Spending a year studying in Oregon, USA taught me so much and it really started to feel like home in no time
鈥淚 knew before starting university that I wanted to study abroad as part of my degree, as I鈥檓 passionate about travelling and I wanted to experience student life in a different country. I also thought it would be a good way of gaining field experience in ecosystems unlike those we have in the UK, which as a Biology student wanting to pursue a career in research, I felt would be good experience for the future. I also love meeting new people and learning about different cultures, and study abroad seemed like the perfect opportunity to combine the two, while experiencing the country as a local, rather than a tourist. Spending a year in Oregon, USA has taught me so much about the country and everybody has been so welcoming, it really started to feel like home in no time.
鈥淥ne of the biggest highlights of my year abroad is definitely the fieldwork I鈥檝e been able to get involved in. I got to study amphibians in a rainforest, collect data for estimating deer population size in a mountain range, visit the coast to find invertebrates, and go bird watching in wildlife refuges. During these trips I also got to see some cool native wildlife including elk, coyotes, whales, seals and sea lions. The social side of studying abroad has also been fantastic, and I鈥檝e made some amazing friends who I hope will be friends for life; we鈥檙e already planning trips to visit each other!
I got to study amphibians in a rainforest, collect data for estimating deer population size in a mountain range, visit the coast to find invertebrates, and go bird watching in wildlife refuges.
Sarah Swann
BSc Biology with a Year Abroad
鈥淚n addition to day trips and sports events with friends, I also joined the adventure club which meant I got to hike and canoe in some beautiful state parks. Being in the USA meant that I got to experience some big American holidays and events that we don鈥檛 have in the UK, such as Thanksgiving, Independence Day, and the Superbowl. These were all so much fun, and spending Christmas and the New Year abroad was also an unforgettable experience. Americans really know how to put on a celebration! Thanks to the study abroad scholarship I was fortunate enough to receive, I was able to spend a few weeks travelling the east coast over winter break which I spent in New York, Washington DC, Florida, New Orleans, and Houston Texas.
鈥淪tudying abroad hasn鈥檛 always been easy but has allowed me to gain so much confidence which has benefitted both my professional and personal life immensely. Being immersed in a new culture has changed my perspective and challenged stereotypes that I hadn鈥檛 realised I held, and I would recommend the experience to anybody. It has also opened my mind to the possibility of future postgraduate study abroad, which I hadn鈥檛 previously considered. I was able to extend my stay in the USA to work as a lab technician over the summer, so I鈥檓 excited to return to 91直播 with more work experience and confidence to complete the final year of my degree.鈥