Meet our Ambassadors

Meet our fantastic Global Opportunities ambassadors below. The ambassadors staff our student desk in the Foundation Building every Monday and Friday (10am-4pm) if you have any general questions for them about studying abroad!

Abbie

Programme: Year Abroad

Host County: USA

Studied at: University of Georgia

I wanted to study abroad to really push myself out of my comfort zone and experience university in a completely different way, especially after having two years that were really affected by the pandemic.   As a very much home and family-orientated person, I was most worried about being away from home for the whole year, but my biggest challenge was finding time to speak to family and friends just due to being so busy!   My highlight of the year was definitely the rewarding feeling after realising that I had made so many great friends from around the world, and being able to travel to new places with these new people, making unforgettable memories.

Aimee

Programme: Summer Abroad

Host County: USA

Studied at: University of Georgia

Hi, I'm Aimee, a 2nd year Biomed student who did a Summer Abroad in Athens, Georgia! I had an amazing time and made many friends, but I will say a big challenge was navigating conversations with a range of people with varied life experiences and opinions, it can really take a toll on you. But the highlight from the experience was learning about the culture and history of the state, especially when visiting the Civil and Human Rights Museum. I look forward to talking to you all and giving any advice, especially if you ever need any advice on disability support and anything LGBTQIA+ for both travelling and here in Liverpool.

Alex

Programme: Semester Abroad

Host County: Canada

Studied at: Queens University

Before I even came to Liverpool studying abroad was something I was desperate to do. I was keen to step outside of my comfort zone and spend time studying abroad and meeting new people from all over the world as well as experiencing and exploring a new part of the world.  In my experience, the main challenge that I faced was becoming used to being far more independent than I had been before. For example not being able to just go home for a weekend and not being surrounded by the people I knew best. If anything, this changed my experience for the better as I went out of my way to make new friends in the same boat and have come home a better person.   The highlight of my study abroad experience has got to be all of the places that I had the opportunity to travel to. Being in Canada, it was easy to access a variety of different cities as well as exploring various national parks and natural wonders. Many of these places I would have never visited if I did not study abroad in Canada and the memories will last a lifetime.  

Amy

Programme: Semester Abroad

Host County: Australia

Studied at: Univeristy of Western Australia 

The main reason I wanted to study abroad was to experience a new culture and push myself out of my comfort zone. I have always wanted to visit Australia, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to combine my studies with travel and make the most of this wonderful experience that was offered to me. One challenge that I experienced during my semester abroad was feeling homesick, this was probably due to it being exam season and feeling under pressure. I overcame this by talking to others about it and quickly found that most people around me were also going through the exact same feelings. I also spoke to my family and friends from home as often as possible which provided me with a lot of support and soon after I was back to feeling like not wanting to come home! My main highlight of my time abroad would definitely be my Easter break trip to Bali with seven other girls! We had the best time travelling the island and making amazing memories, we really made the most of our week off.

Becca

Programme: Semester Abroad

Host County: USA

Studied at: Univeristy of Georgia

Hello, my name is Becca. I chose to study abroad at the University of Georgia in the USA to push myself out of my comfort zone and to fully immerse myself into the typical American college lifestyle. The main challenge for me was moving away from home. Having lived at home for my first year this was a big change for me, but now I’ve done it I am no longer living at home for my third year either! Studying abroad really helped me figure out how independent I can be, and introduced me to so many new cultures, people and experiences that otherwise I never would have dreamed of doing.

Charlotte

Programme: Semester Abroad

Host County: USA

Studied at: University of Tennessee, Knoxville

I decided to study abroad because I wanted to become more independent, after already moving to university, I needed a new challenge to help me achieve this and studying abroad was perfect. Initially, I struggled with the workload, however, once I learnt how to manage my time I found the academic side of the experience incredibly rewarding - which was something I definitely wasn’t expecting! The positives of my experience drastically outweigh the negatives, from incredible sports games, to meeting friends from across the world, studying abroad is the best thing I have ever done and is something I can carry with me through every aspect of my life today.

Ellie

Programme: Year Abroad

Host County: Canada

Studied at: University of Waterloo

Hello, my name is Ellie, and I am a 4th year Law and Business Studies student. Between September 2022 to April 2023, I studied abroad in Canada at the University of Waterloo, Ontario. In Year 2 of my studies, I considered to doing the Year Abroad as it would be an amazing opportunity to take during my studies. Firstly, was to enrich my experience with different cultures and to see things in a different perspective. I was fortunate enough to travel and explore different parts of Canada which was such a rewarding experience. Also, from all the talks that I attended to prepare me to study abroad, I heard students find love in their host country and seek work, which was appealing to me for the future and future employers. One of the challenges that I had encountered was navigating myself around a country and an area that was unfamiliar to me and meeting new people from all around the world. To overcome this challenge, I made sure to contact my study abroad team at my host university if I had an queries. Also, I made sure that I joined as many activities as possible the university organised for the exchange students where I created friendships that I will treasure.

