Year Abroad: What do our PPLS students think?

In your third year at Edinburgh, you can opt to spend your year abroad! You might find yourself studying while exploring a new culture in New Zealand or working as a teacher in Japan. Thanks to our long history and reputation, the University has a variety of destinations to offer. You will find plenty of practical information on the Student Exchange website:

Our exchange programmes | University of Edinburgh

Seminars are also held by our School (Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences) and the University throughout your first semester.

Therefore, I intend to offer a more ‘personal’ insight by interviewing two of my friends currently on their year abroad. Let’s see what they think!

Student A

Your name: Benedek Bartha

What is your degree? Cognitive Science (MA)

Your host university & country: Aix-Marseille University, France

Why did you choose this university & country? Because I wanted to study in French, in a beautiful area, and at a university with a good linguistics department.

What do you like about your year abroad? Meeting many nice people and making new friends; exploring subjects I am interested in (like linguistics) from new exciting perspectives; exploring new subjects (like Sanskrit, Jewish philosophy); and visiting beautiful places in the south of France

What do you think can be improved? Students could be informed about the potential benefits of their host university and country, for example, as a resident in France, we are entitled to monthly financial support, but I only learnt this from other students when I got here. Also, all the practical, useful information and benefits of local life, the host university and the country could be given as a more compact package for students when they arrive.

What are you gaining from your year abroad? Precious opportunities to discover new places and subjects, and meeting many nice and open-minded people.

Would you recommend going on a year abroad to other students? Yes.

Student B

Your name: Flo McCarthy-Doig

What is your degree? Cognitive Science (MA)

Your host university & country: Humboldt University Berlin, Germany.

Why did you choose this university & country? I applied to all of the options, and this was the one I was offered. Also, they offer courses in English.

What do you like about your year abroad? Meeting a lot of new people and getting to know a new city. I’ve learned some German and had the opportunity to experience a different style of university teaching.

What do you think can be improved? The University knows very little about the exchange university in Germany. I had to figure out everything by myself, and the biggest help to me was the student who went before me. Luckily she was very obliging in answering my questions. It would be good if everyone who goes on a year abroad had to write a report, which the students who are going next can have access to.

What are you gaining from your year abroad? Improved social, language and problem-solving skills, and also independence. It has forced me to be more confident and self-sufficient. You also get to know another city in a way that you don’t when you just visit for a week or so.

Would you recommend going on a year abroad to other students? Yes, definitely. It’s a great opportunity to get out of your comfort zone and meet new people.