A Musician's How-To: Prepare for a Study Exchange
- Liv Brewin
- Mar 7
- 5 min read
During my four-year bachelor's degree at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, I undertook two study exchanges during my third and fourth years. Clearly one wasn’t enough and I had been well and truly bitten by the travel bug. So much so, that I moved to Norway for a year after I’d finished my degree!
Getting to participate in this incredible experience twice, I gained some invaluable insight into the life of an international musician. Equally, I learned the big dos and don’ts of preparing for an exchange the first time round, and had a slightly smoother experience for the second.
As a somewhat seasoned veteran of semesters abroad, here is a musician’s how-to: prepare for a study exchange!
"Where do I want to go? What am I looking to get out of this experience?"
These are the two most important questions to ask yourself at the start of this amazing journey. Where you decide to go and what you decide to make of it will shape your experience. Personally, I started out by looking into countries that I felt were easier to navigate as an English-speaker. This, as well as many other considerations, led me to Norway and the Netherlands.
Next, consider the climate. If you’re a huge sun fanatic, your best bet is probably not going to be Iceland during the first semester in winter. Likewise, if you’re no good with the heat, the second semester in sunny Spain may not be the place for you.
Then there’s your financial situation. Even with grants and scholarships, Norway can be a very expensive place to live (from my experience). Average costs of £9 for a pint and £40 a month for a gym membership, are not particularly student-friendly prices (although you can look into student gym memberships)! So it’s important to weigh up if you will be able to manage financially while studying in your desired country.
"Have I thoroughly researched the school and teachers?"
One of the best aspects of studying at an alternative university for a term is the wide selection of elective courses you can choose from. It’s important to look into what your module options are, as these will make up a large part of your experience at the school. During my first exchange, I took 3 electives in folk, contemporary, and ensemble performance. In the second exchange, I took 4 more modules in sound engineering, jazz improvisation for classical musicians, music and finances, and ensemble performance. I strongly believe that having access to such a broad and extensive range of subjects caused me to become a more well-rounded and better equipped musician, armed to the teeth with musical knowledge and experience that I have used in my career. So make sure to check what’s on offer at the schools you’re looking at!
The other important thing to consider when researching which university to choose, is the teacher of your discipline. You will likely be spending the most time with them during lessons and classes, and they will have a substantial influence on your learning experience. Research what kind of music they perform, their musical interests, the direction they decided to take in their career. If you have a passion for becoming an orchestral musician, look for someone who has also been successful in that field. If you want to go into pit work, find an accomplished multi-instrumentalist. They may have contacts in the area you’re interested in, and can advise you on the next steps after university. Before or during the audition stage of your application, feel free to reach out to them! Starting a conversation and getting to know them can only help your chances of being accepted onto the course.
P.S. if you’re a saxophonist wondering where to go, I was fortunate enough to be taught by René Wiik at the Grieg Academy, and Andreas Van Zoelen at Fontys Academy of the Arts. Both tutors were absolutely fantastic and I truly could not recommend them enough. They are both greatly encouraging, inspiring and have a wealth of knowledge to share.
"I’ve been accepted to my chosen university! What do I need to know?"
If there is anything you take away from this blog post, please let it be this -
RESEARCH ACCOMMODATION AND VISAS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
This was where I got caught out on my first exchange. I didn’t know that there was a specific student housing association I should apply to for accommodation, nor did I know that there was a deadline in May to do so, or I would not be guaranteed housing. The application date determines your position in the housing queue. This caused a lot of stress when I struggled to secure accommodation over the following months. I was on the reserve list, and managed to get a signed tenancy agreement just 10 days before I flew out for freshers (or rather, for a week in a covid quarantine hotel, as per the rules at the time)!
The housing calamity caused a knock-on effect with my study permit. The application for your study permit should be done months in advance. It must be processed and you’ll need it when arriving at the airport of your chosen country. The application required documentation like a signed tenancy agreement, which of course I did not have until 10 days prior to leaving. This meant I had to hope and pray that the nice passport control people would take pity on me with my letter of acceptance, and allow me into the country to sort the permit at a police station later. Luckily, that’s exactly what happened, but I would not recommend the stress. Some universities will organise the study permit on your behalf, others won’t. Make sure you’re well informed from the get-go! My study visa for Norway cost somewhere around £400, and had to be arranged myself. The permit for the Netherlands cost around £175, and was sorted by the host university.
If you have any more questions, the international co-ordinators at your home and host universities are your first port of call. Try to find fellow exchangers at your university and reach out to them too! Additionally, I’m happy to advise if I can, so feel free to head over to my contact page and submit any questions you may have.
"I’m almost ready to go. Any final tips?"
1. Be proactive! It’s a once (or twice) in a lifetime adventure. Your experience is what you make of it, so seek out social events, local gems to explore, restaurants to try, and classes to join. The adventure is waiting, you just need to get out there and find it.
2. Make an effort with the language if you can. The countries I went to were very accepting of English-only speakers, but it can feel a little isolating and difficult to join in some social situations. At the very least, try to learn helpful words like “bag”, “receipt”, “yes”, “no” and “thank you” for the weekly food shops!
3. Pack as little as you can. Unless you’re lucky enough to rent a large space, you will likely be sharing accommodation. During my first exchange, I shared a room with a bunkbed, 2 small wardrobes, a small kitchenette and a bathroom. It was a bit of a squeeze, but luckily my roommate and I didn’t bring too much. Also, packing light makes travelling easier!
4. Compile a list of things to do/nearby places to travel to. Make the most of living in a completely different environment where there are brand new things to experience. In Norway, there were endless mountains to hike, cuisines to try on the harbour and fjord cruises to enjoy. In the Netherlands, I hired a bike to cycle everywhere like a local, attended jazz clubs and visited museums.
Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime - you never know where it might lead you!
Fantastic Liv. That will be essential reading for anyone leaving home for the first time. Research is key. Remember foreign countries ARE different to home. Hot countries are not like Skegness in the heat!!! Problems will arise, but if most of your essential s have been sorted, you will cope better.
Well done Liv. You are a STAR!!🤩🤗🥰