Emily

Programme: Semester Abroad

Host County: USA

Studied at: University of South Carolina

For myself, I always knew I wanted to study abroad when I was applying to university. I wanted to do something different and really make the most of my short time at university and that I did. I studied abroad for one semester in America and it completely changed my perspective on life. I learnt a new culture, made many friends all over the world, gained more independence but most of all triggered the urge to travel! One challenge I experience abroad was getting used to the different teaching style as it was not familiar, however at the end of my time it became second nature and I am really proud I was able to experience it. Overall, the highlight of my trip was learning whilst travelling, i was lucky enough to visit NYC for Christmas on my way home and I went away for a week for thanksgiving with one of my American roommates and that was an experience I will never forget. Studying abroad changed my life, it can change yours too.

Francesca

Programme: Year Abroad

Host County: Canada

Studied at: University of Guelph

I decided to study abroad because I am a keen traveller and have always been interested in other cultures. I also thought it would be a great opportunity to increase my independence and confidence, which are not only key to personal growth, but are key skills that make you stand out to employers.      One notable challenge I faced was adapting to academic differences at my host university. Managing deadlines and navigating distinct content assessment methods required adaptation, but with support from professors and student services, I quickly adjusted. My highlight was a month-long trip along the West Coast of America and Canada with other exchange students I had met after my year abroad had ended. We visited Vegas, San Francisco, San Diego, Vancouver, Vancouver Islands and the Rocky Mountains. During this trip I saw the most beautiful landscapes, met great people and made amazing memories.     I am happy to offer advice regarding race and diversity.

Isaac

Programme: Summer in Fiji - Volunteering with Think Pacific

Host County: Fiji

I volunteered abroad with Think Pacific in Fiji. I wanted to immerse myself in a completely new culture and wanted to see life from a completely new perspective.  This led me to be able to speak simple Fijian Concepts and conduct their 'Masu' (Prayer) before each family meal. This led to huge personal growth and a surge in confidence, something which is needed for my career. A huge challenge I initially faced was coming out of my comfort zone. Volunteering abroad made me do some things I would never of even imagined: singing and dancing in front of a lot of people, the Masu as well as things such as independently flying 35 hours across the world. This excelled the rate in which i developed confidence, new life-long friendships, as well as seeing the huge growth in independence after coming back to study at university. You realise people are on their own journey and that being judged or feeling embarrassed is something not to worry about. (Something I worried about a lot before volunteering)    My highlight was creating a completely new family who welcomed me into their home as a stranger yet I am incredibly proud to say I left as a kinder, smarter and more confident individual.

Joel

Programme: Summer in The Netherlands - Sustainable Global Experience with Pagoda Projects

Host County: Netherlands

The reason why I chose to join a summer abroad programme was to gain experience outside the UK, learning in a new culture, and further adding social and personal skills that could all be used to attract international employers. A challenge I faced when I went abroad was utilising my time outside of the programme to explore new areas and attend events therefore, If you plan to go abroad, I recommend looking at points of interest in advance so that you have areas that you can explore yourself or encourage other people to join on your programme/host university. My highlight on the summer abroad programme was visiting the NEMO Science Museum, proving information on Sustainability in Amsterdam and around the world, with each decision being made impacting the future.

Katie 

Programme: Semester Abroad

Host County: Australia

Studied at: QUT

The possibility of exploring the world whilst continuing with my degree was an opportunity that I felt I could not miss. I was unsure even after applying as to whether I was going to go, but if you never apply, you'll never know. I am lucky to have gone and experienced a whole new side of the world in Australia, and get immersed in the culture, weather, and brand-new experiences. Nothing is ever smooth sailing, and I was super nervous to fly alone. In fact, I had only been abroad a few times, that you can count on one hand. But study abroad is all about throwing yourself into the deep end and trying new experiences, which is how I overcame all my challenges. Study abroad taught me to persevere and grow endless amounts of confidence! My highlights were skydiving in Byron Bay and sailing over the great barrier reef in the Whitsundays for 3 days. I have made endless memories that I will forever cherish, and never forget.

