Exchange and study abroad

Get good advice for your exchange

Pige med briller sidder på bibliotek og læser i en bog
Are you considering going on exchange? An exchange stay can develop you both personally and in your career. It can be a unique opportunity to explore global perspectives within your field and build international professional networks. At the same time, you will gain many cultural and social experiences that can broaden your horizons and challenge your interests. In the article, you will get good advice for your exchange as well as insight into how you can best take advantage of this opportunity and minimise any concerns along the way.

Table of contents

  • Good advice from another student
  • Good advice before you leave
  • Nikolaj took studying abroad as a challenge
  • Back to the pencil

Good advice from another student

When 26-year-old Nikolaj Sten could see the end of his studies as a mechanical engineer at DTU, he felt an itch: The big world had to be explored before it was too late. Especially the USA, with its great weather and cool cultural offerings, attracted the student, he says in the podcast IDA Lyd.

On January 10, 2020, Nikolaj packed both his suitcase and his mental toolbox and jumped on a plane to Austin, Texas to spend a semester “over there”.

It was about getting that experience while I could, and before I graduated. Then maybe a girlfriend and children come along, and it’s not as flexible to go on an overseas adventure. So despite a few initial difficulties at the beginning, I settled well into my new life.
Nikolaj Sten, mechanical engineering student at DTU

The start of the semester and student housing didn’t quite align, which meant that Nikolaj had ten days in Austin before the semester began, during which he didn’t have accommodation. He ended up in a hostel with other exchange students in the same situation, and it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

It was unforeseen and unexpected that I ended up there. But it was cheap and quite centrally located. It meant that I got a really good network from the start, and the friends I made there, I still have to this day.
Nikolaj Sten, mechanical engineering student at DTU

Good advice before you leave

Nikolaj took studying abroad as a challenge

Although there were similarities between DTU and the university in Texas, there were also some very concrete differences in how the teaching was conducted. As a Dane used to calculating in centimetres, metres, and kilos, the brain is certainly put to the test when the units of measurement suddenly become inches, feet, and pounds. Not an insignificant detail when your subject essentially involves calculating things.

I am the type of person who says, “Let’s do it,” when something is difficult. So I got a handle on both the units of measurement and the different teaching method faster than I expected.
Nikolaj Sten, mechanical engineering student at DTU

Thus, he has also gained very concrete learning experiences that are valuable to carry forward. According to Jeppe Duus Dolriis, who is Senior Executive International Officer at DTU, there are many examples of experiences that are impossible to get here at home.

If you have been to Munich and visited a car factory, you gain knowledge about car production that you simply cannot get close to in Denmark. The specific visit can easily be utilised in your career.
Jeppe Duus Dolriis, Senior Executive International Officer at DTU

Therefore, it can be a good idea to seek exchange stays in countries that have production not found in Denmark, which can prove to be relevant experience for you in the future.

Back to the pencil

The way of taking exams surprised Nikolaj Sten. Although engineering is a technical education, the exams over there were quite old-school.

At DTU, for an exam, I can use all my notes, my computer, a calculator, and in some cases, the internet. Over there, it’s the exact opposite. You can bring the book, make one page of notes, use an old-fashioned calculator, and a pencil. And I don’t think I’ve written with a pencil since 8th grade.
Nikolaj Sten, mechanical engineering student at DTU

Nikolaj was used to using software programs to solve mathematical tasks, but now it was back to a calculator and a pencil with an eraser. All of this was difficult at first, but it has also given the adventurous Nikolaj some entirely new insights.

I have become better at handling challenges. Things may not succeed the first time, but then I just try again. It may sound trivial, but it is important to clarify why you actually want to go. Is it mostly academic or the experience of a stay abroad? Then make a strategy for how you can achieve it. If it is mostly the experience and the social aspect that attract you, then it is about being attentive, open, and interested in the people around you. If, on the other hand, it is primarily the academic aspect you are after, you might not want to live in the most festive dorm room and say yes to all the social activities. Instead, you might want to find a quieter place where it is easier to immerse yourself.
Nikolaj Sten, mechanical engineering student at DTU

Related

Did you gain more insight into going on exchange and find Nikolaj’s story inspiring? Then see related content below, which can help you have the best stay abroad.
Travel insurance
If you are planning an exchange or a stay abroad, as a student member, you can get affordable travel insurance that covers you throughout your stay.
Study abroad
Choosing a university and application processes. Learn about different types of study stays. Funding options such as SU, grants, and scholarships. Practical preparations such as housing, visas, and insurance.
Have you remembered insurance for your stay abroad?
Check whether your insurance covers you during your stay abroad. Get answers to the most frequently asked questions about study stays and insurance, so you can travel with peace of mind.
IDA supports your dreams of going abroad

Make your stay abroad even better

As a student member of IDA, you can apply for grants, purchase affordable insurance, and seek advice on what to be aware of during your stay. Contact IDA’s career counseling for assistance.