporting events. Now, she says she wouldn’t have gone anywhere else for her study abroad, and highly recommends UNC for those who are interested in everything American. 

Internships Guide for Outgoing Students – Viola Marsili

Viola, one of our Global Mobility Peer Advisors, has written this helpful guide for King’s students hoping to pursue an internship opportunity abroad. Viola completed an internship at Bloom Consulting, Madrid, Spain during her year abroad in 2022/23.

Places to look for an internship

General job posting websites like Indeed, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and Milkround are highly valuable resources when searching for internships. They enable you to narrow down your search based on your preferred industry sectors and the specific locations you are targeting.

Sometimes, depending on the country you plan to go to, you may also come across private recruitment agencies that can facilitate connections with companies. It is worth noting that many of these agencies may charge a fee, so it is essential to conduct thorough research to ensure their legitimacy and credibility, to prevent from scams.

Additionally, I recommend visiting companies’ websites and reaching out to specific individuals via email to inquire about potential internship opportunities. Some companies only announce career openings on their own websites or might not post job advertisements on the specific social media platforms you are checking. This approach not only demonstrates your keen interest in the company but also showcases your motivation to join their team for an internship.

Help from King’s Careers Department

 It is important to note that King’s College London also provides a wealth of resources to support your research and internship endeavours. On the King’s Careers Connect website, you’ll find a dedicated section called the “Global Placements Hub,” offering a diverse range of resources to assist you in discovering interesting internship opportunities abroad. Furthermore, this platform provides valuable guidance on crafting an effective CV, interview preparation, and assessments to help you stand out during the application process.

For your placement abroad, is it likely that you will be asked by King’s to secure your internship many months in advance before starting the placement. In this regard, it is important to keep in mind that many companies only start posting Job Advertisements closer to the internship starting date. This is why it is important to consider all your options in case you are not able to secure an internship in the end.

Documents required for the Internship

As part of your internship abroad, once you have secured an internship, you will need to complete the Work Placement Approval Form provided by King’s Global Mobility Office. This document will request specific information related to your placement, which you must fill out and then seek approval from your Study Abroad Tutor. Please note that your placement abroad is not confirmed until you receive confirmation that your Study Abroad Tutor has approved it, and you have completed the KHA (details below).

Once your placement has been approved you will be asked to complete and submit the KHA, the ‘King’s Host Agreement’. This is a three-party contract that needs to be signed by the host university (King’s), the host company, and the student. I would recommend that you inform your host employer about the university’s required procedure and that they will be asked to sign this document. This is because some employers have their own internship contracts and may not be able to sign external agreements which could prevent you from doing your internship with that company.

Benefits of doing an internship

Engaging in an internship abroad comes with numerous and unique advantages. Modern Languages students at King’s are required to seek internships conducted in the target language they are studying at their home university. This not only provides an opportunity to hone their language skills but also helps in building strong confidence and communication abilities.

From my personal experience, I can attest that participating in an internship during your year abroad is a transformative experience. It plays a pivotal role in fostering personal growth and self-confidence as you navigate unfamiliar environments, developing resilience and problem-solving skills.

Furthermore, the skills you acquire during an international internship are highly transferable and beneficial for your career aspirations. Working with people from diverse backgrounds for example is advantageous in any profession. Additionally, the opportunity to apply the language you have been diligently studying during your placement in a different workplace setting, adds another layer of competence. Finally, I believe that overall, the skills and experience you gain throughout your international internship significantly enhance your employability and make it easier when you come back to your home country to successfully secure another internship or find an entry level position when you graduate.

Challenges that may arise

When you begin working in the host company, you may encounter some language barriers when assigned tasks and projects, or misunderstandings may arise when communicating with your coworkers or supervisor. However, it is important to understand that this is entirely normal and an integral part of the learning process. I would recommend approaching this experience with an open mind and the awareness that these challenges could occur. As you become more familiar with the work environment and the language, you’ll likely find that these language barriers gradually diminish.

Similarly, adapting to a new culture, customs, and work environment can pose challenges. It may take time to feel comfortable and fully integrated into the workplace. You also might observe that the company you are working for adheres to different work expectations or procedures compared to those in your home country.

If you are far from your support network, including family and friends, there may be moments when you experience loneliness. That is why it’s crucial to maintain regular communication with them, so you can share your experiences and address any issues you may encounter while abroad.

Finally, the internship experience is very different from the university environment. This is primarily because you don’t have the same level of freedom that you enjoy at university. You may find yourself working longer hours, which could limit the time you have to see your friends as frequently as you did before or leave you with less personal time.