Honor Cloake

Why did you choose to participate in the Global Exchange to Audencia Business School?

I took French in high school, and UC hosted French immersion days as a way to encourage you to continue with the language. There, I met a girl who’d studied in Paris and she had such an amazing experience that it really sparked my interest and inspired me to do that one day. And I’d heard a lot of good things about Audencia.

How did you find your experience?

It was really fun! Once I settled in, I met people quite easily and made great connections. I still talk to them and I know we’re going to be lifelong friends. 

What were some highlights of your exchange?

All the students met up on the evening of the very first day, which really stuck out to me because it felt so surreal to be making all these new friends from different countries. Another highlight is the time I spent travelling during the study break. 

What is the education like at Audencia and what did you like about it? 

The teachers are very diverse with different skills and work experiences, so it was interesting to learn from them. Classes were smaller and there was a lot of group work, which encouraged us to be more practical.

I liked it because we learn about being culturally competent within my degree, so it was relevant. The students were all passionate about business and wanted to do well.

What were your accommodation arrangements?

I stayed in a studio apartment about an eight minute tram ride from school. It had a little kitchenette, a bathroom, a bed. It’s aimed at students so it was simple, but it did the job and had a great location. It was the first time I had lived on my own, and I really enjoyed it.

What did you like most about your studies at Audencia?

There was a European business class I really liked that only had international students. They were from all over Europe, and we learned about all the different issues associated with doing business there. It was interesting to see all the cultural nuances across Europe.

How did you find life in Nantes and France?

There are lots of little cultural differences, but I found French people in Nantes to be really lovely, always saying hello. I loved being in France. The bakeries were amazing. The biggest difference was that on Sundays, everything was closed, so if you wanted to go out for a meal you were a bit limited.

You mentioned travel as a highlight. What are some places you visited?

My favourite was Madrid. It was my first big trip, with the first friend I made, and we really bonded. Another great trip was during the week of school holidays when I went to England, Amsterdam, and Dublin. It was amazing to jump from country to country! I travelled with two other students in my course who were people I hadn't travelled with before.

I also did day trips to other cities like Bordeaux, through an organisation called Erasmus, which helped me meet fellow students outside of Audencia. I ended up surprising myself with how many places I travelled to and everything I did! 

What insights did you gain from your experience and how will they be useful for your future employment?

Getting a global experience is really important, especially for my degree. You learn a lot in class about developing cultural profiles, and I feel fortunate that now I’ve got that practical experience.

After university, I’d love to be an international manager, and going on exchange was a first taste of that. It’s a great stepping stone and made me realise that it’s possible for me to work in Europe one day.

How do you think the overseas experience helped you on a personal level?

Confidence, 100%. And believing in myself. Before I went, I was so nervous about everything that could go wrong, but it was all fine. I realised I can actually do these things, on my own. I became much more independent.

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

I really would! It’s totally worth doing. I understand that it’s a privilege to be able to do this and it can also be daunting, but if you have the opportunity I would 100% recommend it. It’s great for your inner growth and for understanding your degree more. I gained a much bigger perspective. It felt so enriching and made me love what I study even more. 

Any tips for future students?

Organising everything at the start can be really hard, but just get through one thing at a time. If you’re worried about making friends, join Facebook groups because you can make connections before you even arrive. And be really open minded, say yes to things – it helps you develop connections!