"My exchange semester at the University of Strathclyde I applied to the north2north exchange program in the spring 2024. I got accepted to the University of Strathclyde for the fall semester for 2024. I was beyond excited since being in Glasgow meant, that I could easily travel around the UK and Ireland. I arrived to Glasgow in the first week of September.
For me the most exciting aspect of the exchange program was to delve into more of the history of Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland. I did not expect to absolutely fall in love with Glasgow as a city. Glasgow leans into its reputation as the friendliest city, and in my experience, I found it to be very much true. I cannot emphasize enough, how welcoming the city and the people there were.
Studying at Strathclyde was a great experience overall. I had three history courses, Irish Diaspora from 1800–2000, Everyday life and the Troubles, and The Global Impact of the Russian Revolution. These courses fit my interests and my master’s dissertation topic perfectly. In addition, I really enjoyed the type of lecture and seminar structure that the courses had. Overall, my experience within the University definitely exceeded my expectations.
At Strathclyde, it is possible to become involved in different clubs in the Student Union that might fit your interests. For me this was the Powerlifting Club, from which I got to know likeminded people and also got into a sport that has become a big part of my everyday life even here back home. The club had some free time activities but also offered training with the team and had weekly coached sessions for newer lifters which was a great chance to get to know people from all different study fields.
During my exchange semester, I travelled to Dublin and Belfast as well as few times to Edinburgh. Travelling from Glasgow was effortless, since there is an airport and also the trains to other cities, such as Edinburgh, are not too expensive. Overall, my exchange experience was far better than I could have hoped for and it left me with new friends and a new hobby."