Angus Hamilton

Why did you choose to participate in the Global Exchange to UCLA?

I wanted a once in a lifetime experience that would be both challenging and fun. I chose UCLA in California because it’s a prestigious school and it looked like an awesome campus. And the weather was a plus, too!

How did you find your experience overall?

It was even better than I expected it to be, while also quite different. I would never have imagined that I would have done everything that I got to experience, such as going to Mexico for spring break, seeing Drake live, and meeting famous business people.

What were some highlights of your exchange?

I travelled a lot. We were off to a National Park or a new city most weekends. One of the biggest highlights was going to a huge, three-day music festival called EDC in Las Vegas with a big group of exchange students. Spring break in Mexico is definitely also up there. We went jet skiing, rode ATVs, and snorkelled every day. 

How did you find the learning experience at UCLA?

UCLA has a ton of papers to choose from, which was exciting. The teaching style is similar to UC, but the biggest difference was that the classes were a bit smaller, so we had more discussions.

We were also expected to do a lot more outside of class on our own, which helped me develop my independent organisational skills.

What were your accommodation arrangements?

I lived in a traditional American-style dorm on campus with two roommates. It had bunk beds, desks and a shared bathroom. It allowed me to meet a lot of people and get the full American university experience.

What is UCLA’s campus like?

The campus is amazing. There are a lot of facilities, including multiple gyms, outdoor swimming pools, and beach volleyball courts. And the food was unreal. You could go to any dining hall, and they also have things like Panda Express or Subway on campus that you can use your meal card for.

How did you find life in Los Angeles?

Life in LA is faster-paced; it’s almost a sense of controlled chaos, but not in a bad way. Living on campus gives you the opportunity to escape from that, but you could easily head out and explore cool places like Santa Monica Pier and Bel Air.

You mentioned you’d travelled a lot. What were some other great travel experiences?

One weekend I went to Joshua Tree, a National Park in the middle of the desert, for Snowchella – a music festival the weekend before Coachella.

Another weekend we went to Santa Barbara for Deltopia, a big social event where students from all the universities in California gather. 

Besides travelling, what else did you get up to when you weren’t studying? 

I joined a social football and social baseball team. I hadn’t played baseball before, so that was fun. We’d play every week and then we’d get food afterwards, so I got to know more students.

What insights did you gain from your experience and how do you think this will be useful for you in the future?

My UCLA experience broadened my perspective and opened my eyes to what is possible and where I could go in my career.

Studying abroad fills you with a lot more confidence and helps you believe in your own abilities. Having that international university experience definitely helps in a developing a global network of connections as well.

Would you recommend that students take part in the Global Exchange Programme?

Yes, definitely. You’ll gain so much from it. You’ll get to have fun, network, make long-term friends, and experience new things. I also think the university exchange experience will be viewed positively when it comes to applying for jobs. 

Any tips for future students?

If I were able to give myself advice before I went overseas, I would tell myself to save as much money as possible.  I wanted to make the most of every opportunity and I wished I had more time and funds to do that.