From AUT to Edinburgh

Charlotte Hyland-Mills found confidence, resilience and a love for adventure while studying at Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland.

Charlotte Hyland-Mills

Why I chose my host uni:

I didn’t have a desired destination, and luckily Edinburgh Napier had all the classes I needed.

How I found applying to my host uni:

Once we had found a uni that had my classes, the whole process was super straightforward, mainly it was just the classes that were a little bit of a struggle. Kirsten from AUT Global was so amazing and super helpful. The visa was straightforward for me as I was there for under six months, so I just had to apply for an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation), it was approved within five minutes and cost less than a visa. I also needed my AUT transcripts for host uni application.

How I found learning in a different academic system:

I really enjoyed it. I was lucky and had super helpful classmates and professors who were able to explain the system to me. I also was in student accommodation with other exchange students, and some of them were in the same faculty as me, so we would talk about the way things were set up.

What I gained from this experience:

Resilience, confidence, adaptability and a drive for adventure – the list goes on. Going on exchange isn’t just about visiting another country, it’s about experiencing a new way of life and that is something that doesn’t leave you. It opens you up to new ways of thinking about you and your perspective on the world. It will help shape you and grow in ways you never imagined.