Lily

Programme: Semester Abroad

Host County: Australia

Studied at: University of Western Australia

Hi, I’m Lily, a Biological Sciences student, and I studied at the University of Western Australia for a semester. I wanted to study abroad to experience life in Australia and to have the opportunity to focus on marine biology in an amazing environment. During my time I fulfilled this with snorkelling fieldwork, scuba diving with sea lions, swimming with whale sharks and minke whales and much more.     A challenge I experienced was homesickness. I really missed my friends and family but I found that decorating my room with photos from home really helped and knowing everybody was still just a phone call away made things easier. The highlight of my time abroad was the friends I made. I never expected to meet my best friends on the other side of the world but I did! The experiences we had together were unmatched; from road trips up the west coast of Australia to college balls and surfing, I had the most amazing time abroad with the most amazing people.

Maria

Programme: Summer Abroad

Host County: South Korea

Studied at: Yonsei University

Hey there, I'm Maria, an aerospace engineering student who lived out her wildest dreams by jetting off to South Korea for a whirlwind two-month summer adventure at Yonsei University. Getting a taste of life at a prestigious SKY university was an absolute game-changer in my academic journey.    I enrolled in the Language Institute to study Korean, and English was a big no-no in class. It was like a daily language boot camp full of challenges, and it was a blast! On weekdays, I'd dive headfirst into lectures, soaking up knowledge and culture like a sponge. But the real magic happened on weekends when I hit the road to explore the incredible country. Busan, Jeju Island, Gyeongju, Suwon – you name it, I went there. And to top it all off, I even got a sneak peek of the North Korean border. Talk about mind-blowing!    Oh, and did I mention the live octopus? Yep, I took the plunge into some seriously daring culinary territory.    It was the ultimate university experience. And if there's a day to study abroad and apply to Global Opportunities, today is that day! 

Martha

Programme: Semester Abroad

Host County: USA

Studied at: Stevens Insitute of Technology

I studied abroad for a semester at Stevens Institute of Technology in the USA. I chose to study abroad as I am eager to embrace as many opportunities as possible during my degree. Studying abroad also offered a great chance for me to network and step outside of my comfort zone, adapting to a new way of learning. The most rewarding part of my experience was probably the relationships I formed along the way. I met other exchange students from all over the world, creating friendships that I know will last a lifetime. Although initial adjustment was difficult, I tried to see unfamiliarity in an exciting way! I got involved with societies or clubs that interested me, finding like minded students to talk to. I also researched my host city to decide ahead of time a few places I wanted to visit, paving the way for some incredible memories! Studying abroad is an experience I know I will talk about fondly for years to come.

Niamh

Programme: Year Abroad

Host County: Australia

Studied at: Monash University

Hi, I’m Niamh and I’m currently in my fourth year studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics. I did a year abroad at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. I always wanted to study abroad as it is a great opportunity to immerse yourself in another culture. My highlight was scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef! I struggled occasionally with homesickness whilst I was in Australia, but have some great tips to help if you ever feel the same!

Riya

Programme: Year Abroad

Host County: Canada

Studied at: Queen's University

Hi, I'm Riya. I did a year-long study abroad at Queen's University in Canada and it was the best experience of my life! I wanted to experience a new culture and try new things and Canada was the perfect place. I was able to see new landscapes and make friends from all across the country which was such a rewarding experience.    One of the biggest challenges I faced moving to the other side of the world alone was making new friends. I had to put myself out of my comfort zone to try new activities to meet new people. Luckily I joined loads of clubs and went to loads of the welcome events to meet people!    The biggest highlight of my study abroad experience was being able to experience a different culture. Whether it was the ice hockey games, -26-degree temperatures, eating poutine or living in a small university town, I had a range of different activities which excited me. It was truly such a rewarding experience and I would recommend it for anyone to try out!

Rose

Programme: Year Abroad (at the University of Liverpool)

Home County: Australia

Studied at: Griffith University

Hi my name is Rose! I chose to study abroad because I felt that I needed to take advantage of an opportunity to throw myself out of my comfort zone and explore the world whilst I was still young enough and had minimal commitments that would limit my abilities to participate in such an experience. I also had a mental breakdown because I was afraid of kickstarting my legal career at 20!     One challenge I have experienced is time zone differences. Sometimes when you’re just missing home but can’t get that connection with anyone familiar it can be frustrating and difficult.     In saying that, there are many highlights, an important one for me is the time I got to spend with my flat mates cooking together, I will forever cherish those moments!

Sinead 

Programme: Semester Abroad

Host County: Canada

Studied at: Queen's University

Studying in Canada was the highlight of my degree. I wanted the chance to get to experience another countries way of life at university and learn about a new culture. Although challenging at times, such as when I had to apply for my visa during exams in 2nd, my exchange was so worth it. My highlight was getting to travel to Vancouver by myself during reading week, where I even got to see a bear!