Faith lives in the City by the Sea for a semester

Does watching the sunset on the Welsh coast, climbing mountains in national parks, learning a new culture, and traveling across Europe sound amazing? These experiences are what made my study abroad program to Swansea University in Wales an adventure of a lifetime!  

I’m a business management major with a minor in international business and I spent the past spring semester studying abroad in Wales! I have wanted to study abroad for as long as I can remember, and my experience exceeded every expectation I had.

My study abroad was initially faced with uncertainties with COVID and I wasn’t sure how it would impact my program, but thankfully I was able to attend. At the beginning, I was nervous about arriving in a foreign country without knowing anyone. However, I quickly felt at home in Swansea, or as the locals call it, the “City by the Sea” with its beautiful beachfront location and many seaside cafes. One of the greatest benefits of studying abroad was that I was able to get out of my comfort zone and be fully independent which gave me a new level of self-confidence. I was able to have so many new experiences and make friends from around the world.  

Another great advantage of studying abroad in Wales was getting to learn about the Welsh culture and immerse myself in all the different traditions and history. One exciting opportunity that Swansea University had was the ability for students to travel on day trips with other international students. We were able to travel throughout the United Kingdom and learn more about Wales and the rest of the UK’s history. I was able to meet a lot of really amazing friends through this and greatly recommend it to any student studying abroad at Swansea!

Studying abroad in Wales also gave me the opportunity to travel both within the UK and throughout Europe. I was able to visit 7 different countries and have memories that will last a lifetime. One of my favorite parts of studying abroad was all the friends I made from all over the world and learning more about all their different cultures.

A great opportunity for my international business minor was being able to take business classes taught by professors from around the world. I was able to get firsthand experience of the workings of a global economy and expand my worldview. I will be able to use what I learned in my future classes at Michigan State and in my future career.

Overall, studying abroad was one of the best decisions I have made. If you are thinking of studying abroad, I recommend going into the Office for Education Abroad and checking out the different programs offered!

Name: Faith Arnott
Status: Senior
Major: Management
Hometown: Perry, Michigan
Program: Swansea University in Wales