STUDY ABROAD
ELYSIA’S YEAR ABROAD EXPERIENCE
Interested in exploring new cultures and gaining a global business perspective that a textbook can’t replicate?
Key lessons and skills I’ve developed Adaptability From navigating Denmark’s reserved social norms to embracing Spain’s energetic culture, I learned to adapt to day-to-day life and collaborative projects. Resilience Living in a country without knowing anyone meant relying on myself. Meeting new people almost every day and learning about different cultures was inspiring but also exhausting. It taught me how to balance the excitement of cultural exchange with self-care. One of my proudest moments was joining a local basketball club in Copenhagen. I was the only non-local and faced cultural and language gaps – not to mention the height difference. Initially, I felt out of place, but by initiating conversations and showing persistence – I gradually built genuine connections. Eventually, I even went on a trip to Hamburg with my teammates! Cultural intelligence Spending time with students from across the world broadened my understanding of cultural nuances, like how communication styles such as directness or body language vary between countries. When leading a consulting project in Spain, recognising and respecting these cultural differences helped my team navigate tensions and harness our strengths, ultimately placing us in the top three in the competition. Confidence Whether initiating conversations in a foreign language or presenting ideas in academic discussions or professional settings – I grew more confident. These small but consistent moments taught me to trust myself in unfamiliar settings and present myself effectively to others, which has become a foundation in facing life challenges.
Why should you do a year abroad? Reflecting on my journey, I can confidently say this year has been the most rewarding time of my life so far. Personal and professional growth From joining local communities to leading diverse teams and travelling, I developed resilience, adaptability, and cultural awareness – skills invaluable in today’s global workplace. A global network I’ve built friendships and connections worldwide that opened unexpected doors. For example, a casual conversation in a hostel in Prague led to a job at a German sausage booth in a UK Christmas market! Discovering yourself A year abroad gives you time to reflect on what matters most, personally and professionally. It was a chance to explore my passions, goals, and sense of purpose. Inspired by the Japanese framework of Ikigai – aligning what I love, what I’m good at, what the world needs, and what I can be paid for – I began narrowing down potential career paths that offer both fulfilment and impact. How my year abroad will shape my future Going on a year abroad helped me get to know myself and my passion more. This experience has prepared me to thrive in culturally dynamic settings, where exchanging ideas across backgrounds is crucial. The resilience, adaptability, and cultural intelligence I developed have already translated to my professional life – during my summer internship in London, where I collaborated effectively with a multinational team. Looking ahead, I’m excited to build a global career that blends creativity and analytics with collaboration across cultures.
As an international student from Hong Kong, I’ve always been curious about immersing myself in cultures that are completely different from my own. Living alone in a new country without knowing anyone was exciting and daunting, but I wanted to step out of my comfort zone. Warwick Business School offers a variety of university options, ranging from Europe and Asia to North America and beyond. The team also connected me with past exchange students and those from the host countries – to ensure I felt prepared for this transformative journey. I chose Copenhagen Business School in Denmark for my first term, drawn to experience the Nordic happiness lifestyle, and IE University in Spain for the second term because of its friendliness, warmth, and rich culture. These two very different destinations provided the perfect contrast to broaden my horizon.
WBS is a truly international destination, with staff and students from all over the world. We support student mobility through study abroad programmes and all students have the opportunity to apply for a Year Abroad at one of our partner universities, or complete a work placement abroad. Current partnerships are offered in Australia, Canada, China, Japan, South Africa and Singapore, the United States and numerous countries across Europe, to mention just a few. If you choose to study BSc International Management spending a year abroad is a compulsory and integral part of your degree. During that year, you can study at a partner university, take a work placement, or a combination of the two. WBS will host online webinars throughout the year to support your experience.
Elysia Hiu Chi Choi BSc International Management with Digital Business
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Undergraduate Programme
wbs.ac.uk/go/undergraduate
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